Zenyatta Headlines Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park

Zenyatta in her stall at John Shirreff's barn, Hollywood Park.

Trainer John Shirreffs was kind enough to allow me to visit and take a photo of Zenyatta in her stall at Hollywood Park on Saturday morning. This is one mare who really knows she's something special, looking (and acting) the part of a queen. And she obviously adores Shirreffs, nuzzling up to him when he came near!

The Eclipse Award winning mare will be the star attraction Saturday at Hollywood Park, when she makes her 2009 debut in the $150,000 Milady Handicap. She is also the defending champion in the Milady, facing a field of 8 other fillies and mares going a mile and a sixteenth.

Zenyatta is undefeated in 9 career starts including four Grade I and three Grade II races for earnings of $2,144,580. Her regular rider, Mike Smith, has the mount for Shirreffs and owners Jerry and Ann Moss.

The field for the Milady includes: Gambler’s Justice, Martin Garcia up; Taste’s Sis, Danny Sorenson; Allicansayis Wow, Joe Talamo; Dawn After Dawn, Joel Rosario; Champagne Eyes, Michael Baze; Bel Air Sizzle, Rafael Bejarano; Life Is Sweet, Garrett Gomez; Hot n’ Dusty, Alex Solis; and Zenyatta, Smith.

The Milady will run as the 8th race on Saturday’s 9-race card at Hollywood Park.