Zenyatta to face 4
 

http://www.drf.com/news/article/111956.html

The complete Apple Blossom field from the rail with riders is Be Fair, Calvin Borel; Taptam, Cliff Berry; War Echo, Shaun Bridgmohan; Zenyatta; and Just Jenda, Terry Thompson.

Just Jenda in a romp.

That's some G1 they got there....

Don't know if Zenyatta can win since she drew the outside post! :)

Well Mike Smith doesn't have to worry about going six wide in here at least.

There may be a couple in there faster than Ginger Punch and Brownie Points.

I've never been able to understand why Oaklawn cannibalizes their own stakes races. For example, they run the Oaklawn Handicap then a few days later run a race called the Fifth Season, both of which are for older horses at two turns.

They also have the Bayakoa and the Apple Blossom on separate cards. In years like this when their stakes fields were so light it really shows how dumb it is. For example, Taptam, who finished a well-beaten 9th in the Azeri (The Apple Blossom local prep) is in the Apple Blossom, but Euphony, who finished 2nd in the Azeri and is a respectable horse, is in the Bayakoa.

I just hope that Zenyatta s.hits on this field like she's supposed to and we can hear even more about how dirt is truly her preferred surface. Then maybe her connections will actually run her on it a few more times this year before November 6.

NT

All I know is the REAL 'fast' horse didn't show up for this one -- 3rd string asskicking or otherwise.

Thats debatable

This is the type of race that Zenyatta can lose. Some horse in a short field gets an easy lead and adios...

Several hundred people (OP employees, blue haireds, those on comp or disability, and the unemployed) showed up at the airport this morning to greet Z. Smooth Operator is having withdrawal symptoms now that his girlfriend has left SoCal.

Don't worry, the DT faithful hooked him up. Math got him a full-size pic and DrugS sent a sock, he'll be occupied up until race time.

NT

Just Jenda, eh


Gf's name is Jenna.


Weird



Anyway, should be a nice long paid workout for that unbeaten dual Breeders' Cup champ.



Rock Star :cool:

I'm somewhat surprised she actually went to Arkansas. I figured they'd stick around SoCal once Rachel was out of the Apple Blossom.

I may be wrong, but they were "planning" on going to Arkansas once the annoucement was made to run her in 2010. I just wish Oaklawn wouldn't have jacked up the schedule so I could have seen her last weekend...

I think he might be there:

The fans were carrying handmade signs. "We Love Zenyatta," read one. "Hot Springs Welcomes Queen Z," read another. One lonely heart had a sign that said, "Marry Me Zenyatta." And, of course, there was the obligatory reference to the horse who is not here. It read, "Rachel Who?"

http://www.drf.com/news/article/111957.html

I got torn up for knocking GP not to long ago, where were you then? She was admirable, but SLOW.

You always do! You're a nuisance!

Sooo does anyone think one of those 4 could get away with a slow pace and steal it? It doesn't seem they could off the top of my head. But maybe looking at the PPs will give some hope to the others?

A Retard?

The borscht belt circuit is calling ...

It would be the ultimate revenge if War Echo did upset Zenyatta.

Not saying it's possible, but if the unforeseen did happen, it would be ironic.

Yep.

Reminds me of last week's Fantasy Stakes.

I have a better idea, the utlimate revenge for Rachel would be for her to do it herself, not Zardana or War Echo. Ect...

Zenyatta would be one.

I was amused by the way the DRF has framed Zenyatta's win streak "at an elite level" in order to exclude the New Mexico horse from the likes of Citation and Cigar:

On Friday, she can match the feat of 16 straight wins at an elite level that has characterized the careers of Citation, Cigar, and Mister Frisky.

Calling it a "feat" instead of a "record" is clever, too.

Didn't Mister Frisky rack up most of those wins in Puerto Rico?

--Dunbar

I had the same impression.

I guess El Commandante racetrack is a candidate for permanent venue for the Breeder's Cup.

Hallowed Dreams also wasn't mentioned.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/sp...ml?ref=sports:)

Smooth Operator = Joe Drape

That's what I'd heard. She was going to Oaklawn with or without Rachel.

The announcer for the Apple Blossom put a new twist on it. He said Zenyatta had equaled the record of 16 straight wins of horses running in unrestricted races, joining Cigar and Citation. Adios Mr. Frisky.



--Dunbar

So 15 vs fillies and mares isnt unrestricted?

Cigar ran in restricted races and so did Citation in that streak if you want to talk technical.

What restricted races did Cigar run in?

He never ran in a non winners race in that streak or a non winners of a race since a certain date? I could be wrong but I thought the first race was a conditioned alw race.

I loved the comparison of Zenyatta to the size and athleticism of LeBron James
.



Go Cavs!

Gotta make it happen!

I hate that comparision.

James is a roid machine.

The first and third races in his streak were conditioned. He won a N2X right before the NYRA Mile then won a N4X before rattling off 13 consecutive stakes wins, all in open and unrestricted company.

NT