Zenyatta to Return to Work

By Tracy Gantz

Zenyatta will likely return to the work tab in a couple of weeks, toward late February or early March, said trainer John Shirreffs Feb. 15. He could not speculate on when she would make her 2009 racing debut.

“It’s hard to tell how long it will take her to come around,” Shirreffs said. “Until she goes five-eighths (in a work), there’s no way to tell.”

Shirreffs gave Zenyatta a break from training after she won the Oct. 24 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I). She remained in his shedrow, just walking for several weeks before returning to jogging at Shirreffs’ Hollywood Park headquarters. Currently, the 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry—Vertigineux, by Kris S., is galloping every day.

Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Zenyatta is undefeated in nine lifetime starts, and she was voted the 2008 Eclipse Award-winning older female. She won seven straight stakes during 2008, including the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park, Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood, and Lady’s Secret Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita.