Undefeated Zenyatta to make final California start
October 2, 2010INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - Zenyatta seeks to remain undefeated in her 19th start when she takes on five rivals in the $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes, the final California start of her career.
With a win in Saturday's 1 1-16-mile race at her home track of Hollywood Park, Zenyatta would own the career earnings record by a female horse. Ouija Board, who retired in 2006, holds the record with $6,334,296.
Zenyatta has earned $6,254,580 with her 18-0 record.
She has won seven times at Hollywood Park, giving her more wins there than anyplace else. Zenyatta is going for her third-straight victory in the Lady's Secret, and her ninth Grade 1 win in a row and 13th overall.
She will break from post No. 5 and carry 123 pounds, including Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
The race will be Zenyatta's final start in California. She's scheduled to make her 20th and final start when she defends her title in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic next month at Churchill Downs.
Zenyatta will run four days after defending Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra was retired. The two rivals never met on the track.
Among Zenyatta's fans is Penny Chenery, who owned 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat.
``I'm crazy about her,'' she said. ``She's like Secretariat in that she's a great show. He'd kind of blow himself up to intimidate the competition. With her dance, it's like her opening number to prance into the walking ring. She's so big and gorgeous.''
During her 18-0 streak, Zenyatta has defeated 108 rivals by a total winning margin of 33 1/2 lengths.
Among her challengers Saturday will be Rinterval, who finished a neck behind Zenyatta in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar in August. Rinterval has three wins in 23 starts.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has entered Moon de French, a 5-year-old who has four wins in eight starts and will be making her debut in a Grade 1 stakes.
The Lady's Secret is one of four Grade 1 races to be run Saturday. Zenyatta will get some rare national television exposure when her race is shown on ESPN.