Saturday’s $350,000
Goodwood S. (G1) at the Oak Tree meet may be the major local prep for the
November 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), but the highlight of the day will come
one race later, when all eyes will be on ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) as she
attempts to run her mark to an unbeaten 13 in the $300,000
Lady’s Secret S. (G1). If the dark bay mare accomplishes the feat, she’ll
tie the great Personal Ensign (Private Account), who went undefeated while
racing from 1986-1988.
Zenyatta captured last year’s Lady’s Secret by an easy 3 1/2 lengths, using
the 1 1/16-mile event as a springboard to wrap-up champion older mare honors
with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) next out. That score
concluded the mare’s four-year-old campaign, and she wasn’t seen in competition
again until a delayed return in the May 23 Milady H. (G2) at Hollywood Park.
Trainer John Shirreffs had entered his charge in the Louisville Distaff (G2)
at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard, which was the closest
the five-year-old has been to her main rival for Horse of the Year honors,
Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro). Rachel Alexandra would go on to post a
record-setting 20 1/4-length win in the Oaks, but Shirreffs withdrew Zenyatta
after the track came up muddy and redirected her to a title defense in the
Milady. Since then, Zenyatta has gone on to take the Vanity H. (G1) and Clement
L. Hirsch S. (G1), though the latter race was the nearest she’s come to being
beaten. Only a head separated the massive mare from ANABAA’S CREATION (Ire)
(Anabaa) on the wire, and that one lines back up here for another go at spoiling
Zenyatta’s history making bid.
Only two — SWEET AND FLAWLESS (Unbridled’s Song) and MADE FOR MAGIC (Cape
Canaveral) — of the eight-horse Lady’s Secret field have never faced Zenyatta.
As for the rest, COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court) will be taking a second
shot at her rival following a runner-up finish in the Ladies’ Classic last year.
The Godolphin colorbearer was transferred to the turf in the Matriarch S. (G1)
and responded with a three-quarters-of-a-length victory to round out her 2008
season. She’s raced only once on the main track from three starts this year,
finishing a last of four in the Heatherten S. in her 2009 bow, and enters the
race off a fourth in the grassy Ballston Spa H. (G2).
Grade 1 winner LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat), a stablemate to Zenyatta who was second in the Milady
and fourth in the Hirsch, is also in the field, while LETHAL HEAT (Unusual Heat)
will have another go at the reigning champion off a half-length second in the
Cal Cup Classic against the boys. She was third to Zenyatta in the Hirsch.
The Goodwood has come up pretty evenly matched, with Kentucky Derby (G1) hero
MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) seeking only his second win of the year as he gears
up for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Following his shocking 50-1 upset in the Derby
at Churchill, the Chip Woolley runner has finished second to Rachel Alexandra in
the Preakness S. (G1), third to recent Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) hero Summer
Bird (Birdstone) in the Belmont S. (G1) and third to Soul Warrior (Lion Heart)
in the West Virginia Derby (G2). The bay gelding has already settled in at Santa
Anita ahead of his first try against older rivals, and will reunite with Derby
rider Calvin Borel in the Goodwood.
Among Mine That Bird’s rivals are fellow upsetter RICHARD’S KID (Lemon Drop
Kid), who captured the Pacific Classic (G1) at 24-1 last out, and multiple Grade
1 winner COLONEL JOHN (Tiznow), who was a two-length victor of the Wickerr S.
prior to close fifth in the Pacific Classic. Colonel John found himself trapped
rounding the second turn last out, and will be looking to settle a score with
Richard’s Kid in this one.
Other contenders include multiple Grade 1 king TIAGO (Pleasant Tap), who’s
raced just twice this year so far; Grade 2 winner TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park),
runner-up in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) two back; and Grade 2 scorer PARADING
(Pulpit), fourth in the Pacific Classic.
The Goodwood field is rounded out by Californian S. (G2) and San Diego H.
(G2) winner INFORMED (Tiznow); Grade 1 veteran MONZANTE (Maria’s Mon), who makes
his second start back following a year-long layoff; and GITANO HERNANDO (GB)
(Hernando [Fr]), the English Group 3-placed sophomore who makes his U.S. debut
for Team Valor.