Zenyatta: 12th in 20th Century American Thoroughbreds
Zenyatta wearing her winner's garland at the Breeders' Cup Classic
2009 with jockey Mike Smith and groom Mario Espinoza. Racingfotos
In my last column, I asked "What could anyone say about this phenomenal mare that could do her justice?"
In her sixth year, Zenyatta USA (Street Cry IRE), won her first outing of the season in Santa Anita's Santa Margarita Invitational (Grade 1), 1-1/8m, on Pro-Ride.
It was her 15th victory of 15 starts and she gave away 12 lbs to her competitors with her 127 rating.
Next she will compete in the Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn on April 9 "to equal Cigar's modern-day record of 16 consecutive unrestricted victories", according to Oaklawn's statement.
Triple Crown winner Citation also won 16 straight victories and New Mexico mare Peppers Pride 19 (none of which were graded stakes).
To date Zenyatta has earned $5.6 million and has won nine Grade 1 races.
Jon White of XpressBet answered my question in "Where Does Zenyatta Rank?"
His comments were based on the list of The Blood-Horse's Top 10 racehorses of the 20th Century which was determined by a panel of such racing officials as Howard Battle, Lenny Hale, Pete Pedersen and Tommy Trotter and writers Jay Hovdey and William Nack (who wrote the definitive biography of Secretariat and is adapting it to the big screen).
TBH's top 10:
1. Man o'War
2. Secretariat
3. Citation
4. Kelso
5. Count Fleet
6. Dr Fager
7. Native Dancer
8. Forego
9. Seattle Slew
10. Spectacular Bid
Almost everyone who has followed American racing would agree with the top four choices.
White agrees with the top 10, but would drop Count Fleet and Dr Fager to 9 and 10, raise Spectacular Bid to 6 and Seattle Slew to 8.
More to our point, he would move the tragic filly Ruffian who died on the racecourse at three to 11 (only 35 on TBH rankings) and Zenyatta to 12.
Whilst he doubts that Zenyatta could beat any of the top three males unless they had a bad day, he would not bet against her running against any of the others.
"Because Zenyatta is still racing, her position among the all-time greats--whatever it currently is--remains in flux", White says.
White admits the rankings are only his opinion. I agree with his opinion about Zenyatta and Ruffian.
Now that high emotions are under control after the Eclipse Horse of the Year competition and the Apple Blossom challenge race with Rachel Alexandra that won't happen, more serious racing analysts acknowledge that Zenyatta is not only extraordinary, but truly great in the pantheon of American thoroughbred racing.
Zenyatta's trainer John Shirreffs said "How can you be better than perfect?"
Precisely. It's time for Pink Power to break through the glass ceiling and put the first female horse in the Top 10.
If any female can do it, "She's breathing fire" can.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 3/20/2010 12:59 PM 
Categories: Zenyatta 2010
Tags: Seattle Slew Man o'War Santa Anita Citation Breeders' Cup Classic Mike Smith Ruffian Cigar Oaklawn XpressBet Rachel Alexandra Santa Margarita Forego Spectacular Bid Peppers Pride Native Dancer Racing International John Shirreffs Zenyatta Count Fleet Dr Fager Secretariat Jon White Apple Blossom Kelso
Categories: Zenyatta 2010
Tags: Seattle Slew Man o'War Santa Anita Citation Breeders' Cup Classic Mike Smith Ruffian Cigar Oaklawn XpressBet Rachel Alexandra Santa Margarita Forego Spectacular Bid Peppers Pride Native Dancer Racing International John Shirreffs Zenyatta Count Fleet Dr Fager Secretariat Jon White Apple Blossom Kelso
Not quite sure she qualifies as a 20th Century Thoroughbred.
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This actually is the 21st Century.
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