Zenyatta: Wins the Breeder's Cup Classic! HOTY?

[Glimmerglass]

She arrived late on Monday - shipped in along with Kentucky Derby starter Mr. Hot Stuff - and the footage they had of her walking in the shedrow just made it appear she’s even bigger then ever. I don’t think she’s had a chance to work as it was raining this am there a very messy. Further they said she tends to only work on California time. So 6 am in Louisville is still sleeping time for an LA girl

It will be interesting to see how she copes with an expected sloppy/off track. That is not something she is generally used to.

[Glimmerglass]

Her starting tomorrow in the Oaks undercard - Grade 2 Louisville Stakes - is now somewhat iffy: from the BloodHorse

“For her first race back we would like to have a decent track, so we will see how it goes,” said Shirreffs. “We are going to wait until the last minute to make a decision.”

Rain showers have been hitting Churchill Downs throughout the week, and the weather forecast for the weekend remains less than ideal. No race has been selected for Zenyatta’s debut if she scratches on Friday.

[VirginiaBred]

I hate it when the weather doesn’t coorporate…

[vineyridge]

Does this sound plausible?

There may be a tendency to let mares run longer than horses because their reproductive value is less over the long haul. With a super mare, the race winnings in a year will likely be greater than the one offspring she can produce–always recognizing that the sales prices could make that argument a joke.

I’m just thinking that a mare can produce only 14 or so foals in a lifetime, and a good percentage of them will be duds, so the purse money is a real consideration in planning. But a colt can breed to so many mares over his lifetime that it makes sense to start him early and let him make his big money before his crops start racing.

At any rate we are lucky that mares like Zenyatta and Azeri have run past three.

[Linny]

Mares have lower breeding value, especially if they are going to retire to the owners band and none of her foals will be sold. With only one foal a year, they are (compared to stallions) a very inefficient means of production. They have 11 months of gestation followed by several years of raising and training before they can even try to get to the track. Even if the foals are sold it’s at least 6 and more likely 18 months after they are foaled.
A mare like Zenyatta will probably retire to the Moss’ band and her foals will join their string, not be offered for sale. She’s a special mare and her owners are enjoying her too much as a racemare to retire her. (Besides, retiring her NOW, unless she was hurt is moot as it’s very late in the year to breed a maiden mare.)

[VirginiaBred]

Zenyatta Scratched

Darn weather.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/50557/zenyatta-scratched-from-louisville-distaff

[grits]

Scratched.

Bummer.

[jengersnap]

[QUOTE=grits;4062197]

Bummer.[/QUOTE]

What you said

[Glimmerglass]

Wow!

As race caller Mark Johnson said “an absolute slug fest”!

Wow that was one heck of a final stretch in the Grade 2 Louisville Stakes.

The track doesn’t look that bad IMHO so I wish Zenyatta had made it a go but it still was a race to watch and then some. Calvin Bo-RAIL is living up to his nickname and then some for that move. The little grey, Miss Isella, came on in the inside to 1-2 favorite “One Caroline” with Edgar Prado up. One Caroline tried so hard to squish Miss Isella against the rail hard but damn Miss Isella just muscled her way to victory scraping the paint all the way.

Impressive!!

[Calico]

Is there live internet feed somewhere?

[Maybeapril]

Zenyatta was scratched.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;4062592]
As race caller Mark Johnson said “an absolute slug fest”!

Wow that was one heck of a final stretch in the Grade 2 Louisville Stakes.

The track doesn’t look that bad IMHO so I wish Zenyatta had made it a go but it still was a race to watch and then some. Calvin Bo-RAIL is living up to his nickname and then some for that move. The little grey, Miss Isella, came on in the inside to 1-2 favorite “One Caroline” with Edgar Prado up. One Caroline tried so hard to squish Miss Isella against the rail hard but damn Miss Isella just muscled her way to victory scraping the paint all the way.

Impressive!![/QUOTE]

Race replay: Louisville Stakes May 1, 2009 - nerves of steel for Miss Isella and Calvin Borel!

[rcloisonne]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;4064303]

• nerves of steel for Miss Isella and Calvin Borel![/QUOTE]
  I’ll say! That could have been a very bad wreck. No penalty/foul called?

What a beautiful horse Miss Isella is. An Arab like head.

[SeeHowSheRuns]

Miss Isella looked like a tough little horse in this race. This was an exciting win for her and Calvin Borel.

[Glimmerglass]

Up next the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap June 27

Looks like the track is doing their job and assigning proper weights. She toted a mere 126 with her first start and victory this year - the G2 Milady Handicap at Hollywood May 23.

Zenyatta, the undefeated champion older filly or mare of 2008, was assigned high weight of 129 pounds for the June 27 $300,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.

Is that the heaviest weigtht hauled to victory in the Milady? Nope!

Gamely won under a record 131 pounds in 1968, while 1960 winner Silver Spoon carried 130 pounds.

Assigned weights for the entries (PP not yet draw):

Zenyatta, 129; Life Is Sweet, 122; Dawn After Dawn, 116; Briecat, 114; Modification, 114; You Lift Me Up, 114; Allicansayis Wow, 113; Forest Melody, 113, and Hot n’ Dusty, 111.

[Glimmerglass]

I’m not sure if this was an interview with a friendly journalist or something else but precious little can be gleaned from it

BloodHorse 6-23-09 “Q & A With Zenyatta Trainer John Shirreffs”

[Glimmerglass]

While there was effort, I cannot say this low budget vid does much of anything with building up anticipation: youtube: Hollywood Park ‘Zenyatta Commercial’

Is that Erik Estrada?

[VirginiaBred]

@Glimmerglass

I’m not sure if this was an interview with a friendly journalist or something else but precious little can be gleaned from it

BloodHorse 6-23-09 “Q & A With Zenyatta Trainer John Shirreffs”

Other than ask her owners…:lol:

[Glimmerglass]

It is very possible at least one horse will scratch from this race …

$300,000 Vanity Handicap - Grade 1
Track: Hollywood Park
Saturday June 27, 2009
Race 4; 2:30 p.m. PST
Restricted Fillies & Mares 3 & Up
Distance (surface): 1 1/8 Miles (All Weather)

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Dawn After Dawn (FL), G K Gomez, 116, J W Sadler
2. You Lift Me Up (CA), R Bejarano, 114, J Hollendorfer
3. Forest Melody (KY), A Delgadillo, 113, P S Capestro
4. Hot n’ Dusty (CA), A O Solis, 111, B Abrams
5. Modification (KY), J Rosario, 114, D F O’Neill
6. Briecat (FL), M Garcia, 114, V Cerin
7. Allicansayis Wow (KY), J Talamo, 113, P L Biancone
8. Zenyatta (KY), M E Smith, 129, J A Shirreffs

So the largest gap with the handicap weights will be Hot n’ Dusty carrying 18 less pounds then the heavyweight - Zenyatta.

[Glimmerglass]

Per Jerry Moss Sat June 27th they will consider shipping Zenyatta out of California to take on Rachel Alexandra:

“If the two horses are ready and at the top of their form, I would very much like to see a race between the two of them,” Moss said.

There are a number of potential places for them to meet. There is the $1 million Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on July 19; the $300,000 Go for Wand at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 2; or the $400,000 Personal Ensign at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 29.

Moss added that he shares Jackson’s negative view of synthetic racetracks. “It’s just that I’m a Californian, I moved out here from New York a long, long time ago,” he said. “I like the people. This is where I live. This is where I race mostly.”

Moss suggested that one reason he would consider shipping Zenyatta out of the state is to help make her Horse of the Year. She finished second to Curlin for that award last year.