We last saw Zenyatta set Santa Anita alight when winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic in October and now, at the age of six, the grande dame of American racing has lost none of her sparkle as she proved with her trademark last-to-first run in the G1 Santa Margarita Invitational H. back at her favourite track.
The daughter of Street Cry remains unbeaten in 15 starts, including nine at Grade One level. Her victory was the perfect preparation for her hotly anticipated clash with Rachel Alexandra in the $5 million G1 Apple Blossom Invitational, won by Zenyatta in 2008, at Oaklawn Park on April 9.
Medaglia d’Oro’s star filly Rachel Alexandra also resumed racing Saturday, finishing half a length second in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes.
Voted Eclipse Horse of the Year in 2009, Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks by 20 lengths and also added the Preakness, Woodward, Haskell Invitational and Mother Goose Stakes to her Grade One haul last season.
