Lest We Forget

It occurs to me that earlier this week I acknowledged the relative quiet that has been surrounding Mine That Bird lately. I think you can say the same thing about the Best Of The West, Zenyatta. Have you even heard anything regarding her, other than the occasional try to snare her into a match race with Rachel Alexandra? Or, whether she will run in the Breeders' Cup Classic or the Ladies' Classic the day before?

Well, on the same day that Mine That Bird will be contesting the Grade 1 Goodwood at Santa Anita, Zenyatta will be in action in her final Breeders' Cup prep as well. She will be running in the Grade 1 $300,000 Lady's Secret Stakes. Now, we have documented the greatness that was Lady's Secret already in this blog once before. Zenyatta certainly will be worthy of having her name listed with the likes of Lady's Secret once her career is finished. She is trying to run her perfect streak to start her career to thirteen straight races.

If she wins on Saturday (and there is no reason to think she won't), what do the connections do with her next? Do they run her in the Ladies' Classic on Friday of Breeders' Cup weekend or do they wait and take their chances in the Classic on Saturday against the boys? Personally, I think it would be absolute folly to run Zenyatta in the Classic. She would have relatively little chance to win against the high quality field that everyone expects in the Classic. The only positive I can see in her running would be purely a selfish one. Zenyatta would take a ridiculous amount of wagering money from the Southern California fans and her odds would be far too low to even think of betting on her, even if I thought she stood a chance. Then, that would create some substantial betting opportunities on the boys in the Classic that can win, but would be overlays thanks to those foolhardy enough to bet Zenyatta.

So, for history's sake and for Zenyatta's, let's hope her connections recognize that she would be better served to try and join the likes of Lure, Miesque, and Tiznow as horses that have won consecutive editions of the same Breeders' Cup race. Running her in the Classic only serves to try and increase the income of bettors like me. Bad for the horse, but good for us.

Tune in tomorrow for a look at the field in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes on Saturday. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!