Zenyatta Wins 19th Straight: One Win Away From Ultimate Immortality
In her patented last to first style, but never by much more than a measured margin, Zenyatta remained perfect by winning the Grade 1 $250,000 Lady's Secret for the third consecutive year and setting up a run for ultimate immortality with a repeat appearance in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on November 6.
A solid crowd of over 25,000 roared in approval as Zenyatta, once again sent off as an overwhelming odds-on favorite, caught the three-year-old filly Switch in the final strides of the mile and a sixteenth race to push her career earnings over the $6.4 million mark.
The biggest day of the Oak Tree Meet at Hollywood Park featured three additional Grade 1 races each worth $250,000, with horses making the final preps for their respective Breeders' Cup aspirations.
In the Norfolk, for two-year-olds also running a mile and a sixteenth on the main track, Jaycito, who was sent off as the 3-to-1 third choice, broke his maiden by overcoming a wide trip around both turns and wearing down even money favorite, JP's Gusto, through the lane to win by a length.
The Yellow Ribbon, run over a mile and a quarter on the Hollywood Park turf course, was captured by European invader Hibaayeb, also sent off at 3-to-1, who relished the firm ground in roaring past Turning Top down the stretch to win by a length.
The day culminated with Richard's Kid winning his second consecutive Grade 1 race in the Goodwood, run at a mile and an eighth over the main track. Under jockey Alonso Quinonez, the benificiary of a complicated scenario of moving jocks to get the mount, Richard's Kid, sent off at 8-to-1, won by half a length over 2-to-1 second choice Crown of Thorns.
The three-year-old colt Twirling Candy, sent off as the odds-on favorite, had to settle for fourth after looking uncomfortable for much of the race.
Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @mdoche!
.jpg?w=3840 "AEW Dynamite Live Grades 🔠")
