- Los Angeles TimesZenyatta a first-ballot horse racing Hall of Famer
Zenyatta, slow to gain recognition early in her career even as she built on a perfect record, will receive the ultimate tribute when she is inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame on Friday. “To get into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot as a racehorse, I don’t think you can be appreciated more than that,” said trainer John Shirreffs, who was often criticized for largely limiting Zenyatta to synthetic surfaces in her home state of California. Previous accolades were slow to come to Zenyatta even as she launched one breathtaking rally after another from her customary position in the back of the pack to gain the lead barely in time. The massive daughter of Street Cry could not catch Dubai World Cup winner Curlin for horse of the year in 2008 despite winning every start in a season that ended with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic while Curlin faltered in fourth in the all-male Classic.
- ESPN.comRemembering Zenyatta's greatness on the track
Zenyatta was born on April 1 -- no kidding -- and she made her racing debut on Thanksgiving. You're welcome. After such delightful coincidences of the calendar, anything was possible. So, why not 19 straight wins and nearly a 20th, three championship seasons and Horse of the Year, international fame and adoration, and a place on the Hall of Fame wall in Saratoga Springs in her first year of eligibility? Those of us lucky enough to witness the emergence of Zenyatta as a filly of consequence attach our memories to special moments. For this reporter, Zenyatta was always a necessary stop, if only to stand at her stall and wonder aloud how it was possible for anything so big to be so fast and so sweet.
- UPIUPI Horse Racing Preview
Frosted confirmed his standing in the top ranks among older horses with another impressive win, Cupid won his second Derby, Paola Queen upset the Test Stakes at Saratoga at big odds and several 2-year-olds showed promise in a full midsummer weekend of Thoroughbred racing. On the international front, Signs of Blessing won a tragedy-marred Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in France. And Aidan O'Brien saddled the first two finishers in the Group 1 feature in Ireland. Meanwhile, saddle up for this ride: Classic Frosted left nothing to chance in Saturday's $1.25 million Grade I Whitney at Saratoga, setting a brisk pace with only mild pressure and carrying on to win by 2 lengths. Comfort,
