Another gifted talent has risen to celebrity status for ten-year-old Street Cry who through May led all North American sires by his production index based on class by his progeny who have excelled over dirt.
The color-bearer of music industry mogul Jerry Moss and his wife, Ann, Zenyatta at four has wasted no time propelling her late-blooming career to Number One in the distaff division; racing five times to perfection for earnings of $554,580. The ease in which she has powered past eight graded winners including Tough Tiz’s Girl (G1), Romance is Diane (G1), and Eclipse Champion Ginger Punch (G1) in her toughest test to date - the G1 Apple Blossom, suggests she is indeed special.
In the flesh, Zenyatta is an imposing presence. Altogether kind in disposition, she takes a keen interest in her surroundings, and with her nearly 17-hand vantage, she appears considerably taller when captivated. She traveled well to Arkansas for the Apple Blossom and remained composed even when tornadoes threatened Hot Springs on the eve of the race. Her demeanor however, once saddled in the paddock, transforms to ‘pure racehorse.’
In the post parade of the G2 Milady H, broadly dappled Zenyatta danced like a prizefighter, yet never turning a hair beneath Hall of Famer Mike Smith. She tugged the assistant starter to the gates - enthusiastic to begin the eight-and-a-half furlong match over the all-weather surface at Hollywood Park.
As her conditioner John A. Shirreffs watched another of her convincing last-to-first triumphs from the Hollywood grandstand, his taciturn expression broadened into a ‘Cheshire Cat’ smile. Shirreffs and the Mosses have teamed in recent years to win the G1 Kentucky Derby with Giacomo (Holy Bull), and the Santa Anita Derby and the Oaklawn H. with Giacomo’s half-brother Tiago. Their ultimate goal with Zenyatta is to contest the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita in the fall.
Moss, who is thrilled to own a filly of such caliber and potential said, “I would really like to win a championship with this filly.”
On the short radar is the $300,000 Vanity H. on July 5, but they having several grade one choices beyond the meet-ending championship, so they plan to take her campaign a step at a time.
Consigned by Winter Quarter Farm at Keeneland on behalf of breeder Maverick Productions, Ltd., Zenyatta made the short list of bloodstock agent David Ingordo who saw through a treatable episode of skin disease to appreciate the lanky, well-conformed yearling. The Mosses and Shirreffs agreed. She was a savvy buy for $60,000 – twice Street Cry’s introductory fee, yet well below the six-figure average that the first-crop stallion was attaining. In 2007, he averaged $162,872.
Zenyatta’s dam Vertigineux, a homebred by Kris S descends from a Hail to Reason-Forli cross - a distinguished pattern which can also be found in the pedigree of Fairy Bridge who most famously produced Sadler’s Wells. Of late, a colt of Vertigineux, Where’s Bailey, became a stakes winner and her daughter Balance won or placed in seven grade ones to add a millionaire to the pedigree.
When in full-stride, Zenyatta bears a striking resemblance to three-time Horse of the Year Forego. One plausible family link is her second dam For the Flag, who was sired by Forego’s undefeated Argentinean Classic Winning sire Forli. Interestingly, Forli reigns from an Aristophanes/Advocate nick, which also presents itself in the blue-hen broodmare line of undefeated champion Personal Ensign. Zenyatta’s family includes champions Shareef Dancer and Sweetest Thing.
Trainer Shirreffs has another Street Cry filly in his barn for owner George Krikorian – Freedom Star, a two-year-old out of the Williamstown mare Willie’s Luv. He compared her to Zenyatta: “It is amazing how good they feel, in a positive way, not a negative way.” Jerry and Ann Moss are also excited about their Street Cry yearling filly, who is out of their G1 Santa Margarita H winner Tarlow, a mare that could get nine furlongs and appears to be a superb match.
Leading first and second-crop sire Street Cry is now represented by 18 Stakes Winners, five of which are Grade One winners including Champion Two-Year-Old and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense ($4,383,200), Cry And Catch Me, Majestic Roi and Tomcito. Additionally, he has seven other graded black-type winners. One with possible sights on the Breeders’ Cup Sprint is the brilliantly fast Street Boss.
In a dazzling debut at Del Mar last summer, Trevor Denman compared Street Boss to an express train. He made up a 12-length deficit in the last half-mile of a six-furlong maiden race, all the while circling the field five-wide and then drawing away by daylight. The Bruce Headley-trained colt has a relentless passion for wearing down his opponents. He has now won five of nine starts, tallying $221,800. At the start of the G3 Los Angeles H, Street Boss broke from the three-hole only to clip heels and bobble before leaving the chute. The instantaneous mishap only reinforced the determination of the come-from-behind sprinter and he responded to jockey David Flores with fractions that now sets the mark at Hollywood Park; streaking through 11-second splits, he scored a one-length victory over six furlongs in 1.07.55 one-minute, seven and fifty-five one-hundredths of a second.
Although Headley feels Street Boss might eventually stretch out, he is content to keep him sprinting for the time being. Bred in Kentucky by Brilliant Stable, Street Boss is out of Blushing Ogygian, by Ogygian.
