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The Week In Photos: February 06, 2011

Giant Oak, Vox Populi Award, Zazu and more from a weekend of racing!

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Older Female: Zenyatta In Another Romp

Jerry and Ann Moss' Zenyatta repeats as champion Older Female, collecting 237 first-place votes. The daughter of Street Cry won five of six in 2010, and retired at the end of the year 19-for-20.

Zenyatta's Fans Brave the Cold for Send-off

Temperatures in the mid-teens could not put a chill on the warmth shown by about 1,200 fans as super mare Zenyatta made her final appearance Dec. 6 at Keeneland before being shipped off to begin a career as a broodmare.

TVG to Give Away Zenyatta DVD

TVG has announced that the first 10,000 racing fans attending the 2010 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5 will receive a free commemorative Zenyatta DVD.

Zenyatta Works Six Furlongs at Hollywood

Undefeated mare Zenyatta worked six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 at Hollywood Park on Sept. 10 as she continues to prepare for her next start in the Oct. 2 Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.

Zenyatta in Weekly Workout at Hollywood Park

Zenyatta had her regular weekly workout at Hollywood Park on the morning of July 30, breezing six furlongs in 1:13 3/5, the co-fourth fastest work of the day among 13 horses going that distance.

Zenyatta Breezes Six Furlongs in Vanity Prep

Undefeated champion Zenyatta turned in her final workout in preparation for the June 13, $250,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) when she breezed six furlongs in 1:15 1/5 at Hollywood Park June 7.

Zenyatta Weighted at 127 For Santa Margarita

Zenyatta, who will make her first start of the year March 13 in the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Santa Anita, will carry top weight of 127 pounds in the race.

Champion Older Female: Zenyatta

Jerry and Ann Moss' wonder mare won all five of her 2009 starts and capped off the year with a scintillating win over the boys in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).

Zenyatta is 5-2 Favorite in the Classic

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss' Zenyatta, undefeated in 13 career starts, was installed as the 5-2 favorite when she takes on males for the first time in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). She is attempting to be the first female to the win the World Championship's marquee event.

Zenyatta Assigned 129 For June 27 Vanity

Zenyatta, the undefeated champion older filly or mare of 2008, was assigned high weight of 129 pounds for the June 27 $300,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park.

Zenyatta May Not Run on Oaks Undercard

Although the Kentucky Oaks undercard May 1 got an added dose of excitement when trainer John Shirreffs announced 2008 champion older female Zenyatta would make her 5-year-old debut in the Louisville Distaff (gr. II), the talented Street Cry mare may be forced to scratch due to weather.

Older Female Eclipse Award: Zenyatta

If you enjoy the suspense that can come with the selction of Eclipse Award winners, just skip right past the category of older female, dominated by Zenyatta the same way she has ruled the racetrack, dispatching foes with unfailing consistency.

Alpha Kitten is Quick Cat in Santa Ynez

She may be named Alpha Kitten, but she ran like Alpha Cougar or Alpha Cheetah, taking charge down the lane and winning the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) for her first stakes win Jan. 17 at Santa Anita.

Marcavelly to Colebrook in Canada

Marcavelly, a two-time graded stakes winner, will enter stud at John Burness' Colebrook Farms Stallion Station near Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada.

Ten Starters for Race for Education

More owners than ever before have joined The Race For Education by pledging a portion of winnings from a record 10 starters in Breeders' Cup World Championships races Oct. 24-25.

Jerry Moss Reappointed to CHRB

Jerry Moss, a prominent breeder and owner, has been reappointed to the California Horse Racing Board, it was announced by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office Feb. 7.

Purses Boost Inaugural Presque Isle Meet

The inaugural meet at Presque Isle Downs concluded Sept. 29, with the track located at the casino of the same name near Erie, Pennsylvania reporting average daily purse distribution of $432,074 for the 29-day stand. Overnight purses averaged $368,074.

Derby Winner Giacomo Retired to Adena Springs

Giacomo, upset winner of the 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), has been retired to Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Farm near Midway, Ky. The 4-year-old son of Holy Bull will stand for a live foal fee of $12,500.

Giacomo Tops San Diego Field; Seeks First Win Since Derby

Multi-millionaire Giacomo, winner of the 2005 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), takes the spotlight in Saturday's co-featured grade II, $300,000 San Diego Handicap in a field of older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Del Mar.

Tarlow Retired; Booked to Empire Maker

Tarlow, who won the 2005 La Canada Stakes (gr. II) and Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr. I) in consecutive starts, has been retired from racing.

Giacomo Out for the Year; Will Stand at Adena Springs Upon Retirement

Jerry and Ann Moss' homebred Giacomo, upset winner of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) will be sidelined for the remainder of the year with a bone chip in his left front ankle, suffered in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Trainer John Shirreffs said the prognosis is excellent, and he is optimistic the colt will return to the races as a 4-year-old.

Adena Springs Buys Breeding Interest in Giacomo

Frank Stronach's Adena Springs has bought a majority interest in the breeding rights of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Giacomo from the colt's owners, Jerome and Ann Moss.

Shirreffs Discusses Weather, Pace for Saturday's Preakness

Trainer John Shirreffs took some time at the stakes barn at Pimilco on a wet Friday morning to discuss Giacomo and his chances for tomorrow's Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Giacomo won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) two weeks ago at 50-1 and the colt makes his bid to become the fourth 3-year-old in a row to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

Smith Discusses Derby During Online Chat

Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winning rider Mike Smith had to ride a masterful race to get Giacomo to the wire first but the jockey said today the journey was almost exactly as he planned.

Giacomo Stings Favorites in Kentucky Derby

Giacomo, named for rock star Sting's son, sang an upset tune in the $2,399,600 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Suspicious Powder Sent to Iowa Attorney/Horse Owner

Officials in Des Moines, Iowa are investigating the discovery of suspicious powder in an envelope addressed to prominent attorney and horse owner Maggi Moss.

Grade I Winner Peace Rules Retired

Peace Rules, a multiple grade I winner and multi-millionaire, has been retired from racing following the discovery of a filling in his left front leg.

California Stallion Lake William Dies

Lake William, who completed his first year at stud at Patricia Youngman's Pepper Oaks Farm near Santa Ynez, Calif., died at Chino Equine Medical Center from complications due to an ulcerated colon

A&M Records' Jerry Moss Named to CHRB

Jerry Moss, who co-founded A&M Records, was appointed to the California Horse Racing Board on Feb. 24, replacing longtime television producer Alan Landsburg, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced.

Mining for Hardware

Mineshaft was named 2003 Horse of the Year at the 33rd annual Eclipse Awards, but it wasn't easy taking the spotlight away from Funny Cide, the New York-bred gelding who generated so much publicity during his memorable Triple Crown run last spring and was voted an Eclipse Award as outstanding 3-year-old male.

Recent Maiden Winner Van Rouge Wires Ascot Handicap

Van Rouge led all the way en route to winning Sunday's $100,000 Ascot Handicap (gr. IIIT) by 4 1/2 lengths over Doc Holiday at Bay Meadows. On the firm turf, Van Rouge completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.78 under Jason Lumpkins.

Palmeiro Wins; Pick Six Carryover at Hollywood Park

A day after Texas Ranger Rafael Palmeiro homered for the second straight game, Palmeiro snapped a six-race losing streak Wednesday, winning the $55,000 feature race at Hollywood Park by two lengths over Mysterious Cat. Palmeiro's victory followed a series of longshot winners on Wednesday's Hollywood Park card, resulting in a pick six carryover of $102,812 heading into Thursday's program.

Leaping Plum's Eight-Peat Bid Foiled in Grasmick Handicap

His place in Nebraska racing history assured, 11-year-old Leaping Plum failed Saturday in his bid to win Fonner Park's $15,975 Grasmick Handicap for an eighth consecutive renewal.

Lexicon Repeats in Bay Meadows Sprint

Lexicon assumed the lead from the gate and held off Swept Overboard and two others to win Saturday's $142,500 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. III) for the second consecutive year.

Pacific Classic Returns to ESPN

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's premier event -- the $1,000,000 Pacific Classic -- once again will be televised by ESPN when it is presented for the 11th time at the shore track on Sunday, August 19.

Lexicon Wins Bay Meadows Sprint

Lexicon tracked Bay Runner through opening fractions of :21.94 and :44.26, before pulling away to a two-length win over Men's Exclusive in the $177,500 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. III) Saturday at Bay Meadows. Under jockey Russell Baze, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss's 5-year-old homebred completed the six-furlong race in 1:09.19 on a fast track.