Zenyatta returns against Life is Sweet in Milady

Zenyatta will make her 2009 bow Saturday (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com)

Unbeaten ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]), last seen recording an authoritative 1
1/2-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1), will return to the
races in Saturday’s $150,000
Milady H.
(G2) at Hollywood Park, and the top challenger for the five-year-old mare is her stablemate, LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat). Both
distaffers are trained by John Shirreffs, but they’ll square off against each
other in the 1 1/16-mile event due to separate ownership.

Zenyatta, who is campaigned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss, was named a finalist
for 2008 Horse of the Year honors and will bring a nine-for-nine mark into the
Milady, which she won by 2 1/2 lengths in 2008. The late-running dark bay was
never seriously challenged last season, compiling four Grade 1 tallies in seven
starts, and the 126-pound highweight will be guided by regular rider Mike Smith.

The Pam & Martin Wygod-owned Life is Sweet will bring a three-race winning
skein into this event, winning the El Encino S. (G2), La Canada S. (G2) and
Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1) this season, and the four-year-old filly will keep
Garrett Gomez in the saddle.