Zenyatta - her closest margain of victory

[MyJumper21]

Race horse on the outside, dressage horse at heart

[andrea0858]

@XsXoDrummerX she does the same exact thing she could at least win the triple crown

[ilovsos3]

she doesnt do the same thing as Secretariat.. he lead by alot more than she has.. not dissing the horse i like her but just saying

[andrea0858]

i luv zenyatta shes the best ever she could beat secretariat she does the exact same thing he did she stays in last at first but then zooms away to first

[XsXoDrummerX]

@andrea0858 sry, shes a great and beautiful horse, but a Secretariat she is not. After the Preakness win when he showed he could hold the lead, they never held him in the back again and he would just leave them all.

[8mmoore1]

What great footage, I will love and adore this horse until the day I die. She brought me and so many others such great memories, I can not wait until I see her foal win. I looked at Bernardini and I think it is a great match. We may see history all over again.

Keep up the great videos, will be watching. Michele

[godfathercash420]

U r Awesome Zen!!! I'll miss your loving attitude and Spanish walk :-)

[MegaRodeoqueen]

zenyatta rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!

[Peachycanyon]

True champions don't need excuses. Zenyatta had every reason to lose that race, but her greatness overcame all obstacles.

[paradoxicus]

La gente se divierte y hace una fiesta con ZENYATTA.

Es facil observar que es muy querida por la aficion.

[TheFrancis143]

This just popped out of my mind. If CURLIN was NEVER RETIRED, what would happen if ZENYATTA and CURLIN raced each other?

[Masterhirn]

She's funny. (:

Awesome Horse. (:

[bon1042]

What happened.  Did jockey misjudge the pace along the way?

[lovedbysweetie]

This one takes my breath away and shows how in sync horse and rider must be to win races........

[BigDave331]

Think Queen Zen could be Triple Crown.....Beautiful horse, a lot of class.....She should be horse of the year, but 3x crown are better.

[thegattigal]

what attitude!!!

[Tammicat21]

Mikey gets to ride her, pet her, take pics with her...I'm so jealous...I want to do all those things too. Hey its Christmas.......Dear Santa.......

[SlowLopinFool]

BEAUTIFUL HORSE! :D

[Cchhaarrlloottee1]

Hahah i was there! love the spanish walk!

[spam1237]

Said this on another blog, STS, RA, and Zenyatta have accomplished a lot in their career. All of them are very good horses. And my opinion but going a little to far to say the greatest ever.

[Barbaro2012]

Zenyatta IS perfection

[mbcanadaguy]

i wanna see RA and ZEN, and also Stardom, stardoms last races were a little weak but still love them all,

[21Sarabi]

I like both RA and Zenyatta. I'm tired of hearing about this over hyped bs they both have accomplished a lot and are good horses.

[sango1161]

@21Sarabi yea there's a word for that and it's called stereotyping

[Starbuc1]

She impressive standing still. Kickers rarely go undefeated. They go wide, run more distance, get in trouble, etc. she does't care. Look at how fast she flew thru the last 1/4, last1/16 and the last 20 yards. Wow. She is one of the best of all time. I don't care who you put in front of her, she will run them down.

[reposmoral]

She should not have won that race, but she did. That's what makes her great.

What impresses me most about Zenyatta is that she has a running style that frequently makes it hard to win--closers are vulnerable to being pushed wide on the turn, traffic, pace scenarios, etc. Very good horses that are closers often lose simply because of bad luck. Yet Zenyatta always wins.

[mika1983]

She will lose to Sea The Stars if they race in November. Sea The Stars could well be the greatest horse ever.

[Barbaro2012]

Sea the Stars is retired now

[MarkS1356]

Sorry but Zenyatta would have run by RA in the Haskel. The synthetic tracks give Jackson a good excuse to skip the Breeders Cup.

[tennyellen]

She's a good horse, but she is certainly not the best race horse ever. Ruffian could beat her butt, and what about Secretariet? RA could kick her butt too when they meet, and they better meet soon. RA can take the early lead and keep it, Z hast to wait because she's not strong enough to do what RA does. She is by far not the best race horse to ever live, she's good in her own right, but RA beat one of Ruffians records and the Preakness with MTB! No way!

[ThoroughbredRunner]

I agree. I'm sick of people calling her the best. It seems when any great racehorse comes along people immediatly fall in love with them, and forget about the best. Zenyatta is amazing for so far being unbeatable, but RA is INCREDIBLE for racing against colts(I'm not being sexist, we all know they have more power) and winning. We have to remember, racing isn't jsut about winnign but competition and times.

[tennyellen]

FINALLY SOMEONE AGREES WITH ME! Everyone is always yelling at me, but you see it too! FINALLY!

[mrr1980]

Yea well lookey here! Zenyatta is going up against the best colts! Rachel never faced what Zenyatta is up against this saturday. If Zenyatta beats Einstein, Rip Van Winkle, Richard's Kid, Colonel John, Twice Over, Girolamo, Regal Ransom, Summer Bird, Quality Road, and Mine That Bird, all in one race, SHE IS HORSE OF THE YEAR!!!! HAHA JESS JACKSON SHOULD NOT HAVE DUCKED THE BREEDERS CUP CUZ HE JUST COST RACHEL THE TITLE!

[Venckman]

No one's forgotten about the best. It's just that she more than deserves among them whether you are sick of hearing it or not.

[viking1938]

There isn't even a sweat mark from where the saddle was! They won't even need to hose her off back at the barn. (Yes, I know they will.)

[viking1938]

I just read that there is hope that Z & RA might meet in the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont.. Talking about raising the purse from $600,00 to $1,000,000 as a temptation. We can hope.

[concretegaloshes]

Now which horse are they raing the purse for?

[patteel]

Zenyatta loves to pose for the crowd. She looks like her Great-uncle, The Mighty Forego.

[funshipM174]

Pateel, I went to lexington in 1985 and met FOREGO and his caretaker at "Horsepark" The horse was a monster even 10 years after not racing! The caretaker showed me his hand with a somewhat indented wedding ring and told me if it wasn't for that ring he wold have lost his finger as Forego almost bit it off. He was a vicious horse he said!

[keybender]

Deerhunter, you make some good points re Z's closing kick and I agree Mike Smith needs to move her a bit earlier. I have never seen Zenyatte come up empty at the wire because she was moved too soon. Z finishes full of run and the only time horses have closed on her is when she is being eased up. Also agree Z would be better beyond 9 furlongs, why won't the Mosses run her at 1 1/4 or 1 1/2?

[duhru4real]

keybender..they dont run her at the longer distance because they want to baby zenyatta...as a 5 yr old..she is a tad bigger and her early speed (like she has none to begin with) is worse than when she was 4 years old..the good thing is her top speed is stronger than ever..smithy has to changed her running style..speed horses will try to walk the early part of the race and will try to outsprint her to the finish..smithy got lucky this time..he has to know when 113 dictates an earlier move...

[Kagefujin]

I always look fwd to your videos with the "behind the scene" and post race coverage. I was worried when she was set down late. And what a heart attack at the wire! Zenyatta is fabulous.

[LittoMoon]

mike smith started the attack late...

[jhracefan]

12 for 12!!!  LONG LIVE THE QUEEN, ZENYATTA!!!

Haven't enjoyed a horse this much since the Legend JOHN HENRY!!!

[sazukamambo]

great mare the greates in the world at this point but zarkava was better

[keybender]

Easy, whoa Deerhunter. RA should be racing against 3yo this time of year. RA is still growing, filling out and adding muscle. Even the legendary Secretariat didn't try older horses until August and after that Secretariat only won 3 out of 5. It wasn't until Oct. that Sec began crushing older horses with 5 and 6 length wins. A couple of months ago I would have agreed Z would beat RA but every week that goes by it becomes a closer contest.

[6deerhunter5]

keybender...i disagree...the mare has a more powerful kick now than ever..since she bulk a little her non-existant early speed is now worse...what sherriff/smithy needs to do is to shake her reigns a lot earlier than before..her initial acceleration is slower on her kick but the tail end of her acceleration is faster...rachel has a chance at 1/8 anything past that and she will be looking at that huge mare big butt..lol

[racehorsesforlife]

Zenyatta's connections are now ducking Rachel. They said no to the match race whereas Rachel's connections have showed interest in it. There is no doubt that Zenyatta is one of the great race mares. However, RA is in a different league....she stands alone. She is the real freak of all freaks. Zenyatta is beatable. That is why she won't race in the Classic against the boys or face Rachel. Rachel now has the HOY locked up.

[6deerhunter5]

the only league rachel belongs with are the lil boys lil gurls 3 year olds...lol...RA is just a very good horse...nothing special...you peeps need to take your rose colored glasses...lol

[racehorsesforlife]

She's going to prove you wrong again, like she has many, many times when she faces the older males in the next few months. There are older males (Bullsbay) ducking Rachel. Rachel doesn't race other horses, she races the clock. It will be interesting to see if Zenyatta shows up to race Rachel at Saratoga now that they are setting up a race there for them that will have an open field. I think Rachel's connections will say yes, but Zenyatta's will say no again.

[amueller1957]

Why would the reigning Eclipse Champion chase an overrated Rachel. Please. Fact is that Rachel is ducking Zenyatta on the Breeders. Funny how you people keep hyping this horse to high heavens but she won't show up on the biggest showcase in horse racing. Older males? ARE YOU DELUSIONAL?

She will just keep on racing 3 year olds but would avoid Quality Road.

[6deerhunter5]

ummm...hey dummy..rachel is skipping the breeders cuz of zenyatta and everybody in the inside knows it...

[funshipM174]

HOY locked up? Are you kidding. Zenyatta is not duckin anyone. Last year Jess Jackson put CURLIN in the BCC at SA on that synthetic garbage because of pressure. He will not make the same mistake with Zenyatta. She has no reason to after RA SINCE RA needs to come after her to get HOY. RA will never beat her at SA.

[racehorsesforlife]

No, I'm not kidding. All you have to do is go to the NTRA website, and look at the current voting polls for HOY. RA is quite a bit ahead now, and it is going to have to take a heck of a lot to keep her from winning it now. If Zenyatta wants it, she needs to come and face her in that race they're setting up on Oct. 3 at Saratoga.

[amueller1957]

Zenyatta's camp don't give a sht. Decades from now if Zen retired undefeated, they will be chuckling about Rachel's HOY award and be saying 'so what, she ducked the great mare Zenyatta' HAHAHAHA

[funshipM174]

Racehorse, I agree that if the race s set up, Zenyatta needs to show. But again, remember. Last Year Jackson and Assmussen knew Curlin did not like the synthetic garbage, and still ran him in the BCC,and may not be inclined to bow to pressure this time around.

Two points:

This may be a case where one horse may not beat the other horse on each others favorite surface.

2) With all things being equal(because these are both great horses). I rarely take a 3 year old against an older horse

[racehorsesforlife]

I really don't know why Jackson is not going to the BC. I think that Rachel can run well over the synthetic. She did so in an allowance at Keeneland when she wasn't as good of a racehorse as she is now. Now, whether she can run as well over the synthetic as the dirt remains to be seen. Also, Rachel has more to worry about in the Classic than Zenyatta. Their names are Rail Trip and Sea the Stars (who may race in that spot). I don't think Zenyatta will go in the Classic.

[funshipM174]

One last concern. If there is no spedd in the race, RA is not getting beat on any track. What other horses are talked about entering this race?

TIA

[racehorsesforlife]

I don't think it matters how much speed you throw at Rachel. Her splits in the Haskell gave her every right to collapse, but she didn't. She took off again in the stretch, a tick off the track record on a track that wasn't exactly very fast. She also doesn't need the lead and has also won while closing. While I agree with you in that an older horse usually does have an advantage over a younger one, but RA is clearly one of the exceptions. I don't know who else would be pointed to the race.

[6deerhunter5]

racehorse4nowhere...lolol

rachel ducked zenyatta months ago..endofstory..

[6deerhunter5]

keybender..in other words..zenyatta is a quarterhorse running like a thorougbred...

[1800s]

Zenyatta is actually Faster on dirt ! than on synth pro-ride. look at her oaklawn race last yr. she races well out of state.

zenyatta should go to the jockey club gold cup and take on rachel a. and quality road, that would be the race of the decade

[funshipM174]

Zenyatta is in the same category, if not better than "Ladys Secret" and "Winning Colors", two great fillies. I will take a great four year old over a three year old 9 out of 10 times. Rachel is great, but she will not beat Zenyatta on the Poly track and you can mark that down.

[ffaqueen08]

It still looks like 8 won. In camera angles I've seen. I haven't seen a top view for this race, when I have for others. Though I don't doubt any of those horse's abilities for a second.

[laughingsal]

Nice video- captures the excitement. Her groom must be so proud-- always see that same guy with her.

[keybender]

Mario Espinoza, great groom

[laughingsal]

keybender, thanks for identifying him. a big part of her success I believe.

[Rock8mywork789]

Might I add, thank you for putting all these videos up. This really shows how much she means to everyone, what a great mare.

[Rock8mywork789]

I think it's odd that everyone says Rachel has locked up HOY, umm isn't it only August? What if she were to loose the rest of her races this year? And Zenyatta beats the boys handily in the Classic? This mare here, is the greatest racehorse I have ever witnessed. Never have I seen such an imposing horse male or female.

[Lauratherider]

Zenyatta is awesome <333 Her and Rachel, Top two in the country

[Kostly]

How many wide was she coming home?! 5? What a POWER DRIVE the last 2 furlongs!! She really turned it up 2 or 3 notches to catch the front runners but, I still think she had more push to give. Come on!! We HAVE to see RA and Zenyatta go at it! I still think Zenyatta is better. I never like front runners but, RA is an exception. She can go.

[lovedbysweetie]

and she was just hitting another gear over the line, if it had been a mile and a quarter it would have been more than a head win LOL :) we love her here in Maine

[funshipM174]

Regardless of which horse we like, racing needs these two great champion horses to race!

[keybender]

Agreed funship and every track in the country is trying to make it happen. Fair Grounds in New Orleans is the latest, creating a Dec. 19 race, about 6 weeks after the Breeders cup and offering to bump the purse if RA and Z show up.

[LauraLovesMocha]

i love how everyone starts cheering really loud when she puts her head in front at 3:19

[ragstoricheslover]

so many applauses! they really love her at the track dont they? what a great mare.

[robynchoochoo]

She is the Best mare ever GO ZENYATTA

[lengua92]

What a race that was. Anaaba's Creation ran a HUGE one

[Horseback4life]

Another thing to notice about her is... As soon as her nose got in front of Anabaa's Creation, her ears perked up, she does that in every race, she knows she is in front and perks her ears forward

[ThoroughbredGirl96]

Everyone is claiming Rachel Alexandra as great as Ruffian was, but I really think she's tied with Zenyatta, too. They're both as amazing as Ruffian...

[Horseback4life]

that race was SO crazy, i really didn't think she was going to win it... She really is the greatest racehorse

[ZenyattaLuver]

Woow Go Zenyatta Lol