With Zenyatta expected to run in the race, the Zenyatta Stakes has been changed back to its original name, the Lady’s Secret Stakes, which will be run Oct. 2 at Oak Tree at Hollywood Park meeting.
The $250,000 grade I race, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the Cushion Track, was renamed the Zenyatta Stakes last year in honor of the popular mare after she won the event the past two years while it was run at Santa Anita Park. She was thought to have been retired by her owners, Jerry and Ann Moss, after winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) last fall, but in January the Mosses announced that Zenyatta would stay in training this year.
The 6-year-old daughter of Street Cry has won all four starts this year to improve to 18-for-18 in her career and is expected to use the Lady’s Secret to prep for her title defense in the 2010 BC Classic, which will be run on Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs.
The Mosses and Zenyatta’s trainer, John Shirreffs, requested that the race be changed back to its original name.
The Oak Tree meeting, which will be at Hollywood Park for the first time and consist of 22 racing days, runs from Sept. 30-Oct. 31. Uncertainty regarding the condition of the main track at Santa Anita triggered the move of the Oak Tree meet.
A number of Breeders’ Cup preps and the 21st California Cup, a series of stakes races restricted to California breds, highlight the meet.
Opening weekend will feature six grade I events. In addition to the Lady's Secret are the $250,000 Goodwood Stakes for older horses at 1 1/8 miles, the $250,000 Norfolk Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, and the $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf.
The following day is topped by the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship for older horses at 1 1/4 miles on turf and the $250,000 Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.