Zenyatta going in Louisville Distaff on Oaks day?
 

Zenyatta, 9-0 lifetime, is ready to embark on her 2009 campaign following a six-month layoff, but owner Jerry Moss said Tuesday plans to bring her back in the $100,000 Grade III Hawthorne Handicap the first weekend in May had to be scrapped when Hollywood Park management canceled the race as part of $1.5 million in purse cuts.

"That would have been an automatic," Moss said. "That would have been what we would have done. I mean, we were actually pointing to that."

Zenyatta breezed six furlongs in 1:12.00 over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track on Sunday morning, showing she's ready to roll. All Team Zenyatta needs is a race, and it appears they might go in the $350,000 Grade II Louisville Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 1.

"It's a nice race down there, it's a mile and a sixteenth, it's good money and it's fun to be around a lot of people," Moss said. "Being in that atmosphere is always such a kick.

"But it's up to John. I mean, this is her first one back in a while and it's not the greatest thing to have to travel. We know she runs good on a traditional track, though, because she's proved that certainly at Oaklawn last year, and she's a good traveler."

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/sports/ci_12195330

NT

That would certainly add some added excitement to Oaks day...

Bravo must be pumped!

I posted this before, but also nominated are one caroline and seventh street.

Those three have a combined record of 18 wins in 20 starts.

That would easily be the most interesting race of the weekend.

I think SS is going to run against Indian Blessing though in the Humana Distaff.

This is what was on the CD website yesterday:

"G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s undefeated One Caroline tops a list of nine probables for the 24th running of the $350,000-added Louisville Distaff (Grade II). Unbeaten in five starts, One Caroline is expected to face the likes of Town and Country Farm’s Bear Now, Dawn and Ike Thrash’s Dawn After Dawn, Domino Stud of Lexington’s Miss Isella, Nancy Cole and Charles Kidder’s Stealin’ Kisses, William Deburgh’s Sugar Mint (IRE), Mark Stanley’s Swift Temper, Team Valor International’s Unbridled Belle and Robert Adams’ Unforgotten. Reigning older filly and mare champion Zenyatta is also nominated to the race."

http://www.churchilldowns.com/news/a...k-stakes-races

NT

Potential very chalky Oaks Day late P4.

Unbridled Belle was bred to A.P. Indy, but I guess they plan to keep her in training for a bit?

The obvious question is when is she going to try the boys? This is the year to do it being that it is such an overwhelming division. :rolleyes:

Is BRAVO showing all of the stake races that day or just the Oaks?

I wonder if the talk of moving the BC to Churchill had any impact.

No, they are screwed now, they needed a comeback race and unless the write some funky alw race, and why blemish her record with an Alw race, then there is nothing for her to go in unless she goes right to Life is Sweet, which hailing from the same barn seems like a stupid idea.

Seventh Street is running in the May 16 Shuvee per DRF article today.

Zenyatta could also run instead in the May 23 Milady at Hollywood.

I think they are just showing the Oaks. That whole deal makes me furious. Just like "Ladies Day" at the frigging BC.

She'll be there...

http://www.drf.com/news/article/103295.html

NT

Your supposed to bet against horses who end up in races they were never aimed to be in, this has to be that case.

Yeah but this is Zenyatta...

There may be a few reasons to bet against her, but I don't think this is one of them.

NT

Peripheral handicapping at its best. Why bring the ability of the horse into play?

He's trying to make silly excuses for her before the race - that way - if she does get beat - he can say it wasn't the fault of his boyfriend Mike Smith.

I tend to think it's more a situation of unrequited love.