The battle for the title of the most popular distaffer in training anywhere in the world is a closely-run contest between Street Cry mare Zenyatta and three-year-old Rachel Alexandra, a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro. Following ‘Rachel’s’ romp in last weekend’s G1 Haskell Invitational, it was the turn of Zenyatta to shine when fighting all the way to the wire to grab the G1 Clement L Hirsch Stakes for the second year running, extending her unbeaten record to an amazing 12 races.
The five-year-old took up her customary spot at the rear of the field from the gate but jockey Mike Smith gave her plenty to do in the closing stages with the gallant mare responding valiantly with a determined closing run down the outside, gradually reeling in eventual runner-up Anabaa’s Creation.
Zenyatta, who is out of the winning Kris S. mare Vertigineux, has now won six Grade 1 races and an Eclipse Award as champion older female. Her prize-money haul stands at $2,594,580.
Rachel Alexandra’s Haskell win was part of a Grade One double for Darley stallions the previous weekend with another Street Cry filly, Seventh Street, landing the Go For Wand Stakes at Saratoga, the scene of Elusive Quality's latest Stakes winner, Elusive Heat, who won the Listed Geyser Spring Stakes on Sunday. Bred by West Hills Farm LLC, the three-year-old filly is out of Xtra Heat (Dixieland Heat) and was recording her third win in four starts.
