Fri, 10/29/2010 - 16:03

Zenyatta must earn title on the track

NEW YORK – If Zenyatta wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, finishing her career 20 for 20 with a victory over the best horses she has ever faced at the iconic American showcase of 10 furlongs on the dirt at Churchill Downs, it will be a spectacular moment in all of racing history. It would of course also rightly make her a virtually unanimous choice as the nation’s Horse of the Year, an honor for which she finished second in the balloting in 2008 and 2009.

Fri, 10/29/2010 - 14:41

Zenyatta impresses with gallop as final drill nears

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Zenyatta galloped approximately 1 1/2 miles on the main track at Hollywood Park on Friday, continuing a week-long theme of exercising with enthusiasm under rider Steve Willard.

Unbeaten in 19 starts and the favorite for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6, Zenyatta was scheduled to have her final workout at Hollywood Park on Saturday. She will be flown to Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

As Zenyatta walked off the track following Friday’s gallop, Willard emphasized how impressed he has been with her recent activity.

Thu, 10/28/2010 - 21:27

Zenyatta gallops 12 furlongs at Hollywood

Zenyatta galloped 1 1/2 miles on Hollywood Park’s main track on Thursday, two days before her final workout in preparation for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6.

Zenyatta began her gallop near the head of the stretch and did a complete circuit before pulling up on the backstretch. Ridden by exercise rider Steve Willard, the unbeaten 6-year-old Zenyatta showed enthusiasm throughout the exercise.

“She’s in the bridle,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “I’d have to say she’s stepped it up a notch. She’s a little more intense.”

Wed, 10/27/2010 - 16:55

Zenyatta and Goldikova in hunt for Breeders' Cup history

Led by the sensational mares Zenyatta and Goldikova, both of whom will be seeking unprecedented third victories in the Breeders’ Cup, a total of 184 horses were announced on Wednesday as the pre-entries for the 27th Breeders’ Cup, a 14-race, $25.5 million extravaganza to be held Nov. 5-6 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Fri, 10/22/2010 - 13:13

Zenyatta gets plenty of company in workout

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – It took two stablemates to work with Zenyatta at Hollywood Park on Friday and achieve the objectives that trainer John Shirreffs intended for the undefeated mare’s second-to-last workout before the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6.

Zenyatta worked with Sarbonne and El Vino, two horses owned, like Zenyatta, by Jerry and Ann Moss. They served as a tag-team of sorts during the seven-furlong workout. Ridden by Mike Smith, Zenyatta was timed in 1:27.20, and she was the only horse to work that distance on Friday.

Mon, 10/18/2010 - 18:11

Video: Zenyatta's trainer, John Shirreffs, talks to the press at Keeneland

Zenyatta's trainer, John Shirreffs, gives a press conference on Friday at Keeneland discussing Zenyatta's career and her preparations to defend her title in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5-6.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Mon, 10/18/2010 - 14:25

Star athletes align as Terrell Owens visits Zenyatta

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Terrell Owens has a photo of Zenyatta on his cell phone. He’s got a bunch more of the undefeated star mare on his digital camera, too.

The NFL star wide receiver had a free Sunday last weekend, his Cincinnati Bengals had the week off, and Owens spent 30 minutes on an overcast afternoon on the Hollywood Park backstretch at trainer John Shirreffs’s barn. The focus of the trip was an opportunity to meet Zenyatta, the undefeated two-time champion and winner of 19 races.

Fri, 10/15/2010 - 14:53

Sentiment finally in Zenyatta's favor

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Three weeks from Sunday, on the clear, cool Kentucky morning of Nov. 7, the racing world will awaken with all matters resolved. Horse of the Year will be decided. The lesser divisions will be nailed shut. Horse racing can safely tuck itself away in its winter cave and wait for the emergence of spring, or the release of “Secretariat” on DVD, whichever comes first.

Thu, 10/07/2010 - 15:47

Date added to meet after rained-out card

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Oak Tree at Hollywood Park meeting will run an additional day on Wednesday, Oct. 27 to make up for the rainout on Wednesday of this week, the track announced Thursday.

Hollywood Park canceled its eight-race Wednesday program after a significant downpour in late morning led to erosion in two places on the backstretch.