Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Zenyatta Likely To Run In The Breeders’ Cup Classic 2009
Posted on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Undefeated Zenyatta will put her 13-0 record on the line when she will most likely run against the boys in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 7 at Santa Anita Park.
Zenyatta was pre-entered in both the Breeders’ Cup Classic, together with the Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Summer Bird, and the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic on November 6.
The connections of the 5-year-old mare Zenyatta are leaning toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic pending the outcome of her final 6-furlong workout Saturday at Hollywood Park.
“There’s definitely a preference for the Classic,” race horse trainer John Shirreffs said. “The Classic is obviously a big challenge, but if she’s doing well and peaking towards that race, there’s no reason not to go in that race.”
Final Breeders’ Cup entries and the post-position draw will be on Tuesday.
Zenyatta has won all four of her starts this year. If she wins either race, she will surpass the mark of Personal Ensign, who won all 13 of her career races.
“I’m always amazed at how well she performs,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “This is like a stopper on a baseball team. When you’re not doing so well, you bring out Zenyatta and she lifts the whole barn.”
Zenyatta won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic last year on Santa Anita‘s synthetic Pro-Ride surface.
“The advantage of going in the Ladies’ Classic is you have a great shot to win that race and it’s a very large purse,” John Shirreffs said. “You have probably a better chance of winning there.”
If Zenyatta were to run against the boys for the first time and win, she would make a strong case for Horse of the Year. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has endorsed testing Zenyatta against male competition in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“She’s going to be very, very tough to beat,” said Alistair Donald of the International Racing Bureau. “If Zenyatta goes in the Classic, I fully expect her to be favored.”
Horse racing’s richest two days is returning to the same track for the first time in consecutive years. The track’s surface, however, will prevent a showdown between Zenyatta and the Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, whose owner refused to run his sensational filly because he dislikes synthetic surfaces.
“You certainly have a responsibility to participate if you can,” said Shirreffs, who has not been a proponent of California’s mandated change from dirt to synthetic surfaces but has kept his stable based in the state.
Breeders’ Cup president Greg Avioli was clear about which race he wants to see Zenyatta in.
“It’s going to be a bigger story for the sport if she chooses to run in the Classic,” he said. “It is the biggest of the Breeders’ Cup races, it attracts the most attention.”
The full field of 14 Breeders’ Cup Classic pre-entries include Irish standouts Rip Van Winkle and Mastercraftsman, who is more likely to run in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile; Arlington Million winner Gio Ponti; and Santa Anita Handicap winner Einstein.
Other Breeders’ Cup Classic pre-entries include Pacific Classic winner Richard’s Kid, trained by Bob Baffert, and Quality Road, trained by Todd Pletcher. Quality Road, an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, missed the race because of an injury.
Tim Ice, who trains Summer Bird, believes the Breeders’ Cup Classic should decide Horse of the Year.
“Each sport has their championship game. If you don’t compete in the championship game, then you shouldn’t be a champion,” race horse trainer Tim Ice said. “This is the highlight of the year as far as all the great horses coming together. This is the stage you want to be on.”
Tags: Einstein, Gio Ponti, Mastercraftsman, Mine That Bird, Rip Van Winkle, Summer Bird, Zenyatta
"Zenyatta Likely To Run In The Breeders’ Cup Classic 2009" was posted on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 10:47 pm and is filed under Breeders' Cup, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Santa Anita Track, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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