Zenyatta to race in 2010

[skipaway]

The Moss's just announced they'd be racing Zenyatta in 2010! It'll be a full campaign, not just one race. What a sporting gesture! She's a game, healthy mare and I hope she stays well!

[sk8pics]

I read this yesterday and I feel mixed emotions. On the one hand, and on the other hand . Excited to see her run and yet worried that something will happen to her. But I agree, very sporting of her connections. Or maybe everyone was too afraid to tell her she wasn't going to race any more!

[sk8pics]

Zenyatta runs today! Going for her 17th straight win, I think it is 9 or 10 grade I stakes in a row. Carrying 129 lbs against 4 other horses, spotting each at least 9 lbs. Crossing my fingers!

[Flatfoote]

Yikes on the 129 pounds. You know, I get the idea of trying to even things up with weights. But given the number of injuries to horses of late, and the idea that racing a horse is about seeing who the best is, why not let her carry the same weight as the rest. If she's that much better than the other horses, why not just let her be that much better?

[sk8pics]

I suppose it's only natural to want to try to even things up a bit. She actually carried 129 lbs last year, so it doesn't seem like the weight by itself is too much for her. But she is giving away a lot of weight.... we'll see! I think it'll be broadcast on line this evening....

[sk8pics]

Live on ntra.com right now! Post time coming up shortly...

[sk8pics]

17-0! The Queen stands alone. Unbelievable race! And major props to ntra.com which broadcast it live on line.

Really looked like she knew what she had to do, and dug in with that last burst of speed to get in front right before the line. Just amazing! St. Trinians almost had her but even with 9 lbs advantage she couldn't hold off Z.

[skipaway]

That was truely remarkable. Held my breath all the way down the stretch. She's just so good. Congrats to Zenyatta. Now on to number 18.

[sk8pics]

Here's the replay on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-fJpTGaPH8

[skipaway]

Nice article
17th in a Row!

[Rottie]

Thanks for the YouTube link, sk8pics! OMG. Her running style gives me a heart attack every time. Especially this time -- she had to go so wide to clear horses around the turn for home. It really looked as though her acceleration had lost momentum. But then she was able to find that gear again and another one!

Amazing pace control throughout the race. Of course, that's the jockey calling the shots, but the horse needs to be able to do it. She seems like a jockey's dream.

[sk8pics]

Lots of interesting articles. Here's one I liked:
http://hovdeyblog.drf.com/hovdeyblog/
Excerpt:
"John Shirreffs stood on the guinea stand next to the grandstand crowd, smack in the maw of the sound, wearing a painfully dated cap ("Zenyatta 14-14") and holding his breath for the few eternal seconds it took Zenyatta to take St. Trinians seriously enough to flop those big ears back for a few strides and reel her in to win the Vanity Handicap, her 17th without defeat...
The Zenyatta team always ends up very much on the same page, and the big mare always comes through to tie things up with a bright ribbon. Anyone who thinks Zenyatta beat a bunch of patsies on Sunday needed to put a clock on St. Trinians -- who handled Life Is Sweet earlier in the year -- through that final quarter mile. Her front legs going all directions, the British mare gave as much as you can give to a race and still be upright at the end. Standing there afterwards, being unsaddled in the backwash of the Zenyatta din, she was spent, dizzy and noble. I hope she knew some of that noise was for her."

[sk8pics]

While we're waiting for Zenyatta to make her next start, I came across a song on iTunes by Lisa G Fly called Zenyatta. Kind of catchy, here are some of the lyrics:


Cute song, very catchy. Here's an excerpt:

"There was no tellin', what was to be,
The day they sold hip number 703,
not too bad lookin', little bit furry,
she'll do for someone who's not in a hurry.
Destiny smiled on that Street Cry daughter,
She grew up and became Zenyatta.
Everybody watched when she spread her wings,
And now she's the queen of the sport of kings."
...

The paddock is crowded, and Zenyatta knows,
It's all about her, so she points her toes,
She puts out her best moves, and she gets down low,
Yeah, the big momma knows how to put on a show.
Zenyatta, she's gonna be last from the gate,
she'll be last at the half, last at the three eighths,
she's last at the quarter, she's not gonna lose, no,
She's checking with Mike about what gear to use.
Zenyatta, Zenyatta, the other jocks say,
you think you're alive, she'll just blow you away,
Into the lane, you can look, you won't find her,
You feel the ground rumble and then you're behind her."

"She'll hover back there, like a big mother hen,
Clocking the speed, measuring them,
She'll pass half the field in one move and just
Smile, switch leads, and mow down the rest.
Zenyatta, Zenyatta, you hear the crowd roar,
The grandstand is shaking like never before,
She crosses the wire,
and she winks at her fans,
One ear pointed forward,
And one towards the stands."

[sk8pics]

Zenyatta runs today! You can watch it live on ntra.com around 9 pm. Going for 18 in a row...

[skipaway]

Live on TVG also. Some talk that she could be scratched due to track conditions this morning, but no official word yet.

Go Zenyatta

[skipaway]

She's 18-0 now. Outstanding race.

[sk8pics]

Love that Zenyatta!

[skipaway]

Nice LA Times article

LA Times

Bloodhorse article with video link:

Bloodhorse

[Rottie]

Thanks for the link to video, skipaway. Amazing horse!

[sk8pics]

I like Dwyer's LATimes article a lot. Excerpt:
"Zenyatta doesn't so much win races as she does reduce everybody around her into a gathering of mush and gush. One sign said that Zenyatta was "The Queen of (our) Hearts." A TV interviewer got owners Jerry and Ann Moss aside and, instead of asking a question, slobbered an emotion: "Thank you so much for running her another year," he said, badly damaging his chances for investigative reporter of the year."