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Zenyatta topples Ginger Punch in Apple Blossom Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss' ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) moved her record to a perfect four-for-four on Saturday when upsetting reigning champion Ginger Punch (Awesome Again) in the $500,000 Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park. Sent off the 9-5 second choice, the John Shirreffs charge ran 1 1/16 miles on the fast dirt in 1:42 3/5 to return $5.60, $3.60 and $2.20 to her loyal followers. Zenyatta settled well off the early pace established by Ginger Punch, who posted splits of :23 2/5, :47 1/5 and 1:11 3/5. Jockey Mike Smith gave her the signal rounding the turn and the eventual winner responded, kicking into high gear on the outside. From there, it was just a question of how far she would win by as the dark bay miss swept under the line 4 1/2 lengths better than her closest rival. Brownie Points (Forest Wildcat) raced in midpack before beginning her run around the turn, kept pace for a few strides with Zenyatta, then settled for second at 18-1 to pay $8 and $3. The chestnut mare finished out the $71.60 exacta. Ginger Punch appeared to be running easily along the backstretch, but couldn't keep that momentum going in the stretch run, finishing 3 1/2 lengths farther back in third as the 2-5 choice. Show was good for $2.20, and the trifecta returned $85.20. Lemon Drop Mom (Lemon Drop Kid) followed in fourth, while Clever Strike (Smart Strike) and Kettleoneup (Victory Gallop) completed the order under the wire. Zenyatta has now banked $444,000 in earnings from four lifetime starts. The four-year-old miss began her career in late November at Hollywood Park, breaking her maiden by three lengths prior to a 3 1/2-length score in an allowance back at that track. She moved to Santa Anita to make her 2008 bow, and posted a 1 3/4-length victory in the El Encino S. (G2) prior to this one. Bred by Maverick Production Limited in Kentucky, Zenyatta is out of the winning Vertigineux (Kris S.), making her a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 queen Balance (Thunder Gulch), an unraced juvenile filly named Treasure Trail (Pulpit) and an unnamed colt by Giant's Causeway. The four-year-old miss was a bargain at only $60,000 for her owners at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
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