It was no surprise to see Zenyatta make it 13 in a row in the Lady’s Secret (G1) at Santa Anita on Saturday, rolling over her overmatched foes by 1 ¼ lengths in style, returning $2.80 for the victory.
The only question now is whether she defends her title in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic or takes on the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Owner 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."
What was a surprise on Saturday was the winner of the Goodwood (G1) Handicap.
The race featured Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird as well as Grade 1 winners Tiago, Colonel John, Richard’s Kid, and Monzante, and Grade 2 winners Parading and Informed.
The race was won by European invader Gitano Hernando, who was coming off an allowance race at Wolverhampton. His best effort was a third in a Group 3 at Chester back in May.
The three year old colt was a neck winner over Colonel John, paying $38.00 for the win.
That might be bad news for the U.S. runners pointing toward the Classic. If they can’t beat Gitano Hernando, how the heck are they going to beat Sea the Stars, Rip Van Winkle, and Mastercraftsman?
The ’08 Classic exacta went to Euro invaders Raven’s Pass and Henrythenavigator, and after Saturday’s Goodwood, it sure looks like the lion’s share of the $5 million Classic purse may be heading back to the other side of the pond again this year.
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Here is today's opening race from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Clm $15,000N2L (1:00 ET)
#7 Cappella Reale 6/1
#3 Fortune Faded 4/1
#1 Living for This 5/2
#8 Three Bridge Road 5/1
Analysis: #7 Cappella Reale is back with state breds here after finishing a distant seventh last out against $10K non winners of two. Two back in the mud against NY breds the colt checked in a decent second, 4 1/4 lengths clear of the rest of the field. Balsamo is the named trainer; she is the assistant to Jacobson, who is still the owner so I suspect he might be on a short "vacation." It's a real slow looking group here and not much else in here to get excited about.
#3 Fortune Faded prompted the early pace and faded badly to finish eighth last out against $25K non winners of two. The gelding is back in with state breds and drops into a softer spot here. Encouraging to see Edgar stick despite this gelding getting beaten by double digit lengths in each of his last three outings.
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 7/2 or better.
