Horse Racing: Zenyatta, the reigning Queen (Part 1)
Zenyatta, nicknamed The Queen, was foaled on the 1st of April 2004. She is an American thoroughbred race horse and rules the sport. So far, the racehorse has contended 19 meets and not even lost one. The most significant victory of her career
was the one at the Breeder’s Cup Classic last fall, where she held off some of the most talented racehorses in the arena. These include Gio Ponti (winner of the Arlington Million), Twice Over, Summer Bird (the champion and winner of 2009 Belmont Stakes), Colonel
John, Richard’s Kid, Mine That Bird (2009 Kentucky Derby winner), Rip Van Winkle, Awesome Gem (Hollywood Gold Cup winner), Einstein (winner of Santa Anita Handicap) and Girolamo.
Talking about her other victories, she has also defeated many Grade I female champions. These include Ginger Punch, Life Is Sweet, Romance Is Diane, Hystericalady, Tough Tiz’s Sis, Double Trouble, Cocoa Beach, Carriage Trail, Santa Teresita and Music Note.
Out of the 19 career meets, she has contested 17 Graded stakes races. 13 of them were Grade I meets. Zenyatta has the honour of being one of the very few undefeated Thoroughbred race horses in the history of the sport. She is now considered at par with Colin,
the best ever American racehorse and the late “super filly” Personal Ensign.
The beautiful Dark Bay coloured Thoroughbred is owned by Jerry and Ann Moss (Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss). Since the start of her athletic career, Zenyatta has been trained by John Sheriffs. John has always flaunted the racehorse. He was found in bitter
disappointment when last year, Zenyatta could not win the Horse of the Year Award. However, John is confident that nothing can stop her from achieving this honour this year. Zenyatta has been ridden by American “Hall of Fame” jockey, Mike Smith in 16 of her
19 career meets. In the first three races of Zenyatta’s career, she was ridden by the Jockey David Flores. Mario Espinoza is Zenyatta’s groom.
Zenyatta defeated her eleven opponents in the very first race that she contended at the Hollywood Park Race Track on 22nd of November 2007. She finished the 6 ½ furlongs in a time of 1 minute and 15.22 seconds, leading the runner-up to the winner
by 3 lengths. She was ridden by David Flores in this particular race. Just a month later, she won another race at the same racetrack. This was a 1 1/6 miles race. Once again under David Flores, Zenyatta completed the race in a time of 1 minute and 40.97 seconds
and by 3 ½ lengths.
Under David Flores, next year, Zenyatta broke the stakes record at Santa Anita in the 1 1/6 miles Grade II El Encino Stakes. She won this race in a time of 1 minute and 40.61 seconds and by 3/4th of a length.
The same year, 2008, she held off the Eclipse champion Ginger Punch in the Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap. This race at the Oaklawn Park was the first Grade I victory for Zenyatta. She finished the 1 1/6 miles race 4 ½ lengths ahead of the seconds place
finisher.
The month that followed, Zenyatta once again emerged victorious from the Hollywood Race track. This time she won the 1 1/6 Grade II Milady Handicap in a time of 1 minute and 41.17 seconds. Ridden by Mike Smith, Zenyatta led her competitors by 2 ½ lengths.
Her next win was again on the Hollywood Park Race Track, the same year. She concluded the 1 1/8 miles Grade I Vanity Handicap in a time of 1 minute and 49.52 seconds. Mike Smith was Zenyatta’s jockey in this race that she won by just half a length.
Under Mike Smith, she then went onto win the Grade II Clement L. Hirsch at the Del Mar race track in August 2008. Zenyatta set a record in this event by finishing the 1 1/16 miles in time of 1 minute and 41.48 seconds. This was rather a marginal victory
since Zenyatta won by just one length.
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