Friday, May 22, 2009

Zenyatta Returns At Hollywood Park

Zenyatta, the undefeated champion older female of 2008, will start in the Grade II Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park on Saturday. This is the first time back in competition for Zenyatta since her win in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic last fall.

While Zenyatta is the headliner in the field of nine, stiff competition is expected from trainer John Shirreffs other horse in the race, Life Is Sweet, who is 3-3 in 2009 including a win in the Grade I Santa Margarita at Santa Anita in her last race in March.

The race is shaping up as a match race between the two stars of the John Shireffs stable and trainer Shireffs said that this matchup was not intended. Sheriffs said "Zenyatta was scheduled to run at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend but was scratched due to the extremely sloppy condition of the track. She needs to get going for the year and this race was now the best spot for that to happen".