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Eight line up against Zenyatta in Santa Margarita
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| Zenyatta is the undisputed ruler
on the West Coast
(Benoit Photos) |
Undefeated
Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) queen and dual champion ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire])
will make her 2010 debut while carrying the highweight of 127 pounds in Saturday's $250,000
Santa Margarita
H. (G1), an event the racing world
expects will lead to a showdown with Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra
(Medaglia d'Oro) in the
$5 million Apple Blossom Invitational (G1) at Oaklawn Park on April 9.
"Zenyatta will leave for Santa Anita tomorrow after training and school
Thursday afternoon," trainer John Shirreffs said Wednesday from his Hollywood
Park headquarters. "She's doing well and we're looking forward to the race."
Zenyatta, who is scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita around 11 a.m. (PST), will be making her first start since her dramatic
last-to-first victory against males in the 1 1/4-mile Classic, in which
she carried 123 pounds. Her highest impost to date has been 129 pounds, which she
toted to
victory by 2 1/2 lengths in the Vanity H. (G1) at Hollywood last June.
Zenyatta's Classic win moved her career line to a perfect 14-for-14,
surpassing the great Hall of Famer Personal Ensign. She's now earned $5,474,580
to become the richest North American-based distaffer in Thoroughbred racing
history.
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Regular rider Mike Smith will be aboard the massive six-year-old mare, who is
three-for-three at the Santa Margarita distance of nine furlongs.
Although Zenyatta finished second to
Rachel Alexandra for Horse of the Year honors, she lost no stature with trainer
A.C. Avila, who will be sending out stakes winner MADE FOR MAGIC (Cape
Canaveral) in the Santa Margarita.
"It's true she's not Horse of the Year," Avila said. "To me, she's Horse of
the Decade."
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| Pretty Unusual will try to get back on the winning track while returning to the main track
(Benoit Photos) |
Though Avila has a horse entered against her, the trainer offered little hope
on anyone upsetting Zenyatta Saturday.
"It's impossible to beat the monster," he said.
Zenyatta will be giving from 12 to 19 pounds in the Santa Margarita. The next
highest weight listed is the 115 pounds assigned La
Canada S. (G2) winner STRIKING DANCER (Smart Strike). The Kenny McPeek runner
surprised at 13-1 in her graded victory last out and will try her luck once
again under Alex Solis.
Also hoping to go down in the history books as the first horse to beat
Zenyatta is PRETTY UNUSUAL (Unusual Heat), who added the El Encino S. (G2) to
her resume on January 17. Since then, the four-year-old bay has competed in turf
stakes, finishing third in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf and fifth in
the Buena Vista H. (G2). A return to the Pro-Ride could see the Barry Abrams
charge finishing closer on the line.
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Others entered in the Santa Margarita include the second- and third-place
finishers in the La Canada, GRIPSHOLM CASTLE (Dynaformer) and FLOATING HEART
(Giant's Causeway), respectively. The former miss was making her U.S. debut in
that spot, while Floating Heart was running third for the third straight time
after filling that same spot in the Paseana H. in early January.
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