Zenyatta checks out all the people there to meet her.
Zenyatta arrives at Churchill Downs
Date: 11/02/2010
On Saturday, Zenyatta will attempt to complete a perfect career of 20 wins in 20 starts, when she goes for the repeat in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs. On Tuesday, she made the journey from her Hollywood Park home to Louisville.
On Sunday she jogged a mile over the dirt training track at Hollywood, her last training exercise before leaving California. At 2:00am PT on Tuesday she left her barn to board a chartered Tex Sutton flight from Orange County Airport, with 10 other Southern California-based Breeders' Cup entrants, which left at 5:00am. Her owners Ann and Jerry Moss, trainer John Shirreffs, and racing manager Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs boarded a private jet, scheduled to arrive in Louisville before the equine charter, while groom Mario Espinoza accompanied her on the flight. The plane landed at 11:30am ET at Louisville International Airport, and she boarded a chartered horse van accompanied by police escort, arriving at Barn 41 on the Churchill Downs backstretch at 11:50am.
A large group of media, curious onlookers and fans crowded the area where she was unloaded. She circled the paved laneway a few times, and then walked through the barn to the large grassy courtyard facing Longfield Avenue to graze for about 15 minutes. She entertained the crowd by performing her Spanish walk and bowing several times, as well as posing still. Clearly this was the most anticipated arrival at the track in recent memory. There were even some fans on the sidewalk peering through the chain link fence to watch her. She then went to her temporary home, Stall 15 of Barn 41.
Zenyatta showed off quite a bit doing her Spanish Walk "dance" and posing. Shirreffs said, "She's fine, she's very good." Ann Moss said, "Every day that we are with her is special. She's having such a great time, that we're having a great time. She's so amazing to be around. We feel so blessed."
A bit more of Zenyatta posing for everyone. She really knows how to play to the crowd. Shortly after she arrived, she drew post 8 in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday where she is the 8-5 morning line favorite.
Breeders' Cup quick links:
2011 Breeders' Cup Entries and Post Positions - Final entries were taken and post positions drawn on Monday for the 15 races on November 4-5 at Churchill Downs. Lots of info about the Breeders' Cup, each race, and links to profiles for all the horses with post positions, morning line odds, and free past performances.
Thursday Breeders' Cup Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 35 of the Breeders' Cup horses out on the track Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, including Goldikova who actually galloped, Drosselmeyer, and Gio Ponti. Very few repeats from previous days.
Wednesday Breeders' Cup Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 57 of the Breeders' Cup horses out on the track Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs, including Havre de Grace, juvenile Speightscity who had a bullet work, and Game on Dude. All different horses from Tuesday!
Tuesday Breeders' Cup Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 41 of the Breeders' Cup horses out on the track Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs, including Mile favorite Goldikova, Turf favorite Sarafina, and Juvenile favorite Union Rags.
Review: Crushing the Cup 2011 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Churchill Downs updated for 2011.
Breeders' Cup 360 - 'The Bettor's Inside Source' for all things Breeders' Cup handicapping
The Breeders' Cup Championship Day - The official page for the Breeders' Cup championship races. Just about anything you need to know about it: results, video clips, and race calls for past years, and eventually nominations, entries, and results.
European News - the latest on the Euro contenders from Sporting Life
Saturday Breeders' Cup Results - Goldikova became the first horse to win three Breeders' Cup races with her victory in the Mile. Zenyatta came up a head short in her quest for a 20th consecutive win when she was unable to catch Blame in the Classic. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 8 races here.
Friday Breeders' Cup Results - Unrivaled Belle held off the late close of Blind Luck to win the first Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic run at night. Also on the card, Shared Account won the Filly and Mare Turf, Awesome Feather won the Juvenile Fillies, Dubai Majesty won the Filly and Mare Sprint, More Than Real won the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Eldaafer won the Marathon. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
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