JC / Railbird

Zenyatta

This Is Her Town

Look up, Angelenos:

“It’s official: Zenyatta is a crossover sports star.”

She really has ascended to another level, hasn’t she? It’s kind of fun. There’s a bit of an old time feel about Zenyatta’s super stardom, as well as trainer John Shirreffs’ reason for keeping the mare in California:

“We have to ship across the Rockies. It’s so much different out here than going up and down the East Coast.”

Well, maybe Zenyatta doesn’t like turbulence.

Instead of shipping east, she’ll go for a third consecutive win in the Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park next month. “Are they kidding?” Not at all. She’s a hometown girl; if you’re in the neighborhood, celebrate with a bobblehead.

Posted in Racing on May 10, 2010 / Tagged Advertising, Billboards, Dodgers, Hollywood Park, Los Angeles, Sports, Zenyatta

Saturday Line-Up (Updated)

Oaks prep, Derby preps, and two big stars making their first starts of the year:

The NTRA, which unveiled a fresh new web site look last Friday, launches a new feature, NTRA Live!, a series of webcasts hosted by Randy Moss, this Saturday. Beginning at 6:00 PM, racing fans with an Internet connection anywhere in the world will be able to watch a live video stream — free! — of both the New Orleans Ladies and Santa Margarita Handicap. Very cool. (And not just because the video venture was inspired by “Take Back Saturday!“)

Also Saturday: 2009 Tampa Bay Derby winner Musket Man tries something new, starting in the five furlong Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa (4:57 PM). Musket Man, making his second start off a long layoff, has never finished out of the money, but he’s also never raced at less than six furlongs or on turf. [9:50 AM: Just saw this post on PaceAdvantage, in which someone familiar with the connections’ intentions reports Musket Man has breezed over turf once before and that the race is a prep (a prep they expect to win) for the Carter at Aqueduct. DRF shows trainer Derek Ryan with a .38 percentage (out of eight starters) in turf sprints; Musket Man is the 5-2 morning-line favorite.]

Three potential Omnisurface Stars to watch: In the New Orleans Ladies, Zardana — trained by John Shirreffs, shipped in to take Rachel Alexandra’s measure — makes her first start on dirt [in the US]. The 6-year-old mare won the 2009 G2 Bayakoa Handicap at Hollywood (Cushion Track) and the Swingtime at Santa Anita (turf). Also trying dirt for the first time is Noble’s Promise, who makes his first start of the year in the Rebel Stakes. Noble’s Promise won the G1 Breeders’ Futurity last fall at Keeneland (Polytrack), and broke his maiden over the Ellis Park turf. At Santa Anita, Interactif makes the move to synthetics in the San Felipe Stakes. The Todd Pletcher-trainee won his maiden debut on the Monmouth dirt and boasts two 2009 turf stakes wins, the G3 With Anticipation at Saratoga and G3 Bourbon at Keeneland.

Posted in Racing on March 12, 2010 / Tagged Derby Preps, NTRA, Oaks Preps, Omnisurface Stars, Rachel Alexandra, Schedules, Zenyatta

The Stakes

Steve Davidowitz on the two champions returning Saturday (DRF+ sub req):

More is at stake for Zenyatta, who will enter the Santa Margarita with a lifetime unbeaten string of 14 victories. Should she run strongly but lose, she still might head to Oaklawn with that foundation to build upon, but she will drop from the rare ranks of undefeated horses. Considering that her connections were willing to bring her back out of retirement to risk defeat is a testament to their commitment to this sport. But the moment this mare loses — if she loses — their decision will be second guessed throughout the sporting world. Then if Zenyatta were to go on to lose a second race to Rachel Alexandra at Oaklawn, there will be many who will downgrade her standing among the great racemares of modern times.

And if those should be her only two losses in an otherwise flawless career? History will be kinder than contemporary commenters. It’ll be remembered that she won 14 straight, then lost giving weight, and then to a brilliant filly.

3/14/10 Addendum: After Saturday’s results, and the ferocious reaction to Rachel Alexandra’s one-length loss, it seems as though the stakes were higher for the filly, whose Horse of the Year award suddenly became a matter of debate once again. Zenyatta, now 15-for-15, was surely the better horse yesterday (and may be the better horse if the two ever meet), but Rachel Alexandra legitimately earned her honor, running an aggressive campaign in 2009. What happened on Saturday doesn’t diminish her achievements.

Posted in Racing on March 11, 2010 / Tagged Zenyatta