Oak Tree renames the Lady's Secret the Zenyatta
 

OAK TREE HONORS ZENYATTA WITH GRADE I RACE, SUPERSTAR MARE INHERITS LADY’S SECRET MANTEL

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 24, 2009)—In the wake of what many consider to be the most dramatic performance in Breeders’ Cup history, the Oak Tree Racing Association has announced that the undefeated superstar mare Zenyatta, a devastating last-to-first winner of the Grade I, $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Oak Tree on Nov. 7, will be honored by having the name of the race she won in both 2008 and 2009, the Grade I Lady’s Secret, renamed The Zenyatta, effective next year.
“When the history books are written, we feel that what Zenyatta accomplished here on Nov. 7 will go down as one of the all-time great achievements in American racing” said Oak Tree Director and Executive Vice President Sherwood Chillingworth.

“Lady’s Secret was a great mare herself. She won the (Breeders’ Cup) Distaff here in 1986 and went on to be named Horse of the Year, but what Zenyatta did here against the best horses in the world is something none of us who witnessed it will ever forget.

“It is particularly appropriate, in that she won the Lady’s Secret two years in-a-row and like Lady’s Secret, we feel strongly that Zenyatta should be Horse of the Year. Her brilliance is undeniable and we are proud to rename this prestigious race in her honor.” (WOW)

Lady’s Secret was owned by the late Eugene Klein and his wife Joyce, and she was trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Zenyatta, who has been retired, is owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and was trained by John Shirreffs.

“At first, Jerry was reluctant to accept our offer of renaming the race, because he was a personal friend of Gene Klein,” said Chillingworth. “But after he and Ann thought about it for a couple of days, he called back and said they thought Zenyatta would be flattered by the comparison and to know that she was held in such high esteem.”

After winning the 2008 Lady’s Secret, Zenyatta went on to win the Grade I, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic, and was subsequently named 2008 Eclipse Champion Older Filly or Mare.

Zenyatta’s win in the Classic on Nov. 7 climaxed a perfect 14 for 14 career and, in the opinion of many, stamped her as not only one of the greatest fillies or mares of all-time, but as one of the greatest horses of all-time as well.

The Lady’s Secret, which was inaugurated in 1993, is for fillies and mares aged 3-and-up, at 1 1/16 miles.

Oak Tree’s 42nd fall race meeting begins in September, 2010.


http://www.oaktreeracing.com/press/p...lady%E2%80%99s

Perhaps they will now change their version of the Clement Hirsch to the Lady's Secret because there are two races on the circuit of the same name. Oh wait, I have one better...how about naming every race she won twice after her...the Vanity is now known as the Zenyatta, as is the Milady. Why not?

Anything to help her get HOY.

Incase no one has read or listened to Mike Smith's comments in the Bloodhorse interview/chat, it was very interesting and worth the listen. 2 things caught my eye.

1. Of note he mentioned Zenyatta may have been even better on dirt.

2. That everyone horse that lost to her in the Apple Blossom came out to win their next starts, all stakes wins(2 gr.1's) with the last place finisher winning an allowance race.

LOL, so Mike Smith says she may have been better on dirt. She may have been better on Turf.

Ridiculous. They have 2 major stakes in CA named for Clement Hirsch, one of which Zenyatta won. Rename that race.

Of course they had no problem eliminating the John Henry, yet kept the Inglewood and American, at HP, so this is nothing shocking.

Why is this funny? let me guess you don't like her much do you?

"One of the greatest horses of all time"?????????:zz: :wf
Pleeeeaaaaaaassssssssseeeeeeeeeee

Really? Who won Grade I's in their very next start after the Apple Blossom?

The answer: none of the above.

NT

I'm just quoting Mike, don't kill the messenger. I would guess Ginger Punch would be one.

No fact checking?

The answer is none of them won Grade Is in their next start and the last-place finisher, Kettleoneup, came back to run last again in the Louisville Handicap at CD.

This was the Apple Blossom field (in order of finish):

Zenyatta
Brownie Points
Ginger Punch
Lemon Drop Mom
Clever Strike
Kettleoneup

Zenyatta subsequently won the Milady (G2), Brownie Points the Ouija Board (G3-T), Ginger Punch the Louisville Handicap (G2), Lemon Drop Mom the Winter Melody at Delaware. Clever Strike won an allowance race on the turf at Arlington restricted to horses who had never won a race on turf.

NT

Well I don't have past p's at my finger tips but Ginger Punch won the Go For Wand, The Personal Ensign and the Ogden Phipps Handicap in 08 after losing to Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom. Not sure it was her next start but if not it was must have been damn close.

Mike needs to brush up on his grade one's then, still not unimpressive that all horses won in their next starts.

Why is it that day after day, week after week, we have to listen to these fools out west make their pitch for HOY honors for Zenyatta while RA's camp sits back, says nothing and lets her record do the talking? This is actually getting pretty sickening, the drooling over this horse. It took a couple weeks for me to go from actually liking and rooting for the horse to absolutely despising her because of the nonsense that comes out of the connections mouths and the track and fans alike.

Not quite

I'm at work and have restrictions to certain sites, I rely alot on my memory when I'm quoting stats here, that is why I cited it was said in the Mike Smith Interview, no deception was intended.

If she was better on dirt, it's a shame we only were able to see her run on it.... once.

I got miffed when the Sir Barton was renamed to the Barbaro, I guess I should've expected something like this. I don't oppose renaming races after a horse that moved a lot of people, it just feels like you were trying to honor the other horse, and now that's done. I guess they figured renaming a G2 wasn't going far enough given how amazing she is, still it's frustrating. I'll be honest, the name Lady's Secret has always reminded me of both the horse and deodorant.

That race was one of her easier races when you see it, and it was done running into a moderate pace. Being by Street Cry it isn't a stretch that she may have been better on dirt. It's too bad history will record it as her only race on dirt.

The annoying thing with that is that Delaware also named a race for Barbaro.

Not to mention he broke down at Pimlico, as opposed to achieving glory there.

....:zz: :zz:

Really? :zz:

I love when people apply human emotions and feelings to animals... I can just hear it now:

Shirreffs: "Hey Zenyatta, guess what? They named that race you won, you know, the "Lady's Secret, well, yep, they named it after you. Isn't that wonderful?"

Zenyatta: "Really? Oh My God! I am just so flattered! Lady's Secret was, like, such an amazing horse! I was such a big fan of hers! That is, like, so totally cool and amazing! The Zenyatta! That will be, like, so totally a great race! Can I run in it next year?! I'd so stay a virgin to win a race named after me! OH MY GOD!"


Yep, I'm pretty sure that's the way that conversation would go. :wf

Complete nonsense coming out of that camp and now we have to question their sanity

B/c I could care less what a jockey says about a horse who raced all of one time on dirt and virtually never trained on it...The answer is we will never know.

agreed, thats the biggest problem with this horse. its woulda, coulda , shoulda. she won one race on dirt and scratched when it rained the other time. why if shes so good on dirt? how does anyone know shes better on dirt?????...answer...they don't. its a joke. you run the horse to prove it. as if mike smith saying so validates it. its just so stupid of an argument. talk is, well...just that. the other horse ran halfway across the country in races she had no business winning, your horse DID NOT. thats the difference. you can name 18 races the "zenyatta" it won't matter. you should of run when you could of but you didn't. even if i thought zenyatta was faster, which i do. you didn't do it, you stayed home..ALL YEAR.....oh well...tiz life. thats the message that should be sent to her connections.

“Lady’s Secret was a great mare herself. She won the (Breeders’ Cup) Distaff here in 1986 and went on to be named Horse of the Year, but what Zenyatta did here against the best horses in the world is something none of us who witnessed it will ever forget."


You're d**n right Lady's Secret was a great mare herself, here's a few fun facts about the daughter of Secretariat:

Race record 45-25-9-3 for earnings of $3,021,425

Won at 9 different racetracks (Bel,Hol,Dmr,SA,BM,Aqu,Mth,OP,Sar)

Won on 4 different track conditions (fst,gd,sly,my)

Won at distances from 5F to 10F

Seven times ran against males (only winning the 1986 Woodward)

In 1986 ran in the Whitney on Aug 2nd, the Iselin on Aug 16th and the Woodward on Aug 30th.

I'm sorry but you mean they couldn't give Zenyatta a race of her own but had to take it away from Lady's Secret. (pathetic)

I think they should name a race after California Flag.

The Iron Lady would have smoked Zenyatta.

You're still bummed about this.

Pleeeeaaaaaaassssssssseeeeeeeeeee

hate to see lady's secret taken off a stakes race.

Has a horse ever come back from retirement to win a race named after him/her?

Zenyatta by 5 in the Zenyatta....

I think that's part of the problem. She was on that track less than a month ago and now there is a race there named after her?

I'm not a monster fan of naming a race for Barbaro...but at least he was dead, thus making it a memorial. Zenyatta is barely a normally spaced layoff away from another race...and she already has a race named after her? It's awkward.

And as to the person who said they weren't happy that the Sir Barton was renamed...at least you can't say you were upset because of all the times you saw Sir Barton run, in person.

But see on the West Coast, Zenyatta is a religion and this move may sway spine free voters in her direction.

Zenyatta wouldn't beat a 5 claimer by five nevermind a 50k claimer. That isnt her way ..

stay clear of the california weed.......

Ya, cause everything has to be political. Wonder what you will say when they give RA a race of her own (and she will surley get one). Zenyatta connections never said that she should get HOY as they kept quiet about the subject when asked. Its not like the Moss's campaigned to get the race named after her anyways. Just wait when RA steps on to the track and wins another, then you will have people gushing over her.

What nonsense are you talking about anyways?? You blame people for liking Zenyatta?? RA and Zenyatta brought new and more enthusiastic fan base this year to the tracks. Instead of embracing the fact that Horse Racing got a boost by these two great horses, you meanwhile find it sickening. :zz:

I find this development truly distasteful, and I seem to be in the minority of players who don't have an aversion to synthetics or the West Coast. I guess after a few days they realized having a G.I with her name on it could not be bad for future business-friendships, respect and tradition aside.

I find it disrespectful to Lady's Secret. At least wait 5 years or so.

This is a central point in the wrong-headedness of renaming stakes. Whether it's naming this race for Zenyatta, or let's say the Kilroe Mile after Bobby Frankel, you effectively diminish the accomplishments of the previous moniker-holder and quash the intended honor of the entire process. It demonstrates complete and utter disregard for the history of the sport. As I said last night, by doing this, it says that when a horse comes along better than Zenyatta in 20 years, they'd paint over Zenyatta too... It's a self-defeating action that cheapens what should be your most sacrosanct events. It's pathetic.

For those Cappers not scoring 800 on their Verbal
sacrosanct = "most sacred or holy"