Zenyatta, Life is Sweet back at Hollywood Park

Mike Smith casts a glance heavenward aboard Zenyatta (Benoit Photo) ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) climaxed one of the most brilliant careers in racing history with a thrilling victory in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), becoming the first female to win the coveted race and extending her unbeaten streak to 14. The effort to overcome her male counterparts took nothing out of the supermare. "She could run again today," trainer John Shirreffs said of his massive dark bay charge on Sunday. Shirreffs accomplished an unheard of double when saddling Zenyatta to victory in the Classic. One day prior, the conditioner had sent out LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat) to capture the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths.

"This is as good as it gets," said Shirreffs after a sleepless night from

Hollywood Park, reflecting on his dream weekend and reporting that both females

had been shipped back across town to their training base in good order. "They

both ate up and walked this morning.

"Life Is Sweet is such a talented filly in her own right," Shirreffs said of

the four-year-old, who had raced in Zenyatta's giant shadow much of the year.

Owner-breeders Marty and Pam Wygod will decide whether Life is Sweet is kept

in training for another year or joins Zenyatta in the broodmare ranks.

Mario Espinoza, the groom for both horses, also recorded a less publicized

double.

"You have to have a good supporting cast," said Shirreffs, crediting his barn

help headed by Espinoza and exercise rider Steve Willard.

Shirreffs added that owners Jerry and Ann Moss and jockey Mike Smith

accompanied him and his wife, Dottie, to celebrate Zenyatta's historic

victory at the Arroyo Chop House restaurant in Pasadena Saturday night.

Trainer Christophe Clement reported that his Breeders' Cup starters came out

of their races in good order. He was particularly pleased with GIO PONTI's (Tale

of the Cat) performance in the Classic, in which his four-year-old drove to the

lead in midstretch, only to be caught by the undefeated Zenyatta nearing the

finish line.

"It was pretty exciting when he made the move in the stretch. I knew that the

mare was nice -- obviously she's great, the way she ran. She's a great mare,"

Clement said.

There are no definite plans for Gio Ponti, the country's most dominant turf

performer who captured four straight Grade 1s while competing on the sod.

"He'll have a day or two easy, then we'll have a plan," Clement said. "We'll

stay here a few days and speak to the owner."

The switch to a synthetic surface at Santa Anita didn't appear to faze the

bay colt, who impressed Clement with his versatility in handling the Pro-Ride.

"We always knew he was a very nice horse, but the way he ran yesterday, the

way he produced his best form on the Pro-Ride, we have more options," said

Clement, who mentioned the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) as a possible goal for next

year.

Clement took a moment to look back on Gio Ponti's breakout year.

"He had a very nice career this year. He won four Grade 1s and finished

second in two other Grade 1s," he said. "He should look very good for (the

Eclipse Award as champion turf horse) and champion older horse, maybe. But I'm

just the trainer. I don't vote."

Trainer Tim Ice stated that Classic fourth-placer SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone)

exited the race well, but was feeling the effects of the test Saturday night.

"He came out of the race good," Ice explained. "He left some feed last night,

which is very unusual for him. Physically, he's fine. It was a hard race. He ran

hard and I think it took a little bit out of him, more than previous races.

Overall, I'm very pleased with how he's physically come out of the race."

Ice added that he has not decided on shipping plans for the Belmont S. (G1),

Travers (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner, who has been invited to

compete in the Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1).

"We'll look at him the next couple of days, talk to the owners and see what

we're going to do," Ice said. "We'll see how he does the next few days, see if

he gets back on his feed and make a decision whether we want to go to Japan or

give him some time."

Ice will be based at Oaklawn Park again this winter and is planning to move

to the New York circuit in the spring. He has 35 horses in training.

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) has completed his

season and will spend some time on co-owner Mark Allen's Double Eagle Ranch

following his ninth-place finish in the Classic.

"I think probably Tuesday morning we'll head back to New Mexico, turn him out

and give him a rest," trainer Chip Woolley said. "We'll try to give him 60 days,

give or take. Just give him a good break and let him decide."

Woolley said the bay gelding came out of the race without any problems.

"Luckily, he pulled up well, he looks good this morning; he jogged good,"

Woolley said. "We feel like he's in pretty good shape. Just a break, a mental

break and a physical break.

During his breakthrough season on the national stage, Woolley sent Mine That

Bird out to compete against the two female superstars, Rachel Alexandra

(Medaglia d'Oro) and Zenyatta.

"They are both great, great, great individuals," he said. "Both of them have

done things that are pretty much unprecedented in racing. It's tough to separate

them in a way, but Zenyatta's race (Saturday), the fans were truly blessed to be

here to see the effort she put out and to see a race like that.

"At the same time, the fans have been blessed all year watching Rachel

Alexandra perform, with running with the boys, traveling all over the country

and running huge. She's eight-for-eight on (seven) different racetracks. She

beat the boys three times. She's done it all -- run in the slop and on good

racetracks. She did whatever was asked of her. She showed up, she beat the

fillies by unprecedented margins; she beat the boys handily most of the time,

all but the one trip (Woodward S. [G1]). It's been a great year to watch the

both of them."

"They all came back OK," trainer Bob Baffert said at Clockers' Corner Sunday

morning, describing his three Breeders' Cup runners.

The white-haired conditioner sent out RICHARD'S KID (Lemon Drop Kid) in the

Classic, where he finished sixth; 9-5 Sprint (G1) favorite ZENSATIONAL

(Unbridled's Song), who ran fifth while just missing by 1 3/4 lengths; and

LOOKIN AT LUCKY (Smart Strike), who fell a head short in the Juvenile (G1) as

the 2-1 choice.

"In the case of Richard's Kid, he didn't run as well as I thought he would,"

Baffert said. "The jock (Alex Solis) said there was some bumping at the two and

a half (five-sixteenths pole) and then he never got into gear after that. But I

changed sides at the eighth-pole and started rooting for Zenyatta.

"Amazing. Amazing. She's as good as it gets. And the way the grandstand

erupted, I couldn't believe it. Everyone was cheering. Nobody wanted to leave.

She made us feel good. She made us all feel good. It's got to be the greatest

moment in Breeders' Cup history."

"With Zensational, he didn't break and never got into it," Baffert went on.

"We had to call an audible there and it didn't work out. It just wasn't his day.

With Lookin at Lucky, that one really hurt. I really wanted that race and I

thought I was going it win it. He's a really good horse and I didn't need that

race to tell me that. I knew it going it. It hurt, but what are you going to

do?"