Undefeated Zenyatta to face 5 rivals at Del Mar
August 7, 2010DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - Zenyatta is set to put her 17-0 record on the line in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar.
Trainer John Shirreffs said that unless something unfortunate happens, the undefeated mare will run in Saturday's Grade 1 race at the seaside track.
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith feels responsibility and pressure to help Zenyatta extend her record winning streak.
``It makes me focus more, and then when I get up on her I'm just so proud to be up there,'' he said. ``I just want to continue to pull this off, and the Lord willing, we can just pull it off all the way to the end. Wouldn't that be amazing? It would be the greatest record of all time.''
Zenyatta will be going for her third straight win in the Hirsch. She tested the track's synthetic surface for the third time Friday, and exercise rider Steve Willard said she did fine.
Zenyatta will headline a field of six for the 1 1-16-mile race, in which she is the overwhelming 1-5 morning-line favorite. There will be no show wagering because of the small field. She will carry high weight of 123 pounds.
Rinterval is listed at 10-1, followed by Dance to My Tune, and Made for Magic, both at 12-1. Princess Taylor is 15-1, although she might be scratched after working five furlongs on Thursday. Spring Style is 20-1.
Only Dance to My Tune has faced Zenyatta before, finishing second to her in the Santa Margaria Handicap at Santa Anita earlier this year.
Zenyatta won the Hirsch by a length in 2008, and by a head last year.
She will be making her first start since winning the Vanity Handicap by a half-length at Hollywood Park on June 13.
The field for the Hirsch in post position order, with jockeys and weights:
Princess Taylor, Victor Espinoza, 119 pounds; Made for Magic, Omar Berrio, 121; Spring Style, Patrick Valenzuela, 119; Dance to My Tune, David Flores, 119; Zenyatta, Smith, 123; and Rinterval, Rafael Bejarano, 119.