In an earlier post I criticized the very wealthy connections of the great mare Zenyatta for taking her out of her abbreviated retirement to run her again as a 6 year old. It was misplaced criticism as these folks needed the money like they needed another 25 cent piece. They knew their horse and the rarity she is. She wasn't ready for the breeding shed, she loves to run. And run she has.
Yesterday she took on some difficult competition with St. Trinians, who was amazingly bet down to 5:2 agains her, in a Grade one Stakes (no cheap handicap like they are tossing Rachel into these days). She won by a hard fought neck giving away 9 pounds to every other horse on the track and with her characteristic style she pricked her ears in the last 200 yards and bore down, stretching her long legs to just catch St. Trinians at the wire by a neck. No fault of rider Mike Smith, he had her placed well for the race; she just had tough company and was carried wide by her competitor. If this was her last race it's fine by me but it looks like the goal will be as many as three more with the Breeders Cup to be her last. If she wins all three she will hold the record for the most undefeated race horse of all time. As it is now, she's tied with Citation and Cigar and stands as the #1 winner in the distaff field of all time.
Never has a race horse made so many people feel so good, including me. What a thrill to just see this beauty in the paddock. What a laugh to see her do her little dance before each race. What a thrill to see her come charging down the stretch. She know when she's won and seems to be looking around for more on the trip back to the winners circle. Zenyatta!
Here's the call on her record making race: http://www.ntra.com/schedule/race/display/MjU4
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