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Lorelei LeFae Zenyatta wins Lady's Secret - heads to the Breeders Cup Oct 10, 2009 7:10 PM As professional as ever, undefeated Zenyatta equaled the legendary Personal Ensign's 13-race winning streak to begin her career, sweeping past the pacesetters in upper stretch to capture Oak Tree's $300,000 Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. I) before 20,329 at Santa Anita in characteristic fashion Oct. 10. Ridden by Mike Smith, the 2-5 favorite joined rare company with Personal Ensign, who beat males in the 1988 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, then ended her career by defeating Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Winning Colors by a nose in a classic BC Distaff that year. Zenyatta has an invitation to defend her title in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) with the win, but her connections, owner Jerry and Ann Moss, trainer John Shirreffs, are also considering a run against the males in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). Zenyatta unwound her patented late kick while going wide on the final turn of the 1 1/16-mile test and blew past the pacesetting Briecat and severl others to take command in the stretch. She held sway late under smooth handling to win by just over one length over runner-up Lethal Heat in a time of 1:42.89 over the Pro-Ride racing surface. Cocoa Beach, the runner-up to Zenyatta in last year's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, finished third, with Zenyatta's stablemate Life Is Sweet finishing fourth. “I don’t know," Shirreffs said of the BC Classic. "It’s not my decision to make.” Asked what he would tell owners Jerry and Ann Moss about where to run next: “There’s time to decide. We’re not going to decide (at) this moment.” Shirreffs added, “She ran her race. That’s Zenyatta. She does whatever is necessary. I’m like everybody else. I love to watch her. She’s like a ship when she’s coming down the stretch. You hardly ever see any horses inside of her because she takes up so much of the picture you’re looking at. Thirteen in a row . . . Personal Ensign, I mean, it’s historic. It’s a once in a lifetime horse, believe me. You don’t see Zenyattas. They come so seldom, it’s unbelievable that she’s here, in Los Angeles, at Santa Anita, and it’s a blessing, really.” Zenyatta, who counts seven grade I victories among her accomplishments, has now earned $2,774,580 in her career. She is four-for-four on Santa Anita's main track. Jerry Moss said Zenyatta would be pre-entered in both races. "The horse is going to make the decision," he said. "We want her to do well and be safe and be happy, but we also want to see how much she's got in her tank." A smiling Smith pointed down at Zenyatta as he guided her into the winner's circle, greeted by loud cheers from the fans, many of them lining the rail from mid-stretch to the finish line to watch the nation's other star female. “Ability-wise, she can run with anyone, anytime, anywhere," Smith said in obvious reference to Rachel Alexandra. "She has an amazing turn of foot, one that I’ve never seen before. No disrespect to the other horses today, but she only ran about four jumps when we turned for home and then she shut it down. "I knew the pace was slow and going to the far turn, everybody has to get into some kind of position. I just have so much confidence in her and today, she had 10 gears and she only had to use four of them. She really loves this track over here.” Zenyatta won a day after the owner of Rachel Alexandra said the star filly who beat the boys in the Preakness (gr. I) and Woodward (gr. I) was done racing for the year, ensuring they won't meet in a Breeders' Cup showdown. Zenyatta pawed the ground with her right hoof in the winner's circle before Smith jumped off and planted a kiss on her flank. Actress Bo Derek, a member of the California Horse Racing Board, presented the trophy. A smiling Smith pointed down at Zenyatta as he guided her into the winner's circle, greeted by loud cheers from the fans, many of them lining the rail from mid-stretch to the finish line to watch the nation's other star female. “Ability-wise, she can run with anyone, anytime, anywhere," Smith said in obvious reference to Rachel Alexandra. "She has an amazing turn of foot, one that I’ve never seen before. No disrespect to the other horses today, but she only ran about four jumps when we turned for home and then she shut it down. "I knew the pace was slow and going to the far turn, everybody has to get into some kind of position. I just have so much confidence in her and today, she had 10 gears and she only had to use four of them. She really loves this track over here.” Zenyatta won a day after the owner of Rachel Alexandra said the star filly who beat the boys in the Preakness (gr. I) and Woodward (gr. I) was done racing for the year, ensuring they won't meet in a Breeders' Cup showdown. Zenyatta pawed the ground with her right hoof in the winner's circle before Smith jumped off and planted a kiss on her flank. Actress Bo Derek, a member of the California Horse Racing Board, presented the trophy. "Queen Zenyatta" was one of the signs that greeted her in the winner's circle after her fourth win this year, all coming on the synthetic surfaces at each of Southern California's three major tracks. "It's so much fun to see all her fans," co-owner Ann Moss said. "She enjoys herself. It's just really grand." Briecat set the pace with pedestrian fractions of :25.06, :49.58 and 1:12.93 before being swallowed up, with Zenyatta charging five wide near mid-stretch. Lethal Heat angled out between horses in the stretch and finished a neck in front of Cocoa Beach for second. Life is Sweet, Anabaa's Creation, Made for magic and Briecat completed the order. Sweet and Flawless scratched. Zenyatta paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Lethal Heat returned $7.40 and $4.20, while Cocoa Beach was $3 to show.
Lorelei LeFae Indian Blessing takes Gallant Bloom Sep 27, 2009 10:02 PM I love the announcer at Belmont BTW - He is so enthusiastic! :) Two-time champion Indian Blessing notched her first victory of the season and earned her way back to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships by outdueling Sara Louise in a thrilling finish to win the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) (VIDEO) by a head Sept. 26 at Belmont Park. It was the Bob Baffert trainee’s second consecutive win in the 6 1/2-furlong contest. Under jockey John Velazquez, Indian Blessing turned for home with a narrow lead over 3-year-old Sara Louise, who was facing older fillies and mares for the first time in the Gallant Bloom. Those two dueled the length of the stretch, with Sara Louise and Edgar Prado doing their best to close ground while racing on the outside of their rival. Sara Louise, the last horse to defeat Rachel Alexandra, finally caught Indian Blessing two jumps from the wire, but the daughter of Indian Charlie stuck her nose down at the perfect time to win the photo. The final time over a main track labeled “fast” was 1:15.29. Sky Haven was 3 1/2 lengths back in third. Indian Blessing broke a step slowly and was rushed up a bit to keep pace with 6-year-old multiple graded stakes winner Any Limit, who took the field of six around in a :22.29 opening quarter-mile. Indian Blessing continued her assault on the front and took a narrow lead from Thunders Dove and Sara Louise through a :45.15 half-mile. When they turned for home, it was a two-horse race. "She put up a really good fight today," Velazquez said. "She didn’t leave out of there all that well, and I had to use her a little bit to get position. I let her be comfortable, and wait. When the hole opened up, I took the spot, and went on with her. "I tell you, the other filly was a brave one, too. She kept coming back to me. The more I asked my filly, the more the other one kept coming back. It was a good effort for both fillies.” It was an important victory for 4-year-old Indian Blessing since she had disappointed in her last two races, including a distant runner-up finish to Music Note last out in the Aug. 29 Ballerina (gr. I) at Saratoga. Prior to that, the dark bay filly was fourth in the Desert Stormer Handicap at Hollywood Park, her only time off the board in 15 lifetime starts. This triumph earned her automatic trip to Santa Anita Park for the Nov. 6 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (gr. I), an event she finished runner-up in last season. "I think she ran incredibly today," said Baffert's assistant, Tonja Terranova. "Sara Louise is a really nice filly, but (Indian Blessing) had been training super. Everyone was really confident and she ran her eyeballs out." Indian Blessing won her first five career starts in 2007, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), and was named champion 2-year-old filly that season. Last year, she scored three straight graded stakes in New York, capped by a 6 1/4-length romp in the Gallant Bloom. Despite finishing runner-up to Ventura in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, she won an Eclipse Award as the nation’s top female sprinter. A homebred of Hal and Patti Earnhardt, Indian Blessing improved her record to 10-5-0 from 16 starts and bumped her earnings to $2,995,420. She is out of the Flying Chevron mare Shameful. Sent off as the second choice, Indian Blessing paid $4.80, $2.70, and $2.20. The exacta (2-3) with 6-5 favorite Sara Louise returned $8.60. The trifecta (2-3-4) was $46.40. It was a tough defeat for Godolphin Racing's Sara Louise, who entered off a score in the Aug. 29 Victory Ride (gr. III) at Saratoga, her first race in nine months. "She tried hard; she broke sharp and let the speed go," Prado said. "She was in a good spot, just unfortunately (Indian Blessing) got through inside. My filly fought real hard, though." Thunders Dove was fourth, followed by P. S. U. Grad, and Any Limit. American Queen was scratched.
Lorelei LeFae 2009 Mother Goose Stakes Sep 19, 2009 9:37 AM The $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G1) is the middle leg of the New York Triple Tiara, but this year's renewal turned out to be a public workout or a virtual walkover. Although five 3-year-old fillies originally entered this 1 1/8 mile trip around one turn of the Belmont Park main track, two scratched the day of the race, leaving a field of three. As expected, Kentucky Oaks and Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra was sent off at 1-20 odds, making her second start for new owner Stonestreet Stables and trainer Steve Asmussen. In to challenge the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro were 6-1 second choice Flashing, winner of three straight going in including the Nassau County last out, and 11-1 Malibu Prayer, an allowance winner last out and making her stakes debut. Racing conditions were ideal with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 70's, with 13,352 in attendance, a figure artificially inflated by two promotions, a Rachel Alexandra bracelet giveaway and free admission for female fans. When the gate opened, jockey John Velazquez aboard Malibu Prayer was hustled to the lead immediately and was stalked to her outside by Flashing through very fast fractions of 22.57, 44.66, and 1:08.86 over the fast track. Jockey Calvin Borel kept Rachel Alexandra in hand early, staying well off the rail on the backstretch about 3 lengths off the pace. At the 3/8 pole, Borel asked Rachel for run and got it, as the heavy favorite came through the hole between the two tiring pacesetters, taking over the lead at the 1/4 pole. Borel tapped her with his whip right handed and she drew off with authority, opening up an 8 length lead at the 1/8 pole through a mile in 1:33.60. Under wraps through the final furlong she cruised to a 19 1/4 length victory over Malibu Prayer in a new stakes record time of 1:46.33, just 0.93 seconds off Secretariat's track record. It was another 12 1/4 lengths back to Flashing third. As well, the margin of victory was also a stakes record, eclipsing the previous record of 13 1/2 lengths set by Ruffian in 1975. With just three starters, place, show, exacta, and trifecta wagering was cancelled. With the amount of money bet on Rachel Alexandra, the race had a minus win pool on Rachel Alexandra of $18,698.62, with NYRA's share being $1,162.39. A minus pool means the amount paid out to the bettors due to the minimum pay-off of $2.10 was more than the amount wagered after the take out (15% for win bets at NYRA) was removed from the pool. Winning Time:  1:46.33
Lorelei LeFae 2009 Shadwell Travers Stakes Sep 19, 2009 9:33 AM Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird followed in the footsteps of his sire Saturday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course as he splashed his way to an imposing 3½ length victory over longshot Hold Me Back in the 140 th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes.   The son of 2004 Belmont-Travers winner Birdstone, ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux, took the lead with a quarter-mile to go and was never threatened as he edged clear through the stretch to add the “Mid-Summer Derby” to his victory over Dunkirk and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes.   Summer Bird’s winning time for the 1¼ miles was 2:02.83 over a sloppy track.   Sent off as the second choice behind favored Quality Road , who was third, Summer Bird returned $7.80 for a $2 win bet to his backers in the enthusiastic crowd of 34,221. In earning $600,000 for Drs. Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman, his record now stands at 3-1-1 from seven starts with a bankroll of $1,573,040.   “I feel like I do [have the best 3-year-old colt],” said his 35-year-old trainer, Tim Ice, who took out his training license just a year ago. “He beat Quality Road today. I have a lot of respect for Quality Road , and I have a lot of respect for my horse. So maybe he is champion 3-year-old.”   Desormeaux, who picked up his first Travers win after finishing sixth in both 2007 and 2008, kept Summer Bird well off the rail as Our Edge took the field of seven 3-year-old colts through early fractions of 23.19 and 46.88. With Grade 2 Jim Dandy winner Kensei inheriting the lead on the turn, Summer Bird began moving up rapidly at the five-sixteenths pole, taking control and opening a clear lead with a quarter-mile to go.   “He left the gate wanting to run,” said Desormeaux. “At the five-sixteenths, he took off, full of run. Thank goodness for the Jumbotron [in the infield]. I was never nervous because I could see the field was well behind me.”   Hold Me Back, who had trailed early, went six-wide on the turn and closed to gain second, 1½ lengths clear of the favorite.   “He ran great today,” said Hold Me Back’s Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott. “I’m thrilled. We were second-best but he ran big.”   Quality Road, who had set a track record in winning the 6 ½ furlong Amsterdam here in his first start since taking the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March, made a bid in midstretch after a rail trip but could not catch the top two.   “He didn’t break very good,” said John Velazquez, aboard the Todd Pletcher-trained colt. “There was nothing I could do, but he came back and got himself back into the race. There was no room for me to go around the far turn … once we got some room, he was starting to run again.”   Completing the order of finish were Charitable Man, Warrior’s Reward, Kensei, and Our Edge.   Summer Bird, who in his last start finished second to Rachel Alexandra in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, becomes the 30 th horse in Travers history, and first since his sire, to complete the Belmont-Travers double. Prior to winning the Belmont , he finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Arkansas Derby.   “The more races he runs, I think he’s going to get better,” said Ice. “For this race, he was already a proven Grade 1 winner. For my colt to win the Belmont and come back and win the Travers, like Birdstone, means a lot.”   Shadwell Farm, presenting sponsor of last year’s Travers, became the title sponsor of the race in 2009.   “The Travers continues to offer our thoroughbred athletes competitive racing and we were fortunate to have experienced the thrilling victory of Summer Bird,” said Rick Nichols, Shadwell’s vice president and general manager. “Congratulations to the entire team associated with Summer Bird, and Shadwell wishes them all the best with his future racing career.”
Lorelei LeFae 2009 NetJets King's Bishop Stakes Sep 19, 2009 9:29 AM Capt. Candyman Can gave Ian Wilkes the first Grade 1 victory of his training career after being placed first following the disqualification of Vineyard Haven in Saturday's $300,000 King's Bishop . Vineyard Haven survived an early pace duel with his entrymate Everyday Heroes to reach the wire a head in front of Capt. Candyman Can. But Vineyard Haven came out under left-handed pressure from jockey Alan Garcia to bump and herd Capt. Candyman Can in late stretch before edging clear. Following an inquiry and claim of foul by jockey Javier Castellano, the stewards wasted little time reversing the original order of finish and awarding Capt. Candyman Can the victory. I'll take it any way I can get it, said Wilkes in reference to his first Grade 1 win. The King's Bishop began with four horses contesting the pace before Vineyard Haven and Everyday Heroes pulled away on the turn. Vineyard Haven came away with a clear lead in early stretch, but Capt. Candyman Can quickly ranged alongside and appeared to have the leader measured until getting knocked off stride by Vineyard Haven inside the sixteenth pole. I thought my horse was going to beat him if he hadn't been bumped, said Wilkes who trains Capt. Candyman Can for owners David Zell and Joseph Rauch. It looked to me watching the race that there was contact, but you never really know what happened until you see the head-on. Obviously I thought the stewards made the right decision. Castellano agreed with Wilkes. He came out and bumped me twice, said Castellano, who won the Grade 2 Ballston Spa earlier in the day with longshot Salve Germania. My horse lost momentum at that point. I think we would definitely have won without the bumping. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who had won graded stakes earlier on the card with Sara Louise (Victory Ride) and Music Note (Ballerina), took the stewards' decision to disqualify Vineyard Haven in stride. I am very proud, I mean he won the race, said Suroor. It's just too bad it happened like it did. It was just an accident. The jockey tried to keep him straight. It's just one of those things that happens in races. I'm happy he's back and that he ran well. The King's Bishop was Vineyard Haven's first start since finishing fourth in the UAE 2000 Guineas on Feb. 12. Vineyard Haven won the Grade 1 Hopeful for trainer Bobby Frankel here last summer. Capt. Candyman Can, who finished second behind Quality Road's record-setting performance in the Grade 2 Amsterdam earlier in the session, completed seven furlongs in 1:22.35 over a sloppy track and returned $9.80.

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Zenyatta wins Lady's Secret - heads to the Breeders Cup Zenyatta wins Lady's Secret - heads to the Breeders Cup
Indian Blessing takes Gallant Bloom Indian Blessing takes Gallant Bloom
Rachel Alexandra the Great! Rachel Alexandra the Great!
Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Woodward Stakes at Saratoga

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2009 Mother Goose Stakes 2009 Mother Goose Stakes
2009 Shadwell Travers Stakes 2009 Shadwell Travers Stakes
2009 NetJets King's Bishop Stakes 2009 NetJets King's Bishop Stakes
2009 Woodward Stakes 2009 Woodward Stakes

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