Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS (Post 678230)

Lets meet this star studded cast for another almost typical Zenyatta Grade 1 ....

#1 is Princess Taylor - she is currently on a 17 race losing streak and has never finished 1st or 2nd in eight career starts on synthetic. Winless since the year 2008, she does get a 4lbs weight break from Zenyatta

#2 is Made For Magic - she was claimed for $16,000 out of a race where she tanked in at Golden Gate less than one year. Since that time, she's risen to be a Grade 2 winner in Southern Cal. Less than 2 months ago she was beaten 21 lengths by Rachel Alexandra despite getting 7lbs in weight - she will only get 2lbs from Zenyatta. Omar Berrio will ride again.

#3 is Spring Style - She is 0-for-4 lifetime in stakes tries .. her last start was a 7th place finish at 11/1 odds in the restricted Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar less than two weeks ago. Back on short rest - and getting 4lbs from Zenyatta.

#4 is Dance To My Tune - She is a loser of 19 straight races - her last win coming in the year 2007. She was last seen running 7th in a field of 7 in the $62,000 Desert Stormer Stakes at Hollywood on June 12th. Will try and rebound off that last place here.

#5 is Zenyatta - She needs no introduction the world over ... even though she leaves California about as often as I leave Erie. Mike Smith has the call in her quest to go 18 for 18 over this star studded cast.

#6 is Rinterval - She has crossed the wire first just once in her last 20 career starts - however she has two wins in her last 20 starts. One coming at Turfway Park in a 50K stakes race, the other when she was smoked at Presque Isle Downs by Happy Wac ... however Happy Wac failed the post race drug test .. and was 3rd in a 5k N2L claiming race a few months later. Rinterval is in sharp form - she was 2nd in the Gr 3 Chicago Handicap at 33/1 odds last out behind Informed Decision.

Originally Posted by GPK (Post 678235)

Too bad Kickn N Screamin is retired. She coulda gave this group a run.

Originally Posted by Handicappy (Post 678270)

You have researched this well. You've confirmed she is running against less than a steller cast. But every time Zenyatta runs it always seems to go in this direction. Now folks are comparing Zenyatta with Pepper's Pride. Soon there will be the typical shots at the connections. Blah blah blah. There are even lunatics on the blog that state that Zenyatta is "not much". If I've learned one thing on this blog it is that there are always people who just have to shoot down a horse no matter what. I am saddened that Zenyatta didn't ship out here. I still hope she may before the Breeder's Cup. I would love to see her face Rachel. But that isn't Zenyatta's fault. Zenyatta shipped to Oaklawn and Rachel backed out.
But surely someone ... ANYONE here ...... can appreciate how incredible it is for a closer to consistently do as she has for this long. And if you don't, go see her in a race. Even this one that everyone is degrading. I saw her in the Ladies Classic 1 1/2 years ago. She runs with a power and a dominance that is striking.
No knock on Rachel. She had a year for the history books last year. I will enjoy watching her here. It just isn't the same.

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch (Post 678290)

Closer on synthetics or grass isn't the same as dirt. I keep saying she is the greatest synth runner in the 5 year history of synthetic tracks in America, but any objective person can see that many of her races are a joke.

Originally Posted by DaTruth (Post 678292)

But she dances before her races. Old ladies, little kids, and even some grown men blow kisses at her in the paddock. 100 people showed up at Hot Springs International Airport when she arrived there in April. That has to count for something. She is a fan favorite, and the Mosses have done all they can to expose her to as many fans as possible.*

*At least those who happen to be SoCal.

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch (Post 678236)

That's what I was thinking..5 years from now a yearling gets the tag "out of Grade 1 placed mare who ran second to Zenyatta"

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator (Post 678384)

Just another step toward doing what she was born to do … run ten long panels at The Downs…

Originally Posted by CSC (Post 678444)

Paid workout, she wins by a measured length with a solid 87 Beyer. Of note Smith who won a rare race yesterday was sitting on 1 win for the Delmar meet thus far. That might be her biggest challenge.

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator (Post 678384)

Just another step toward doing what she was born to do … run ten long panels at The Downs…

Originally Posted by Dahoss (Post 678446)

Amazing the DRF hasn't snatched you up yet.

Originally Posted by CSC (Post 678448)

Did I say anything that was incorrect? Smith is riding like the Eastern equivalent of Jose Lezcano and the beyer of this race will not be an overwhelming one.