Zenyatta assigned 127 pounds for Santa Margarita

A total of 17 fillies and mares received invitations the 73rd running of the

Santa Margarita. TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) ranks second on the

list of weights with 119 pounds but would be something of a surprise to start. A

multiple Grade 2-winning turf miler, the Jerry Hollendorfer mare has never raced

on a synthetic surface and was well beaten in the John C. Mabee H. (G1) in her

only attempt at this 1 1/8-mile distance. Tuscan Evening is expected to try nine

furlongs again in the March 21 Santa Ana H. (G2) on the grass.

Next on the list is Santa Maria H. (G2) heroine ST TRINIANS (GB) (Piccolo) at

117 pounds, but the Mike Mitchell mare won't face Zenyatta here. St Trinians

opted for last Saturday's Santa Anita H. (G1) versus males, where she finished

sixth.

The fourth-ranked invitee is MUSHKA (Empire Maker), who was assigned 116

pounds. Elevated to victory upon the disqualification of Proviso (GB) (Dansili

[GB]) in the Spinster S. (G1) last October, the Bill Mott trainee was runner-up

in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) next time out. Mushka is coming off a

fifth-place effort behind St Trinians in the Santa Maria.

STRIKING DANCER (Smart Strike), the 13-1 upset winner of the recent La Canada

S. (G2) at this track and trip, was accorded a 115-pound assignment. La Canada

runner-up GRIPSHOLM CASTLE (Dynaformer) and third-place finisher FLOATING HEART

(Giant's Causeway) were pegged at 112 and 111, respectively.

MY BABY BABY (Bernstein), third to St Trinians and Ladies' Classic victress

Life is Sweet (Storm Cat) in the Santa Maria, comes in at 113 pounds, as does El

Encino S. (G2) winner PRETTY UNUSUAL (Unusual Heat).

CZECHERS (Indian Charlie), third to Tuscan Evening in the Buena Vista H.

(G2), gets 112 pounds. Rounding out the list are DANCE TO MY TUNE (Stravinsky),

EMMY DARLING (Graeme Hall), MADE FOR MAGIC (Cape Canaveral) and PRETTY KATHERINE

(Vindication), all at 111; HAKA (Dynaformer), who has a touch of back class from

her runner-up performance in the 2009 Las Virgenes S. (G1), with 110; and the

claimer POWEROFVOODOO (Unusual Heat), the 108-pound lightweight.

Zenyatta's stablemate, Bayakoa H. (G2) queen ZARDANA (Brz) (Crimson Tide),

likely won't take up her 114-pound impost in this spot. Shirreffs has entered

her instead in Saturday's New Orleans Ladies S. at Fair Grounds, where she will

face Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro).

Zenyatta is slated to confront Rachel Alexandra for the first time in the

April 9 Apple Blossom Invitational (G1) at Oaklawn Park, an eagerly-awaited

showdown with a $5 million purse.

In addition to the Santa Margarita's serving as her tune-up for the Apple

Blossom, Zenyatta would pad her historic resume still further with a win

Saturday. Besides Bayakoa, only four other distaffers have won the Santa

Margarita with imposts of 127 pounds or more.

Three are in the Hall of Fame: Silver Spoon, who lugged 130 pounds in the

1960 edition; Gallant Bloom, who toted 129 pounds in the 1970 renewal; and Bed

o' Roses, who also won under 129 pounds in 1952. Bed o' Roses, however, was

actually receiving one pound from runner-up Next Move.

In 1953, Spanish Cream prevailed under 128 pounds, but was getting two pounds

from A Gleam, who finished third. Hall of Famer Busher deserves special credit

for capturing the 1945 Santa Margarita under a 126-pound burden as a

three-year-old.