Zenyatta to Parade at Santa Anita Opening Day

Beloved Mare to Revisit Sight of Her Celebrated Breeders’ Cup Victory

Zenyatta's electrifying November performance is now regarded by many as the greatest moment in Breeders’ Cup history and perhaps the most dramatic moment in the storied 75-year history of Santa Anita. Photo by Terry Miller

The undefeated superstar mare Zenyatta, who was retired following her brilliant last-to-first victory versus males in the Gr. I, $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 7, will make her final race-day appearance at Santa Anita on opening day, Dec. 26, prior to shipping to Kentucky to begin her new career as one of the world’s most highly sought broodmares.

All fans in attendance will receive a beautiful full-color poster of Zenyatta,  courtesy of HRTV and will be treated to a winner’s circle ceremony honoring the great mare, which will be emceed by HRTV’s Kurt Hoover.

Although retired, Zenyatta, who is owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and was trained by John Shirreffs, is currently engaged in an all-out head and head battle for 2009 Horse of the Year honors with the brilliant 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra.

“We are thrilled and very honored to have Zenyatta return here to Santa Anita one final time,” said Santa Anita President Ron Charles.  “This will be great for all of our fans as well.  What she accomplished here in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is something that none of us who witnessed it will ever forget and to have her with us as we celebrate our 75th anniversary is very special.

“On behalf of everyone here, we want to thank Jerry and Ann for allowing all of us to get close to her and to enjoy Zenyatta this one last time.  For her to be able to return to the scene of one of the greatest moments in the history of American racing is something that I think everyone is going to cherish.”

Zenyatta, who retired with a perfect 14 for 14 race record, won a total of five races at Santa Anita, all of them stakes.  In just the third start of her career, she stormed to victory in the Gr. II El Encino Stakes on Jan. 13, 2008.

On Sept. 27, 2008, she won the Gr. I Lady’s Secret at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meeting, which set up her huge victory in the Gr. I, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic at Oak Tree on Oct. 24, and thus ensured her Older Filly or Mare Eclipse Award honors for 2008.

Zenyatta again won Oak Tree’s Gr. I Lady’s Secret this year, on Oct. 10.  She would use that as a springboard to immortality, as she faced the boys and tried a mile and a quarter for the first time in the Classic on Nov. 7.  This electrifying performance is regarded by many as the greatest moment in Breeders’ Cup history and perhaps the most dramatic moment in the storied 75-year history of Santa Anita.

Along with the Mosses, Zenyatta will be accompanied on opening day by Shirreffs and his wife and racing manager Dorothy, regular rider, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, exercise rider Steve Willard, and her husband and wife groom and hotwalking team of Mario Espinoza and Carmen Zamora.

First post time on opening day is 11:30 a.m., with the $300,000 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds highlighting the 10-race program.

More from Arcadia Weekly