Unbeaten Zenyatta will be looking for career win No. 8 when she takes the gate for the Lady’s Secret Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 27 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita. The California-based runner will face four rivals, including grade I winner Hystericalady, in the 1 1/16-mile race.
The Lady’s Secret will hopefully be a springboard toward the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) Oct. 24, also at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.
The two presumed favorites for the Lady’s Secret, Zenyatta and Hystericalady, will break side-by-side. Zenyatta breaks from post four and Hystericalady in post three.
Trained by John Shirreffs for Jerry and Anne Moss, Zenyatta (Street Cry-Vertigineux, by Kris S.) has wins this year in the Apple Blossom and Vanity Handicaps, both grade I, as well as grade II wins in the El Encino Stakes, and Clement L. Hirsch and Milady handicaps.
Most recently, Zenyatta notched a one-length win in the Aug. 2 Clement L. Hirsch. She recorded a six-furlong workout in 1:12.80 Sept. 20 at Hollywood Park.
Zenyatta, who has a career record of 7-0-0 with earnings of $914,580, will have jockey Mike Smith aboard.
While Zenyatta should be the post-time favorite, she will receive a challenge on the racetrack from the exceptionally talented Hystericalady (Distorted Humor -Sacramentada, by Northair).
Trained by Northern California legend Jerry Hollendorfer for a partnership that includes himself, and Rancho San Miguel, and George Todaro, Hystericalady has four wins in six starts on the year. Her wins came in the grade II Molly Pitcher and Azeri stakes, as well as in the Delaware and Fleur de Lis handicaps.
Hystericalady, who has a career record of 11-3-2 from 21 starts and earnings of $2,290,556, gets the services jockey Garrett Gomez.
Hystericalady, who finished second in the 2007 edition of the Lady’s Secret, enters the grade I contest off an eight-length romp in the Molly Pitcher. She recorded a five-furlong workout in 1:00.80 at Golden Gate Fields.
Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. I), Oak Tree at Santa Anita, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, $250,000, Saturday, Sept. 29, approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PDT.
1—Super Freaky (Martin Garcia, 123)
2—Wake Up Maggie (Tyler Baze, 123)
3—Hystericalady (Garrett Gomez, 123)
4—Zenyatta (Mike Smith, 123)
5—Santa Teresita (Michael Baze, 123)