Zenyatta faces five in Hirsch

Only five rivals will line up on Saturday against super mare ZENYATTA (Street

Cry [Ire]) in the $300,000

Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1), and not one appears capable of keeping the

undefeated star from earning her 18th career victory. The dark bay opened the

year in the Santa Margarita Invitational (G1), where rider error nearly got the

six-year-old boxed in during the stretch run. Regular rider Mike Smith sent

Zenyatta in between horses and the pair found the way blocked, forcing the mare

to take up sharply, angle out and then run down longtime leader DANCE TO MY TUNE

(Stravinsky).

Four showed up when Zenyatta took her show on the road to Oaklawn

Park next out. The Apple Blossom S. (G1) turned into a paid workout as

she loped home an easy 4 1/4-length winner, but Zenyatta faced her

toughest test to date when going for her third straight score in the

Vanity H. (G1). The massive mare hooked up with St Trinians (GB)

(Piccolo) in the lane and, for the first time in her career, endured a

real challenge.

MADE FOR MAGIC (Cape Canaveral) looks to be the best of the rest following a

victory in the Milady H. (G2) on Hollywood Park's Cushion Track in mid-May. She

traveled to Churchill Downs for the Fleur de Lis H. (G2) next out and was

well-beaten on the main track, but showed signs of her previous form when

rallying for fourth in the A Gleam H. (G2) last out back at Hollywood at a

distance far short of her best. Dance to My Tune will attempt to regain her run

after a pair of off-the-board finishes that followed the Santa Margarita.

There are a few new shooters in the Hirsch, but none come anywhere near the

same level as Zenyatta.