INGLEWOOD, Calif. (July 3, 2008) - Unbeaten Zenyatta heads a field of seven fillies and mares in Saturday's $300,000 Vanity Handicap, one of three graded stakes on the undercard on American Oaks/Cashcall Mile Day at Hollywood Park.
Zenyatta, owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, has won her five starts by a combined 15¼ lengths - the last three victories coming in graded stakes races at three tracks. She won the Grade II El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita Park in January, the Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in April and the Grade II Milady Handicap here in May. Her late burst of speed has made her one of the nation's most dynamic and talented horses.
The strapping 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry, handled patiently by trainer John Shirreffs, has made $554,580 in her brief career and will spot rivals from three to 14 pounds as the 124-pound high weight in the Grade I event. She will break from the three-post under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith in the 1 1/8-mile race on Cushion Track, which lines up as follows from the rail out:
Tough Tiz's Sis, with Aaron Gryder up, carries 121 pounds; Silver Z, Joe Talamo, 114; Zenyatta, Smith, 124; Silver Swallow, David Flores, 112; Sealy Hill, Patrick Husbands, 118; Fleetheart, Martin Garcia, 113, and Andmoreagain, Julien Leparoux, 110.
Tough Tiz's Sis and Sealy Hill have each earned more money than Zenyatta.
Tough Tiz's Sis, aiming for her third straight win, is seven-for-17 lifetime for earnings of $627,792. The Bob Baffert-trained filly won the Grade II Hollywood Oaks last summer and the Grade I Lady's Secret last fall at Santa Anita Park.
Canadian shipper Sealy Hill, trained by Mark Casse, has won six of 13 starts for earnings of $1,126,544.
In the $300,000 Triple Bend Handicap, meanwhile, Street Boss carries co-high weight of 119 pounds as he seeks his fourth straight win and sixth in ten starts. The chestnut son of Street Cry won the Los Angeles Handicap here May 10 and stretches out one furlong in the seven-furlong, Grade I event.
Kentucky shipper Elite Squadron, also assigned 119 pounds, won the seven-furlong Churchill Downs on May 3 and is five-for-13 overall.
The Vanity field:
Elite Squadron, with Rafael Bejarano up, carries 119 pounds; Desert Code, Richard Migliore, 117; Tropic Storm, Gryder, 115; High Standards, Joel Rosario, 114; Street Boss, Flores, 119; Global Hunter, Smith, 114, and Medzendeekron, Victor Espinoza, 112.
In the $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship, Azul Leon is the 9/5 morning line favorite as he aims for his second straight win in the six-furlong, Grade III event. The field of ten 2-year-olds lines up as follows:
Conclusive, Jose Campos up, carries 117 pounds; Nochangenweather, Corey Nakatani, 115; Let'spickupthepace, Garrett Gomez, 115; Azul Leon, Bejarano, 117; Fassnacht, Rosario, 115; Seisometer, Talamo, 117; Jack Flash, Martin Garcia, 117; Making Dreams, Jose Valdivia Jr., 117; Swiss Alpine, Espinoza, 117, and Turbo Call, Julio Garcia, 117.
Saturday's program at Hollywood Park begins at 12 noon. The Juvenile runs as the third race, the Vanity as the fifth, the $750,000 CashCall Mile as the seventh, the $750,000 American Oaks as the ninth and the Triple Bend as the tenth race on the 11-race card.
