I'LL HAVE ANOTHER WINS PREAKNESS THRILLER

Click above to watch I’ll Have Another winning the 137th Preakness Stakes…
(Image : Daily Mail - Footage : M Pearson)

PREAKNESS STAKES (Grade 1)
Pimlico, Dirt, 1900m
19 May 2012

Maybe it wasn’t Sunday Silence and Easy Goer coming down to settle the GI Preakness Stakes Saturday at Old Hilltop, but J. Paul Reddam’s I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley) and Bodemeister (Empire Maker) put on an outstanding show in their own right, duplicating their 1-2 finish from the GI Kentucky Derby two weeks ago and creating the first Triple Crown bid since Big Brown (Boundary) went for the sweep back in 2008.

Bodemeister, favored in the rematch at 17-10, won the break and made the lead passing the stands for the first time, while - somewhat surprisingly - Creative Cause emerged as the nearest pace presence. I’ll Have Another jumped fairly and was handy enough while racing in about the three path, but was nudged out a bit wider by Went The Day Well (Proud Citizen) approaching the clubhouse turn. The Team Valor runner backed off a bit, and that allowed Mario Gutierrez to tuck into a three-wide spot around the turn and into the backstretch. Back on the front end, Bodemeister and Mike Smith were coasting along through an opening half-mile in :47.68, not taxing on paper, but perhaps an above-par pace over a dull strip. Creative Cause was in good striking position from second, while I’ll Have Another was three wide, but covered up behind his grey fellow Californian.

Bodemeister was still going smartly on the engine at the three eighths marker, and Gutierrez seemed to have a few seconds of hesitation as he tried to decide whether to go inside or outside of Creative Cause. He remained off that one’s heels to the quarter pole, was switched out thereafter and was a bit clumsy in switching his leads. It looked for a few strides as if I’ll Have Another might have work to do to catch the free-wheeling Bodemeister, but he continued to plug away with dour determination, took aim on the Bob Baffert runner entering the final half-furlong and pegged him back in the final two strides. Creative Cause finished third, though nearly nine lengths off the top two. The winning rider admitted to expecting a dogfight in the waning stages. “I knew it was going to be a little bit of a tough race,” he said. “But I’ll Have Another had a tremendous kick in the end. So I could feel my horse racing ground and everything was definitely the way. So it’s a great feeling when you’re riding a horse that’s giving you a hundred percent. He’s an amazing horse.”

For every trainer who has not excelled under the Triple Crown spotlight, there is a Doug O’Neill. His leadup to Saturday’s Preakness included throwing out the first pitch prior to the Orioles-Yankees game at nearby Camden Yards and various public appearances. In fact, O’Neill took time out on national television in the winner’s enclosure, to call out the first names of at least a dozen people, most likely young people, whose acquaintance he had made during his time in the city.

Much maligned, O’Neill is clearly cut from a different mold and has flourished in the aftermath of the Kentucky Derby. He was very much at ease after finally making his way to the post-Preakness press gathering.

Q: Your wife is known for being allergic to horses. Is she allergic to I’ll Have Another?

A: It’s amazing. The large checks seem to keep her from itching and coughing.

Q: And what about the next three weeks?

A: Certainly the intensity and pressure will be on the rise.

Q: Are you looking forward to it?

A: I am. I’m excited. I’m surrounded by so many fun people. Just having fun with them. That is kind of doing our thing around the barn. We work hard and take good care of the horses. When injuries come up, we just regroup, take care of them, and we just have a really good atmosphere in the barn. That helps us have time to keep everything very loose for me and the horses and the staff.

So look out NYC. Team O’Neill is on their way.

Extract from Thorougbred Daily News

ZENYATTA RETIRES : JOHN SHIRREFFS CONFIRMS

Zenyatta with Mike Smith aboard comes across the finish line in the Breeders’ Cup Classic
(Photo : Matthew Stockman/Getty)

“It’s unfortunate that she drops so far back…”

There had been speculation that Zenyatta (Street Cry) might be kept in training for another season, but trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday that was not the plan.

The six-year-old will return to California, but only for a brief stay. “She’ll be there for about a month,” Shirreffs said, adding, “That’s the thing about racing. As a trainer, you have to learn to let go. Heck, she’s been a champion for three years, and she’s going to a great place.” But the conditioner is unlikely to be watching the replay of the mare’s spectacular G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic effort any time soon. “It was her last race,” he said. “It’s all over. Why watch it again?”

Analyzing Zenyatta’s effort in the Classic, Shirreffs commented, “It’s unfortunate that she drops so far back. It left her too much to do.” But, he continued, “You always have that hope that she’ll get there when you see her lower her head and start stretching out.”

The trainer had no criticism for jockey Mike Smith after the race. “What could I say?” Shirreffs remarked. “I just patted him on the shoulder. He was devastated. The rest of her connections were as well. It’s been a fairy tale, and you want all fairy tales to come true,” Shirreffs concluded.

Zenyatta was scheduled to fly west Sunday night. Breeding plans have not been finalized.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

ZENYATTA GOES FOR TWENTY/20

Zenyatta
(Photo : Aaron Duke)

“UNDEFEATED IN 19 STARTS”

She’s not only the defending Breeders Cup Classic heroine, she’s also undefeated in nineteen starts, and in what could be arguably her final career outing, the legendary Zenyatta had her final workout at Hollywood Saturday morning, going six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 with jockey Mike Smith aboard. The six-year-old mare, accompanied by a pair of stablemates, went from the five-eighths pole to an eighth past the wire. The fractions were 0:12 4/5, 0:25 2/5, 0:48 3/5 and 1:00.

“She went better than good,” said Smith. “It was excellent. She went really, really well and probably a little better than last year. She galloped out strong and was happy coming back. She’s ready. I’m always super confident with her. It’s racing. She’s going to have to get the trip, but if she does, I think we are going to see something phenomenal.”

Added trainer John Shirreffs, “It was a tune-up. It wasn’t necessarily a fast work - she was fast at the end. That’s her style. From here, we have fun, just play. She’s got everything done we needed to do.” Zenyatta will ship to Churchill Downs Tuesday.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

ZENYATTA : ANOTHER PERFECT DAY FOR THE QUEEN

Click above to watch Zenyatta winning the Lady’s Secret Stakes (Gr1)
(Photo : Race Calling - Footage : TVG)

“ZENYATTA MAKES IT 19 FROM 19”

What more can you say? Zenyatta (Street Cry) does what she has to do every time. She got off to a slow start in quest of a third straight win in the Lady’s Secret Stakes (Gr1) at Oak Tree metting at Hollywood Park yesterday and, as is her wont, trailed the field early.

Wheeled out at the top of the lane, she gave her legions of backers a minor heart attack when Switch stole away at the eighth pole, and the margin momentarily looked insurmountable, but Mike Smith went to the whip and the big mare responded, finding her best stride in the shadow of the post. “She seems to know where the wire is at, and she likes to make it a little dramatic,” jockey Mike Smith said. “It’s just incredible. To be honest with you, I try not to get too caught up into it, because it’s just too emotional.”

“Her heart must be huge,” said trainer John Shirreffs. “She can always dig down and find a little more. She never gives up.” “We’re really blessed to have Zenyatta do this,” he added. “God made her very special, and we’re just enjoying it. I couldn’t even begin to describe how special this was. You’ve seen how the fans have learned to really love her and enjoy her - I’ve been along for that, and it’s just been great to see.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

ZENYATTA : RECORD 17TH WIN IN THE VANITY HANDICAP

Click above to watch
Zenyatta winning the Vanity Handicap (Gr1)
(Photo : Examiner - Footage : TVG)

VANITY HANDICAP (Gr1)
Hollywood Park, 13 June 2010

Once again putting herself at the forefront of history, Jerry and Ann Moss’ Zenyatta (Street Cry) secured the 17th straight win of her unblemished career in Sunday’s Vanity Handicap (G1) at Hollywood Park.

It wasn’t without a few white-knuckle moments, however, as the towering filly needed every inch of the stretch to fight past an ultra-game St Trinians (Piccolo) and win by a half-length.

“Oh my lord, she ran her eyeballs out,” jockey Mike Smith said of the runner-up. “But we just kept on grinding, and (Zenyatta) hit her best stride 100 yards out, and I knew we had it won at that point.” Winning owner Jerry Moss said simply, “She’s otherworldly.”

The victory moved Zenyatta past the likes of Citation, Cigar and Mister Frisky as horses with the longest winning streaks outside of statebred company.

Zenyatta was collecting her 14th straight victory in her historic tally over the boys in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). She won by 1 1/4 lengths in the Santa Margarita Handicap (G1) in her seasonal debut at Santa Anita on 13 March, then took the Apple Blossom (G1) by 4 ¼ lengths at Oaklawn on 9 April.

The margin of victory would be much closer in the Vanity. Settled a good 10 lengths off the dueling Miss Silver Brook (Cozzene) and Cherryblossommiss (Langfuhr) going into the first turn, Zenyatta edged a bit closer as they cruised through a half in 0:47.54 and three quarters in 1:11.91. She was within two lengths of the leaders wheeling into the stretch widest of all, but the scrappy St Trinians burst away with a quick turn of foot.

Put to a drive under Mike Smith, Zenyatta closed with resolute strides and finally surged past in the shadow of the wire. “It’s just incredible,” enthused Smith. “It was a gallant effort on St Trinians’ part – she really ran huge. When we headed for home, I hit a real big gear, and she hit another one right back at me, and I said ‘Whoa, she’s serious - she’s going to make me run.’ I was working at it until the last 100 yards and then I knew I’d out-grind her.”

Smith said he’d considered guiding Zenyatta toward the inside two furlongs out, but decided on the overland route instead. “We’re carrying a lot of weight, and I just wanted to get that weight moving forward, so I tried to tip out as we came off the turn and use that momentum to kind of slingshot me - even though I was a little wide - to get her at least running. I didn’t want to take a chance splitting them, because if Martin (Garcia, on St Trinians) saw me do that, he might make it tight on me. If I had to steady just for a jump, to get that weight going again is asking an awful lot. I knew he was probably going to take me out (wide), it was great race riding on his part. But it was just me and him. So as wide as he is, that’s as wide as I’m going to be. Nothing matters at that point.”

While the New Mexican filly Peppers Pride (Desert God) concluded her career unbeaten with 19 wins to her credit - all in statebred company - most race fans would point to Citation’s and Cigar’s 16-race skeins as the standard by which modern-day win streaks are judged.

A crowd of 12,232 lined up to watch Zenyatta make history, and roared with approval as she streaked under the wire still unbeaten in her 17th start.

Owner Jerry Moss was in awe after the race. “I’m going to be watching that replay 30 or 40 times,” he said. “I had a feeling she was going to make it somehow, like she always does, ever since she caught Anabaa’s Creation in that race at Del Mar (the 2009 Clement L. Hirsch (G1), when Zenyatta won by a head). She won, she got there, she gave away the nine pounds (129-120), and she came about seven wide. She’s just awesome. What can I say? The reaction of the crowd was amazing. She’s such a fan pleaser. Everybody here loves her. 

The bettors sent St Trinians off at relatively low 2-1 odds - Zenyatta was at 1-2 odds - and the five-year-old nearly posted the upset of the year. “I don’t know what to say,” jockey Martin Garcia offered. “I couldn’t have asked her for any more. The other mare is just too much horse.”

Said her trainer Mike Mitchell, “I wanted to be a little farther in front of her turning for home, because I know the kick that Zenyatta’s got. My mare has a big kick, too. She just got outrun. I’m happy. We’re all big fans of Zenyatta in my family, and I know that (St Trinians) didn’t shame herself.”

RACE RESULT

#	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
1	ZENYATTA	Mike Smith	John Shirreffs
2	ST TRINIANS	Martin Garcia	Mike Mitchell
3	ZARDANA	Victor Espinoza	John Shirreffs
4	WILL O WAY	Tyler Baze	Vladimir Cerin
5	MISS SILVER BROOK	Joe Talamo	Julio Canani
6	CHERRYBLOSSOMMISS	Rafael Bejarano	John Sadler

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News