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No ladies will actually run in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic, formerly the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Does it matter? Name change and all, count me among the enthused that the Ladies Classic has top billing for the first time in its history. Title IX be praised. What a treat this is going to be.
On Saturday, I visited Santa Anita for the first time and was treated to six grade one events, one more than will be contested on Breeders’ Cup Friday. Along with longtime Southern California racing radio/Internet personality John Hernandez, we stood in the walking ring in amazement.
Zenyatta.
What a filly.
Never before had I witnessed a horse really seeming to jump out of her shoes at the prospects of racing. On Saturday, she made it eight for eight lifetime with a hand-ridden win in the Lady’s Secret. She could sense the excitement around her, the urge to let loose on the Pro-Ride paper clip track. A controlled aggression in her every step around the wood-chipped walking ring, strutting like a good thing.
In a day of firsts, here was another uttered by yours truly: “1-5 is an overlay right now.”
Steve Haskin from Bloodhorse makes the comparison.
“Zenyatta is an absolute monster and it’s going to take a freaky effort to beat her in the Ladies Classic. What was most telling about the Lady’s Secret were Zenyatta’s Secretariat-like splits, in which she ran each quarter faster than the previous one. Her splits were :24 4/5, :23 4/5, :23 1/5, :22 3/5, and a final sixteenth in :06 flat. And she does everything with her ears pricked, as if it’s all so effortless. Is there anything this remarkable filly can’t do?”
If ever a horse looked like an absolute sure thing in the paddock, Zenyatta was that. I’d be excited to watch her again, and at least now I know what her appearance is before a tremendous performance.
Now add in a few others: Music Note, Cocoa Beach, Ginger Punch, Hystericalady, Unbridled Belle, Seattle Smooth, Bear Now. This race deserves some top billing.
RacingDispatch.com will blog all week from the Breeders’ Cup with Pat Cummings, Nick Tammaro, and Mersad Metanovic.
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On Saturday, I visited Santa Anita for the first time and was treated to six grade one events, one more than will be contested on Breeders’ Cup Friday. Along with longtime Southern California racing radio/Internet personality John Hernandez, we stood in the walking ring in amazement.
Zenyatta.
What a filly.
Never before had I witnessed a horse really seeming to jump out of her shoes at the prospects of racing. On Saturday, she made it eight for eight lifetime with a hand-ridden win in the Lady’s Secret. She could sense the excitement around her, the urge to let loose on the Pro-Ride paper clip track. A controlled aggression in her every step around the wood-chipped walking ring, strutting like a good thing.
In a day of firsts, here was another uttered by yours truly: “1-5 is an overlay right now.”
Steve Haskin from Bloodhorse makes the comparison.
“Zenyatta is an absolute monster and it’s going to take a freaky effort to beat her in the Ladies Classic. What was most telling about the Lady’s Secret were Zenyatta’s Secretariat-like splits, in which she ran each quarter faster than the previous one. Her splits were :24 4/5, :23 4/5, :23 1/5, :22 3/5, and a final sixteenth in :06 flat. And she does everything with her ears pricked, as if it’s all so effortless. Is there anything this remarkable filly can’t do?”
If ever a horse looked like an absolute sure thing in the paddock, Zenyatta was that. I’d be excited to watch her again, and at least now I know what her appearance is before a tremendous performance.
Now add in a few others: Music Note, Cocoa Beach, Ginger Punch, Hystericalady, Unbridled Belle, Seattle Smooth, Bear Now. This race deserves some top billing.
RacingDispatch.com will blog all week from the Breeders’ Cup with Pat Cummings, Nick Tammaro, and Mersad Metanovic.
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I think she needs to go in the Classic. I don't think we've seen the bottom of her.
Zenyatta is the best filly/mare I have ever seen.