Today, Zenyatta received a royal reception as her plane landed at Louisville International Airport from her home base in California.
Zenyatta gently stepped from the plane and was carefully loaded into a private van as a group of spectators stood to catch a glimpse of the mare. The van headed straight to Churchill Downs, accompanied by a two-car sheriff escort during her five-minute ride to the track.
It appears no one is willing to mess with perfection.
And, Zenyatta is just that.
Perfection.
The Breeder’s Cup Classic 2.0 Version of Zenyatta has received some upgrades since her last venture toward the richest race in North America. She still dances throughout the paddock, slams a Guinness like a champ and remains undefeated in all of her career starts.However, Zenyatta 2.0 has upgraded from the 13-0 record that she held when she entered the Breeder’s Cup Classic in 2009. The 2.0 version of Zenyatta holds a perfect 19-0 record. She is the highest earning female horse in history. And, she has won more consecutive Grade I races than any horse.
Zenyatta 2.0 has pulled three “three-peats” through her series of consecutive victories in the Clement Hirsch, Vanity, and Lady’s Secret. And, she’s pointing toward a “three-peat” in the Breeder’ Cup.
As of now, no horse has ever won three consecutive Breeder’s Cup races. Yet, Zenyatta 2.0 doesn’t believe much in “never happens” and “impossibles.” She hoof-kicked those ideas straight out of her stall long ago.
Yes, there is a “Triple Crown” in play this year. And, it’s between Zenyatta and Goldikova at the Breeder’s Cup.
Let the wild rumpus begin.
Similar to last year, Zenyatta faces a tough field and a handful of critics.
Yet, Zenyatta 2.0 is also managing social calendar that makes Paris Hilton look like a shut-in. She is in the society section of W fashion magazine. And, she’s listed as one of the most powerful women in Oprah’s kingdom. Zenyatta 2.0 has a country song, an L.A. Dodgers Billboard, and was recently featured in a segment on 60 Minutes, questioning whether she is possibly the best racehorse ever.
Zenyatta has become a “Zen-sation” across the nation in her journey toward her second Breeder’s Cup Classic. As Bob Anderson, the producer for Zenyatta’s 60 Minutes segment explained, “Little by little, she sort of seduces you.”
Remember the first version of Zenyatta at the Breeder’s Cup Classic? There wasn’t a police escort to guide her to the track. Oprah and 60 Minutes were nowhere to be found. Zenyatta stood there as the lone female in the gates, rubbing shoulders with the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes champions.
It was the first time she ever raced the boys. And, as luck would have it, she happened to be doing it in front of an international audience during the richest race in North America. If Zenyatta could talk, I would have paid serious money to hear her thoughts as she stood waiting for the gates to snap open during those golden seconds. I imagine she had a few priceless sentiments swirling around in her head.
Yet, despite the odds, Zenyatta delivered a breathtaking performance as she became the first female horse in history to beat the boys in the Breeder’s Cup Classic. She appeared to have accomplished all she had to give the racing world and was widely-believed to be retired after the race. Case closed.
Or was it? Zenyatta is in the business of perfection. And, in her mind, she had some unfinished business before she made her final curtain call.
In January of 2010, Zenyatta stepped out of retirement and pointed toward the track again. It appeared she was tired of hearing “never has,” “impossible,” and “couldn’t do.”
Enter Zenyatta 2.0.
The previous version beat the boys.
Zenyatta 2.0 can win by daylight on dirt, roll like a Rockefeller in earnings and hold a modern day revival for horse racing on a national stage. And, she can do it while building a perfect 19-0 record.
And still, the critics aren’t impressed.
Well, if perfection doesn’t please a person, nothing will.
They said she couldn’t beat the boys. And then, she did it.
They said she couldn’t win on dirt. And then, she did it.
They said she couldn’t win outside of California. And then, she did it.
They said she was beating up on “nobodies.” And then she beat the Kentucky Derby and Belmont winners in the same race.
And, now the critics have fused all complaints into one tall order: Can she beat the boys on dirt in a top-notch field outside of California in the richest race in North America as the oldest horse in the gates?
I sure hope she can do it.
Yet, Zenyatta has already done all of these things at different points in her career. And, if she does it all at once this Saturday, the critics will inevitably dream up new reasons to undercut her achievements.
Some people can’t be pleased, even by perfection.
And, Zenyatta is perfection.
On Saturday afternoon, a lone six-year-old female will enter the gates at Churchill Downs with a perfect record. She’ll be brushing shoulders with the Preakness winner and some of the most talented male horses in the racing world on an international stage. She’ll be standing on the same dirt where every Triple Crown winner in history started their journey in the Kentucky Derby. And, she’ll be running for the “Triple Crown” of the Breeder’s Cup.
Zenyatta deserves an ovation from the crowd whether she wins or loses in her quest. She has accepted every challenge throughout her career and delivered a victory in every outing. And, Zenyatta has traveled where most champions fear to tread – the place that holds the real potential for defeat. This is the mark of true legend.
Legends take risks that outweigh rewards.
Legends take challenges that seem insurmountable.
Legends survey the existing world and carve their own path.
This is the mark of true greatness in any field.
This is the mark of Zenyatta.
Very nice article!
Of course I’ll be rooting for Z on Saturday, but will still love her (maybe more so) if she doesn’t pull it off. She’s clearly one of the best horses (no, not just mares) in racing history.
Thanks for the nice comment, Christine. I agree with you completely — she’s clearly one of the best horses, not just the best “mare.” I can’t wait for the BC!
Jennifer,
Don’t even bother with critics such as Andy Beyer. He produces one thing and one thing only-a glorified tip sheet for people to bet their rent and grocery money on. He doesn’t care whether these people are evicted, thrown out on the streets, or starve as long as he gets paid from the Daily Racing Form.
A person so caught up with the nuances of gambling cannot fathom the brilliance, majesty, and beauty that Zenyatta has.
Just ignore him.
Thanks for the comment, John. (I read the piece where he said Zenyatta will be viewed as a “historical curiousity.” She is so much more than that.) And, you describe her perfectly ~ Brilliance, Majesty and Beauty.
Jennifer, nice job. You used your voice well. I agree with every word you wrote and the love you have for Zenyatta. She is something that is unexplainable when you see her in person. Once she has captured your eye, it is all over. You are in love with the “prettiest girl in the world”. I will be cheering for her every step of the way and win or lose she will always be a winner in my heart and her many fans as well. Go Z!
Thanks again.
Thanks for the kind comment, Anne. I appreciate it.
(I love how YOU put it. She is the “prettiest girl in the world.”) I’ll be cheering with you every step of the way. Go Z! :
I love your writing and your way of sifting through all the details to get to the essence of things. I’m here from California on the Zenyatta trail. I would love to contact you directly. Hope you can reply so we can chat. I am a writer also on wordpress [timebandit15.wordpress.com] Onward to victory!
Hi Elizabeth ~ Thank you for the wonderful compliment. I am heading to the BC tommorrow to join you on the “Zenyatta Trail.”
See you soon!
There are no words for this BreathTaking Mare. Win or lose, She’s still the best. I pray that her legs dont brake down as other greats have. With the tender care she gets I feel the boys will have another race on there hooves
Great job as always Jennifer! I am a HUGE Lookin At Lucky fan but I keep going back and forth between who I want to win and I think I really would like Zenyatta to win the Classic now. What an amazing fairy-tale ending that would be!
Nice job, I loved it as per usual.
Dont you find it odd how Secretariat movie comes out just a month before Zenyatta will most likely claim thoroughbred History?
Im convinced shes a WOMAN. lol… im serious. Stays at the back like shes not even in the race..like a real female who shows up to an event lets the guys see her then purposely vanishes… that just makes the males keep looking around for her.. then she closes without any real efforts ( re-enters the room ) .. could run past all the horses every time.. but nope! shes a female.. around men. She naturally flirts.. ( if its a race with all fillies or mares shes then plays ” catty ” ).. and by this I mean she gets up to the stretch relaxes, and causes all the other females or males ( including the jockeys ) stress!!!!.. she toys.. she literally flirts then decides half way down the stretch.. ” time to win ..buh bye..” and inflicts stress on every horse in the race as you literally see most of her races all jockeys and other horses just GIVE UP..
Beyers methods are completely thrown in the toilet with this horse.. as SHE IS JUST TOYING WITH THE ENTIRE THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY, ALL STATS, ALL HANDICAPPING, ALL PACE , ALL SPEED, ALL RECORDS, EVERYTHING…
19 and 0 people!!!!!!.. A FEMALE!!!!.. Breeders cup makes whole new female day!!!!!!!!!!!!?!?!??!?!?!?! cause its so called ” tougher on the females to race with the males”.. as owners complain.. not enough female races and un fair to race against the males.
lol Zenyatta regardless wipes out history in my book.
Saturday.. you watch as she looks over at “WHOEVER” is leading in the stretch.. and “he” gives up so as his right *ear* goes back and has Zenyatta in his radar closing way to quickly…
If theres such thing as reincarnation… this horse is definately … Marilyn Monroe.
The dancin and bouncin around in post parade seriously says it all..
What an incredible horse. 20|0 <—-
Zenyatta wasnt allowed to retire.. She didnt win the award last year she was MEANT TO HAVE.
So … the tears will be rolling late saturday afternoon, because this horse denied horse of the year, will become horse of the “Decades to Come”… Saturday holds and mostly will secure so many records for Zenyatta, so many that may never be beatin ever again in history. Like the poster above.. this horse will be the Secretariat of our time. Not just a female owner wanting a place in horse racing history… but an actual mare herself!!!!!!
~This is truely meant to be~
Because of the dirt, and the unsurity of the barn..
Im going to have to call it.. Zenyatta takes the lead in the backstretch for the first time and really I mean really stretches out with every gigantic stride to astonish all as Secretariat did at the belmont.
The unsurity of the dirt track…says.. definately she wont be at the back of the pack down the back stretch.
Where do you go with the horse with the biggest strides? Of course the “inside”.. ??
Smith will hear the term ” Blame ” for a few years to come.
Oh well she was there!!.. She raced Like a Champ! she is a Champ!…
*Blame* it on the Jockey folks.. Inside!? what were you thinking?!?!
great blog! see ya next year
Please!! Please put this horse in a nice calm relaxing allowance before you retire her!… shes in her barn right now wondering.. 19 - 0? and lost by 4 inchs.. and im just slammed into my stable again.
RETIRE HER WITH A WIN!!!!!!!!!! please.. she has no idea what just happened today.
( Hope the Mosses read this )