Zenyatta and the Ghost of Native Dancer

The parallels are frightening. Two of the most popular horses in modern history were perfect examples of power and athleticism. They did not need to win by ten lengths to prove their superiority over their peers. They raced, and they won. Time and time again, they won. Native Dancer, and then Zenyatta nearly 60 years later, were perfect. Or at least as perfect as we could hope our thoroughbred stars to be. You know the old saying about history repeating itself. It seems as if the race of the year, maybe the race so far of the 21st century, was just a little bit of history repeating. As if somehow haunted by the Grey Ghost, Zenyatta fell victim to the racing gods that evening at Churchill Downs, and poof, just like that, her undefeated career went up in smoke. We all know her story … from 2007 through 2010, Zenyatta won her first 19 races. She entered her final career race with all the fanfare of a rock star. She danced and pranced her way into the public consciousness, and into their hearts as well. Zenyatta is as popular as any race horse has been in at least 30 years. The Breeders’ Cup crowd was bubbling over with anticipation and excitement to see her succeed and head off into the sunset untethered by a single defeat. As it had been 57 years earlier for Native Dancer. He was racing’s first television star. American household’s welcomed him into their living rooms on a regular basis. The Kentucky Derby of 1953 may not have been his final race of his career, but it was the most important. Undefeated and Horse of the Year as a juvenile, the Grey Ghost stormed into Louisville as the people’s horse. He was unblemished through eleven races. The Run for the Roses was destined to be his. It was not. The twin spires proved to be a harsh defender of the sacred undefeated career for Native Dancer. The great colt would rebound in his next ten races to retire with 21 wins in 22 career starts. His name will forever be included in the pantheon of all-time greats, but still I wonder, what if. What if he had been able to start rolling just a few strides earlier? What if he had been able to eclipse that pesky Dark Star? How would Native Dancer be remembered now? No one blames Dark Star. He was a very good horse who ran a great Kentucky Derby. On that day, he won the race. Flash forward to modern day, and I do not blame Blame. He is a good horse. A very, very good horse. Better than Dark Star was, but still, he will never be remembered like Zenyatta will be. He won the race fair and square, but as in 1953, Zenyatta was so very close. In the end it was one desperate head that broke up the perfect game for Zenyatta, as it had for Native Dancer. Both met their demise under the famed twin spires of Churchill Downs on the biggest of days. So very close to perfection, but not meant to be. Was Zenyatta done in by the curse of Native Dancer? Maybe. I will leave you with this one last thought … Native Dancer was denied the Horse of the Year award in 1953, because of that one heartbreaking, and narrow defeat. Well that, and a superlative season by Tom Fool. Something tells me that Zenyatta will not be so cursed.

My Favorite Races of 2010

1) Breeders’ Cup Classic - As if there was any doubt. The Epic race played out by Blame and Zenyatta was an instant classic. Despite the fact that the far more popular Zenyatta lost the photo by a short head to her male competitor, the 2010 edition of the BC Classic was the race of the year, and one of the greatest races I have ever seen. 2) Travers Stakes - If not for the unforgettable drama in the Classic, this year’s Travers would have made for a worthy race of the year. In Saratoga’s most important race, two proud colts hooked up late and battled nose to nose to the wire leaving the rest of the field far behind. Afleet Express would win the photo and the Travers, but Fly Down ran huge and only lost by an eyelash. 3) Fleur de Lis Handicap - It was a tough season for my favorite horse, Rachel Alexandra, but not on this day. Looking like the same filly who had the greatest season of any three-year-old filly in history the year before, Rachel’s performance in the Fleur de Lis allowed this admiring onlooker one last thrilling moment with the filly I loved. 4) Whitney Handicap - It became the changing of the guard when the leader of the handicap division, Quality Road was challenged by the up and coming Blame. It was a challenge that Quality Road could not handle, as Blame took his place as the best male horse in the nation with a thrilling stretch drive in the Whitney. 5) Breeders’ Cup Mile - Goldikova and Gio Ponti. The all-time great French mare against the excellent American challenger. It was set to be a showdown, but it turned into a coronation. Goldikova is an incredible mare, and she was never finer than in this year’s BC Mile. In the process, she became the first horse ever to win three Breeders’ Cup races. 6) Breeders’ Cup Juvenile - No exciting finishes in this one, but this race resonated with me nonetheless for one big reason, and that reason is Uncle Mo. I have not been this excited about a juvenile for many years, and Mo let it all hang out in the biggest race of the year for two-year-olds. I have been on triple crown amber alert ever since. 7) Tampa Bay Derby - It was the photo that seemed to defy our own eyes. Whatever it was, the finish of this Kentucky Derby prep was fantastic, as the ill-fated Odysseus somehow came back to get the win over Schoolyard Dreams by a whisker, with future Derby hero Super Saver a close 3rd. 8) Vanity Handicap - It was just Zenyatta being Zenyatta. One of the best mares in the country, St Trinians ran her heart out on that day, and looked like she might be the first to defeat the undefeated superstar. Of course we all know who would be ahead as they hit the wire. Poor St Trinians. 9) Flower Bowl Handicap - The highlight of my trip to Belmont was the fantastic finish in this filly and mare turf, grade one. Ave was ultimately able to get the job done when she split horses in late stretch to narrowly out duel Changing Skies and Red Desire to the wire. 10) The Preakness - Redemption was sweet for Lookin at Lucky in the middle jewel of the triple crown, as he rebounded from a horrid trip in the Kentucky Derby, to regain his place atop the sophomore division. On a personal note, it was my first Preakness in person, and I was pleased to see a champion strut his stuff. Photo Courtesy of Reed Palmer Photography

Breaking News ... Zenyatta to be Retired

Zipse at the Track has learned from very reliable sources that the racing career of the great Zenyatta will soon be officially over. She is expected to arrive in Kentucky, from California, early in December to begin her next career as a broodmare. While most of the speculation recently has centered around her likely retirement, many of her admirers held out hope that the Queen would come back for one more year, or even make a final start in Dubai for the World Cup. If she did start in the World Cup and win, Zenyatta would easily become the richest thoroughbred in history. These hopes now appear to be over. Zenyatta will retire with a record of 19 wins and 1 second in 20 lifetime starts, including two wins in the Breeders‘ Cup and the narrowest of losses in this year‘s Classic. She will win her third consecutive Older Female Eclipse Award in January, and quite possibly her first Horse of the Year title. I think I speak for everyone when I say, Zenyatta will be missed. I wish her the best in her next career at Lane's End.

Don’t Blame Me for Being a Champion

Don‘t hate me just because I won a horse race. The enormity of that victory, coming in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, with Zenyatta being the horse that I edged in a tight photo, is not lost on me. I understand that most of the millions of fans watching the Classic were on her side, rather than mine. I have no problem with that. Zenyatta is great, but I am not a villain. I am a very good horse who was able to reach the pinnacle of my sport. Nor am I an Upset, Jim Dandy, or an Onion, as some have suggested. I certainly would not argue with anyone that calls her the best mare of all-time, but hey, I wasn’t too shabby either. Take a look at my career accomplishments, and you can see that I was consistent and classy. I am a horse worthy of respect, not hatred. In fact, I am a champion. I believe that I made a strong case for Horse of the Year this year, but whether or not I win that one, (I fully understand that Zenyatta has the credentials as well) I will be named the Outstanding Older Male of 2010. Seth Hancock and Al Stall mapped out a plan for me at the beginning of the year, and I followed it to the letter. First, I won the Grade 3 Schaffer at Pimlico, and then it was nothing but grade ones for me. I went on to score in three of the most important stakes in the nation. I won the Stephen Foster at Churchill in June, the Whitney at Saratoga in August, and the BC Classic in November. My only loss was in the prestigious Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont. That day, I was the victim of a good speed horse on the lead in a paceless race. I still managed 2nd, easily finishing ahead of Fly Down who came back to run 3rd in the Classic. For those who think I came out of nowhere this year, keep in mind that I finished 2009 with a flourish as well. My final five races of last year match my record of this year. I won 4 times with a 2nd in the Super Derby in those five races, meaning that in my last 10 races, I had 8 wins and 2 seconds. Hardly Onion like. Additionally, much like the Jockey Club, the Super Derby was tough on me because a quality horse set a very slow pace, but I came running as I always did. I finished off my three-year-old season with impressive wins in the Fayette, on a synthetic surface at Keeneland, and the Clark over a strong field. So strong in fact, the Clark was elevated to grade 1 status for this year. Overall, I won 9 times and earned more than $4.3 million, in only 13 races. In those 13 starts, I never once finished out of the money as I improved in each of my three seasons of racing. I hope that the voters all take the time to judge the 2010 merits of both of us fairly, and after that, let the chips fall where they mare. Sure, I want to win the award, but I also wish my esteemed competition the best of luck. It should be an interesting contest, just as I understand it was last year. While I shift into my new career, as a stallion standing at Claiborne Farm for a fee of $35,000, I hope that true fans of racing remember me fondly. At Claiborne, I have already been introduced to my new living quarters, once formerly occupied by the great Buckpasser. It is an amazing place. I join star horses of the past like Secretariat, Bold Ruler, and Gallant Fox who made Claiborne their home after their stellar racing careers. In conclusion, I am sorry that I broke many hearts when I became the only horse ever to defeat Zenyatta, but I only did what I was asked to do … run hard, run fast, and do my best, and that is exactly what I did. Photo Courtesy of Reed Palmer Photography

And the Horse of the Year is …

In an even more difficult decision than the one last year, I have made my choice for the 2010 Horse of the Year, and the winner is … Zenyatta. First off, let me say that I believe the Horse of the Year to be a single year award. In no way did I let career records filter in my thinking for the 2010 honors. In the end, I only considered two horses for the award in Blame and Zenyatta.  While I believe that Goldikova and Uncle Mo were spectacular, they simply did not do enough, either in America, or against quality competition, to stack up against Zenyatta and Blame for the entire year. In selecting Zenyatta, I made a tough decision that goes against the grain for me slightly, as Blame was my pick to win the Classic, and I fully expected him to be Horse of the Year if he could win the Classic. Blame did win the Classic, but Zenyatta ran so well in defeat that I needed to rethink my position. Any less than the fantastic finish that carried her within inches of victory, and I would have stuck with Blame. In comparison, I found many similarities between the two. Each horse was very consistent in 2010, if somewhat under tested. Both horses could have run more for my liking, but Zenyatta won 5 races with one 2nd place finish in 6 starts, while Blame took home 4 victories, also with one 2nd in 5 starts. These similar records became almost a wash for me as Zenyatta has more grade one wins, total victories, and came closer to perfection this year, but Blame took home the biggest race and was the winner in their only head-to-head contest. Zenyatta could have strengthened her portfolio with one more race against males. Blame lost points for running only five times. Zenyatta ran exclusively in grade one stakes, but this fact is tempered by the competition, or the lack there of, she faced. Blame won a big Whitney, but the race lost a little luster after seeing where the other three finished in the Classic. Looking at their seasons on paper, I could not make enough delineation to make a decision. In most cases like this, I will side with the horse who won the biggest race. Not this time, as in my opinion, nothing was proven between the two in the Classic, other than the photo showed Blame ever so slightly ahead. If they raced again, I do not have a strong opinion as to who would win. In the Classic, they both strengthened my belief that they are the best two horses in America, and either would be a worthy Horse of the Year, but who is more worthy? That question finally gave me the answer. As excellent as Blame was this year, he is simply not more worthy than Zenyatta. No lifetime achievement, no popularity sentiment here. In fact, I would have no problem going against the people’s choice, if I believed Blame was the more deserving. I do not. Zenyatta was the finest thoroughbred that we saw in 2010.

Goldikova Streaks Towards Immortality

How great is Goldikova? Three consecutive wins in the Breeders’ Cup Mile speaks volumes. No horse has ever done it in any BC races, and my guess is it will be a very long time before anyone can match her. Remarkably, this story does not end at three for the fanstistique French mare though. Race fans were thrilled this week with the news that Goldikova will be back in training in 2011. Even better, she will be specifically aimed for Churchill Downs and the Breeders’ Cup Mile again next year. Three Breeders’ Cup victories makes her a legend, a fourth would place her in the realm of the untouchables of sporting lore. Take a look at a list I have compiled (in no particular order) of the dozen greatest streaks in American sports history, and decide for yourself where four consecutive wins at the Breeders’ Cup would place the great Goldikova. *Johnny Vander Meer pitched two straight no-hitters in 1938. *Kelso won five consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cups and Horse of the Year titles from 1960-1964. *The Boston Celtics won eight consecutive NBA titles from 1959-1966. *Cal Ripken Jr. played in 2,632 straight MLB games from 1982-1998. *Byron Nelson had 11 straight golf tournament wins in 1945. *The Philadelphia Flyers completed 35 games without a loss during the 1979 NHL season. *Brett Favre has started at Quarterback in 293 consecutive NFL games and still counting. *UCLA took home the NCAA basketball championship in seven consecutive seasons from 1967-1973. *Alexei Karelin had a 13-year winning streak in Greco-Roman style wrestling. *The Miami Dolphins' completed a perfect NFL season with a 17-0 mark in 1972. *Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 consecutive baseball games in 1941. *Zenyatta won the first 19 races of her career from 2007-2010. Photo Courtesy of Reed Palmer Photography

Farewell to My Heroes

by Scott Dick  (special guest piece) It's a few days removed from one of the most exciting finishes in Breeders Cup history and only one thought has entered my mind. What happens now? Initially, in the moment, in the excitement and the thrill of seeing Blame, the horse I picked and a lot of us picked cross the finish line a desperate nose in front of the mighty Zenyatta, I was happy I picked the winner in one of the toughest races to handicap and maybe in my ignorance a little to "proud" of myself for this feat. Now that all the excitement has worn off and we're a few days removed from one of the most exciting Breeders Cup weekends in the history of the event, I find myself with a little remorse and a twinge in my heart. It hit me hard as soon as I watched Mike Smith's press conference. This man has given his life to this sport and he's done it with dignity and class. And when Smith uttered the words " it hurts more than I can explain just cause it was my fault she should of won it ain't hers" I literally broke down and wept and even now writing this piece tears are rolling down my face. I have not been one of the strongest voices in Zenyatta's corner. I've had my doubts about her class and the horses she's beaten. She proved me wrong and in her only defeat she stole my heart. It's really not supposed to end like this. She's supposed to get her nose down in time. I've been an admirer of Rachel Alexandra since the beginning of her career and I'm taking nothing away from Rachel, who will always be number #1 in my eyes. I feel guilty, maybe, I missed it? Maybe some of us missed it? Yes, I've more than enjoyed Zenyatta over the past three years and her dancing and pawing and just sure brilliance. But in the back of my mind, in my selfishness, I didn't want to accept what I was seeing. I was blessed to see Zenyatta five feet away from me with a dear horse racing friend of mine, Tim Reynolds. Friday morning we rushed to Longfield Avenue to see if the great Zenyatta would be out grazing and in a sure act of fate, she was. I was over whelmed with what I saw, she was the most amazing creature I've ever seen in person. But now after the Classic, I'm hit with the realization I'll never see these two incredible mares run again. This is an incredibly hard fact to face. Anyone that knows me knows I'm an intense person. I take things hard and I experience this game with my heart and in quoting Mike Smith and using a little bit of my own verbiage, "It hurts more than you know, just cause it ain't her fault it's mine she deserved everyone to love her for who she is and now that it's over. I do love more now than ever and can say without a doubt the greatest race mare I've ever seen." So back to my question, what do we do now? This sport can be a cruel and heartless mistress and just at the height of our love for a horse, they're taken away from us, never to be seen again in the same spot light they were. 2010 has been so hard for me. Financially speaking, one of the best years I've had in the game, but emotionally speaking it's been "too hard". I'm tired of goodbyes. It hurt me more than anything when Jess Jackson took Rachel away from us in the darkness of the night, with no explanation, no goodbye, no last chance to see her again. And now we have to do it again. I can't bear to say goodbye to Zenyatta, not after my new found love for her. It's just too hard! Not only that, we also have to say goodbye to Blame who was a deserving victor in the biggest race in the world and probably won't get the credit as a horse he deserves. I do not want to say goodbye. Where does this sport go from here? What do we do if and when Gio Ponti is retired and then what if Goldikova doesn't come back to run in 2011? I'm really having a hard time with this, but maybe just maybe the future is bright. Maybe the light will be shown on this sport in the future because of a bay colt named Mo. Or maybe just maybe we'll see an Oaks win by a horse who runs light as a feather, An Awesome Feather at that. Maybe the future of our sport is being born today on a cold Monday morning some where around Lexington. Saying goodbye is always hard, but this year has been un-bearable. So I'll leave Zenyatta, the Mosses, Mike Smith, Steve Willard, Mario with a simple apology. I'm sorry for not seeing "it" until now. But I will smile and look to the future knowing that soon, we'll have another one of these amazing creatures grab our hearts and tug and never let go.

Eclipse Awards … at First Blush

The Breeders’ Cup can make or break a horse’s quest to be named an Eclipse Award winner, and that may be especially true this year. The excitement over the past few days at Churchill Downs not only drew great emotion, it also went a long way in deciding who would be named a champion at year‘s end. With less than two months remaining in the calendar year there are several big races yet to be run. What impact any of those races may have is questionable though, as the Breeders’ Cup appears to have put most of the divisional championships firmly in the grasp of the following ten horses. Two-Year-Old Filly - Awesome Feather left Calder unbeaten and untested, now she is an undefeated Breeders’ Cup champion and has clinched the juvenile filly championship.  As of today, she is owned by Frank Stronach. Two-Year-Old Colt - Uncle Mo is an electrifying and undefeated Breeders’ Cup champion and has sewn up the divisional championship. He also will be a strong Winter book favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Sprint Female Horse - Dubai Majesty was one of many who had credentials to be considered beforehand, but with her impressive win in the Filly & Mare Sprint, she zoomed to the head of the class. Sprint Male Horse - Big Drama may have earned his first grade one victory in the BC Sprint, but the hard knocking Florida bred has been very consistent this year. Saturday’s win should wrap up the award. Turf Female Horse - Goldikova again. The great mare won her third BC Mile, and she did it more impressively than ever. Proviso and the ill-fated Tuscan Evening racked up wins, but no one touches Goldikova in this division. Turf Male Horse - Paddy O’Prado would have been the BC Turf winner if he only ran. Of course, he did not, but with a longshot Turf winner, and Goldikova beating Gio Ponti in the Mile, he may hold on to a slim advantage in an unspectacular division. Three-Year-Old Filly - Blind Luck is this year’s rags to riches to story. The little filly that could fired every time, and her 2nd place finish in the Ladies’ Classic is plenty to solidify her position as the top sophomore filly in America. Three-Year-Old Male Horse - Lookin at Lucky came up a little short in the final furlong of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but in no way tarnished his well earned reputation. Not always the luckiest of runners, Lucky’s four stakes wins, including the Preakness and Haskell, carry the day. Older Female Horse - Zenyatta. No need to say more. Older Male Horse - Blame was able to fulfill the promise so many had seen in the son of Arch for a long time. His win in an epic BC Classic may have been unpopular with many, but he earned it on the track. It took a special horse to finally beat Zenyatta, and his name is Blame. Horse of the Year - Blame was terrific this year and won the Classic, but Zenyatta was one stride short of perfection … I am going to need a little more time before I make a final decision on this one.

In Defeat, Zenyatta’s Legend Grows

There are times in life when a loss is not a loss. The 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic was such a moment. Tonight in front of legions of devoted fans, and millions of more admirers watching from home, Zenyatta accomplished as much in defeat as she had in any of her previous wins. In a thrilling display of talent and courage, she did what some doubted she could, by storming home in the 27th edition of America’s richest race, the Breeders‘ Cup Classic. As Zenyatta and her newest rival hit the wire in unison, It was Blame, an excellent four-year-old son of Arch, who desperately held the slimmest of possible margins over the fan favorite. For many in the crowd it was a devastating and heartbreaking loss for their hero. Grown men were brought to tears when it was apparent that her furious stretch run had fallen agonizingly short. Her racing partner for the past three seasons, Mike Smith fought back the emotions to say this after the race. “I feel like I let her down. I left her too much to do. I had to put on the brakes at the quarter pole when Quality Road started backing up. I think that cost me the race. In the beginning, she struggled with the track. She didn’t like all that dirt flying at her. I needed a little better position for her early. I just know she was the best horse in the race. It was another gallant effort for her.” Gallant to say the least, Mike. Zenyatta is no longer undefeated, but her reputation grew leaps and bounds tonight. In Blame, she faced the best horse she had ever faced. With all due respect to the Classic winner, he was simply not the best horse in the race. As someone who selected Blame to win the race, I say without a shred of doubt that Zenyatta was the best horse in the Classic. That is how good she was, she is, and she always has been. To no one’s surprise Zenyatta fell back to the rear of the pack immediately out of the gate, but how far behind she fell, was surprising. She was 15 lengths behind after the field was four furlongs into the Classic. Any worries about seeing the real Zenyatta were short lived as the big mare began to roll. Her rally was poetry in motion, as the crowd reached fever pitch. With every ground gobbling stride she gained on the leaders rapidly, but alas on this night there would be one horse who was resolute. Blame had burst through a small opening early in the stretch and spurted clear to take a commanding lead at the eighth pole. As Zenyatta began to reel him in, Blame gave it everything he had to the wire. The crowd was aghast and stunned. Zenyatta was one stride short of catching him and winning her 20th race in a style never before seen in Breeders’ Cup Classic history. Zenyatta is a champion through and through, even a blind man could see that. She blew away any doubts about her greatness with the cold Louisville winds with power and grace. In the end, I feel for all her connections and true fans, but I would like to pass this one thought to them … there is no reason for anyone to hang their heads about. Zenyatta is more of a champion tonight, in defeat, than she has ever been. Photo Courtesy of Reed Palmer Photography

Judgment Day

To Z or not to Z that is the question. 19 times she has run, and 19 times she has crossed the wire first. Whether you think that she is the greatest of all-time or not, matters little today. The mighty Zenyatta is on the precipice of history. To be perfect in 20 starts over four seasons of racing is incredible enough, but if she wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic for the second straight year, she would be alone in an uncharted territory of racing history. The world will be watching, as everyone wants to know if her furious rally will get the job done one last epic time. Number 20 looks to present the greatest challenge yet. Standing in her way is a full field of excellent males ready to knock the Queen off her throne. Blame, Quality Road, and Looking at Lucky have each proven special enough to be no surprise if they would prove successful in their own quest for racing immortality. Zenyatta is already great, she is already a legend. Today is the day she can takes things to a different level. In order for greatness to leave all doubts behind, it needs to be tested in an ultimate manner. Today, Zenyatta has her chance. The world is in her corner. Photo Courtesy of Rick Buckley

Breeders’ Cup Singles

I am about to offer four fantastic females for the Breeders’ Cup, and Zenyatta is not one of them??? Read on … Pick 3‘s, Pick 4‘s, Pick 6‘s, not to mention trifecta and superfecta keys, it is nice to have a horse, or a few horses, that you can count on to reach the wire first at the Breeders’ Cup. Along those lines, I would like to present to you my Big 4. The four horses that I will have the most confidence in winning out of the 14 race BC smorgasbord. Oddly enough they are all females, and believe it or not, Zenyatta is nowhere to be found on this list. You all know by now that I am predicting a Blame victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, right? The four horses who I consider the closest things to locks, in order are: Midday, Goldikova, Blind Luck, and Winter Memories. Here’s why:   ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

Zenyatta’s Revenge, or …Ten Reasons Why I Should Never Doubt the Queen

Sometimes I think I should have my head examined. Am I really picking Blame to defeat Zenyatta in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic? I fully realize I am not going to win any popularity contests picking against the Queen of Racing. Now I know how the Grinch whole stole Christmas must have felt. Looking forward, I can only imagine what the afternoon of November 6th may have in store for me … 1) Arriving at my Breeders’ Cup hotel, I am told they do not have my reservation. The desk clerk tells me I am more than welcome to a cot and to share the janitor’s closet with that guy, as he points to Andy Beyer.  ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

23 Days and Counting … ZATT’s Breeders’ Cup Rankings

MARATHON 1. Bright Horizon 7-2 2. Giant Oak 6-1 3. Eldaafer 6-1 4. Alcomo 8-1 5. A.U. Miner 8-1 JUVENILE FILLIES TURF 1. Winter Memories 2-1 2. White Moonstone 3-1 3. Roxy Gap 6-1 4. New Normal 8-1 5. Together 5-1 FILLY & MARE SPRINT 1. Champagne D’oro 8-1 2. Evening Jewel 4-1 3. Rightly So 5-1 4. Sara Louise 6-1 5. Dubai Majesty 5-1 JUVENILE FILLIES 1. Tell a Kelly 4-1 2. Summer Laugh 8-1 3. Awesome Feather 8-1 4. A Z Warrior 7-2 5. R Heat Lightning 5-1 FILLY & MARE TURF 1. Midday 6-5 2. Red Desire 10-1 3. Éclair de Lune 8-1 4. Hibaayeb 6-1 5. Ave 8-1 LADIES’ CLASSIC 1. Blind Luck 5-2 2. Havre de Grace 5-1 3. Biofuel 12-1 4. Life at Ten 7-2 5. Persistently 12-1 JUVENILE TURF 1. Rogue Romance 5-2 2. Soldat 6-1 3. Formosina 8-1 4. Air Support 8-1 5. Cozy Kitten 6-1 TURF SPRINT 1. Fatal Bullet 8-1 2. Chamberlain Bridge 9-2 3. Rose Catherine 5-1 4. California Flag 4-1 5. Silver Timber 6-1 MILE DIRT 1. Tizway 6-1 2. Here Comes Ben 5-1 3. Crown of Thorns 4-1 4. Warrior’s Reward 10-1 5. Vineyard Haven 6-1 JUVENILE 1. Uncle Mo 3-2 2. Stay Thirsty 15-1* 3. Boys at Tosconova 4-1 4. Jaycito 6-1 5. Pathfork 10-1 MILE 1. Goldikova 6-5 2. Gio Ponti 4-1 3. Violon Sacre 30-1 4. Paco Boy 8-1 5. Sidney’s Candy 8-1 SPRINT 1. Big Drama 9-2 2. Wise Dan 10-1 3. Girolamo 4-1 4. Smiling Tiger 6-1 5. Atta Boy Roy 12-1 TURF 1. Paddy O’Prado 6-1 2. Workforce 3-1 3. Al Khali 12-1 4. Fame and Glory 5-1 5. Behkabad 5-1 CLASSIC 1. Blame 5-1 2. Zenyatta 8-5 3. Quality Road 5-1 4. Lookin at Lucky 4-1 5. Musket Man 20-1

Zenyatta’s Souper Little Brother

While Zenyatta may never have tried the turf, it appears her little brother has taken to it like a fish to water. Live Oak Plantation’s Souper Spectacular kept his grass record perfect in two starts with a win in an allowance race yesterday at Keeneland. Stalking the pace from a catbird seat on the outside, the three-year-old colt took a slim advantage entering the stretch, and pulled clear for a 1 ½ length victory under rider John Velazquez. The chestnut son of Giant’s Causeway completed the nine furlongs on the firm turf in a respectable 1:49.35 to raise his overall record to 2 wins in 4 starts. Soon to be three-time champion Zenyatta is a daughter of Street Cry, but both horses share a common dam in Vertigineux, a 15-year-old broodmare sired by Kris S. Besides Zenyatta and Souper Spectacular, Vertigineux also produced the multiple grade 1 winner, Balance. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

Death Threats … To a Horse???

You have to stop and wonder what’s going on in the world when a thoroughbred race horse receives death threats. This troubling circumstance came about last week when Rinterval’s life was threatened just days before she was due to run in the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Hollywood Park. Considered to be one of the top challengers to the mighty Zenyatta on Saturday, Rinterval had given the undefeated superstar a strong challenge in the Clement Hirsch Stakes, in both horses previous race. When trainer Eric Reed arrived to his horse on Thursday he was surprised to see a group of security around the barn. He wondered if they were there keeping an eye on  him. In fact they were there to protect his horse. The first thing that crossed my mind when I learned of the situation was the stabbing attack of Monica Seles by a rabid tennis fan named Gunter Parche in 1993. Parche was an obsessed fan of Steffi Graf who could not bear to see the object of his affection supplanted as the number one player in the world by the younger Seles. Monica Seles survived the on court attack, but her athletic career was derailed and never quite the same as before she was stabbed. With the help of 24/7 security detail surrounding Rinterval, the five-year-old mare, owned by Jerry Jamgotchian, was kept safe until it was time to bring her over to the track for the race. In a bizarre turn, Rinterval had to be scratched moments before the running of the grade 1 race. Apparently she became agitated by the noise and waving of signs created by the presence of Zenyatta. She banged her head in the commotion and was scratched for her safety. In the Hollywood Park paddock fans can get very close to the horses. Too close to comfort for Reed, who said he doesn't blame the fans, but would consider saddling his horses outside of the usual area in future races at Hollywood Park. According to Reed, Rinterval was left no worse for wear after the ordeal, and in fact worked five furlongs at Hollywood Park yesterday before flying back to Kentucky, where she is being now pointed for the Spinster Stakes this coming Sunday. Horse racing is a sport that invokes great emotion and passion. I know this fact firsthand, but to turn that fervor into even the threat of harming or killing a horse disgusts me. To the despicable person or persons who made the death threat … I urge you to get some help.

32 Days and Counting … ZATT’s Breeders’ Cup Rankings

MARATHON 1. Temple City 2. A.U. Miner 3. Eldaafer 4. Alcomo 5. Unusual Suspect JUVENILE FILLIES TURF 1. Winter Memories 2. White Moonstone 3. Roxy Gap 4. New Normal 5. Fancy Point FILLY & MARE SPRINT 1. Champagne D’oro 2. Evening Jewel 3. Rightly So 4. Sara Louise 5. Sweet August Moon JUVENILE FILLIES 1. Summer Laugh 2. Tell a Kelly 3. Wonderlandbynight 4. Awesome Feather 5. R Heat Lightning FILLY & MARE TURF 1. Midday 2. Red Desire 3. Éclair de Lune 4. Hibaayeb 5. Ave LADIES’ CLASSIC 1. Blind Luck 2. Havre de Grace 3. Devil May Care 4. Life at Ten 5. Biofuel JUVENILE TURF 1. Rough Sailing 2. Soldat 3. Major Gain 4. Air Support 5. Pluck TURF SPRINT 1. California Flag 2. Chamberlain Bridge 3. Rose Catherine 4. Fatal Bullet 5. Stradivinsky MILE DIRT 1. Musket Man 2. Tizway 3. Here Comes Ben 4. Crown of Thorns 5. Warrior’s Reward JUVENILE 1. Stay Thirsty 2. Boys at Tosconova 3. Uncle Mo 4. Jaycito 5. Pathfork MILE 1. Goldikova 2. Violon Sacre 3. Gio Ponti 4. Sidney’s Candy 5. Paco Boy SPRINT 1. Discreetly Mine 2. Big Drama 3. Atta Boy Roy 4. Girolamo 5. Kinsale King TURF 1. Paddy O’Prado 2. Workforce 3. Al Khali 4. Fame and Glory 5. Bourbon Bay CLASSIC 1. Blame 2. Zenyatta 3. Lookin at Lucky 4. Quality Road 5. Espoir City

Lions and Tigers and Zenyatta, Oh My!

Who doesn’t love a good cliff hanger. A film that holds you gripped in suspense until the very end when the thrilling climax is revealed. Usually the hero comes out on top, that is, if it is a typical Hollywood script. I’m here to tell you, Zenyatta is pure Hollywood. I’ve seen this film over and over again, and I can't help but be sucked in every time. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

Of Zenyatta and Rants from the Peanut Gallery

I love Zenyatta, but yet I must admit there have been times in the last eleven months where I felt that some of her fans have a chip on their shoulder the size of the mighty mare that they adore. Over this period, I could not write anything positive about Rachel Alexandra without being chastised or lectured in the process. Now of course, this is not all Zen fans. Far from it. Most are wonderful admirers, gracious in victory, who do not seek to insult others, in order to build up their own rooting interest. I understand, I get it. Zenyatta was the victim of circumstance when it came time to decide Horse of the Year two years in a row. Zenyatta is a hero to millions. She has drawn in new fans in droves, and quite simply is a godsend for the sport. On the track, she is one in a million. I believe she is a fantastic race mare, hell, I think she is the best female athlete we have seen in the universe. Sorry. I did qualify that as female, seeing as I am a Chicagoan, and we had a guy a few years back named Michael. On Saturday, the world has the privilege to witness Zenyatta racing again. The undefeated, and soon to be three-time champion, Zenyatta towers over the field like a skyscraper in the middle of a corn field, as she goes for lucky number 19 in the $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes (formerly the Zenyatta Stakes [formerly the Lady’s Secret Stakes]). Now for the bad news … Zenyatta’s 2010 campaign, including her race in two days, does not deserve to place her atop the current Horse of the Year polls. {Insert expletives here.} The only reason that she holds this spot, is because of what she has accomplished over her career. She simply has not beaten one horse of top quality this year. The only notable horse she has raced against in 2010 is St Trinians, and she was coming off a 6th place finish in her previous start. Does this fact take anything away from Zenyatta as a racehorse? Absolutely not. Rather, it is only an assessment of the campaign her handlers have chosen for her to this point of the year. Am I hear to announce that her owners have cheated the racing public? No. They are her owners, and they can choose to do whatever they want, which of course could have spelled retirement a long time ago. If Zenyatta is not my current Horse of the Year, who is? This year there are no historic seasons to compete against. My current leader is Blame, because of the quality of the fields he has defeated in his undefeated season so far, but he is on schedule to run only five races the entire year for crying out loud. Ahhh, but that is a rant for another day Do all these mismatches take anything away from her career as many have suggested? I honestly don’t think so. It seems like an apples or oranges situation. If she had been running in hard races against males regularly, like some other great mares of the past have done, we may have been treated to some great races along the way, but I doubt that she would still be undefeated, and I feel that it is very likely that she would have already been retired. There is a lot to be said for longevity and perfection. Do I think she can still deserve to win Horse of the Year at the conclusion of 2010? That’s an easy one … Yes! If she wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic, her easy campaign leading up to it will just have been a perfect series of preps. If she wins the Classic, Zenyatta will be Horse of the Year, and the vote will be deservingly unanimous. Love them, hate them, or somewhere in between, these are my opinions. Thank you for listening.

If You Could Pick One Horse …

If you could pick one horse as the most likely to win on Breeders’ Cup weekend, who would it be? The obvious choices that come to mind may be Goldikova or Zenyatta, and seeing how each great mare has won in two consecutive Breeders’ Cups, it would be hard to argue with either. They do have obstacles however, in the form of the two deepest fields of the weekend. The defending Classic winner, Zenyatta, will be facing the best males in the world, and this year she will have to ship in to face them on their surface. Her greatest challenge may come from Blame, who has proven to love the Churchill strip. He is also unbeaten this year and still improving, making him a formidable road block to Zenyatta’s quest for a perfect 20. Meanwhile, Goldikova will no doubt be heavily favored to achieve an unprecedented third consecutive BC Mile victory. Coming off a loss in her latest, Goldikova is an international superstar, but things could be much tougher this time around. Top to bottom the Mile looks like the deepest field, with tigers like, Gio Ponti, Makfi, Court Vision, Sidney’s Candy, and Paco Boy, just to name a few, ready to challenge her supremacy. Last year’s Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra is the likely favorite for the Ladies’ Classic, but sophomore Blind Luck is in the midst of a sparkling season, and should give the 2010 version of Rachel a true test. Paddy O’Prado has become the now horse on American turf, but let’s face it, 12 furlongs on the grass is clearly the Europeans race to lose, whomever their top candidate may be. Discreetly Mine has been the sprinter I have been on all Summer, but the sprint is almost always a race that proves to be a wide open slugfest, rather than a spot for an easily selected winner. Possibly Boys at Tosconova in the Juvenile, or Tell a Kelly in the Juvenile Fillies, have already impressed enough where you think they will roll to victory in the Breeders’ Cup. Maybe, as these are races where the favorites are usually factors, but I would say it is too early to count on such inexperienced youngsters as singles a month and a half out. So where does that leave us? Are there any sure things this year? No sure things, and frankly that is one of the many reasons why I love this game, but there is one horse that stands out in her respective field. A filly who won at the Breeders’ Cup last year, and has improved with age to become a much better horse this year.  Her name is Midday, and I consider her the horse to beat in the BC Filly & Mare Turf by a long way.  Eleven furlongs is a perfect trip for her and Midday is currently on a group 1 roll in Europe. The Breeders’ Cup has been the race her connections have pointed her for since the beginning of her campaign. Unfortunately, some of her toughest competition like Dar Re Mi, Sariska, and the ill-fated Tuscan Evening, will not be at Churchill Downs, making her an even greater threat.  That’s my opinion for the most likely winner at least, I want to know what you think. Who is the one horse you think is most likely to win at the Breeders’ Cup?

46 Days and Counting … ZATT’s Breeders’ Cup Rankings

MARATHON 1. Temple City 2. A.U. Miner 3. Eldaafer 4. Alcomo 5. Cloudy’s Knight JUVENILE FILLIES TURF 1. White Moonstone 2. Roxy Gap 3. New Normal 4. Fancy Point 5. Winter Memories ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here