Zenyatta's road to perfection: 19 races, 19 wins

19 races, 19 victories

Nov. 22, 2007 — Won 61/2-furlong maiden race at Hollywood Park by 3 lengths with David Flores up. Rallied from last in 12-horse field.

Dec. 15, 2007 — Won 11⁄16-mile allowance race at Hollywood Park by 31/2 lengths with David Flores up. Made a four-wide bid and drew off handily in a seven-horse field.

Jan. 13, 2008 — Rallied three-wide to win the Grade II El Encino at Santa Anita by 13/4 lengths with David Flores up.

April 5, 2008 — In her first try against Grade I company and first start on dirt, won Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park by 41/2 lengths with Mike Smith aboard for the first time. Among the vanquished were reigning champion older female Ginger Punch, who ran third.

May 31, 2008 — Squeezed at the start but recovered to win the Grade II Milady Handicap by 21/2 lengths at Hollywood Park.

July 5, 2008 — Ran down Tough Tiz's Sis to win Grade I Vanity Handicap by half a length at Hollywood Park. This marked her first of three straight wins in the Vanity.

Aug. 2, 2008 — Surged up three-wide in the stretch to win the Grade II Clement L. Hirsch Handicap by 1 length in her first start at Del Mar.

Sept. 27, 2008 — Defeated Grade I winner Hystericalady by 31/2 lengths to earn the first of what would become three consecutive wins in the Grade I Lady's Secret Stakes at Santa Anita.

Oct. 24, 2008 — Under a hand ride from Smith, won the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic by 11/2 lengths over Cocoa Beach at Santa Anita to lock up her first Eclipse Award for champion older female.

May 23, 2009 — Made 5-year-old debut in Grade II Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park, winning by 13/4 lengths over eventual 2009 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Life Is Sweet.

June 27, 2009 — Notched second straight win in the Grade I Vanity Handicap, defeating Briecat by 21/2 lengths with another three-wide surge in the lane.

Aug. 9, 2009 — In the closest finish of her career, Zenyatta came flying four-wide in the stretch to nip Anabaa's Creation by a head at the wire in the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar.

Oct. 10, 2009 — Cruised to victory in the Grade I Lady's Secret for the second straight year, winning by 11/4 lengths while being ridden out.

Nov. 7, 2009 — Defeated such top males as eventual champions Gio Ponti and Summer Bird to win the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita by a length, becoming the first female runner to capture the race.

March 13, 2010 — Made 6-year-old debut in the Grade I Santa Margarita Handicap, winning by an easy 11/4 lengths at Santa Anita.

April 9, 2010 — In her second trip to Oaklawn and second start over dirt, Zenyatta toyed with four rivals to win the Grade I Apple Blossom by 41/4 lengths. The margin of victory was her second-largest behind only her first Apple Blossom win.

June 13, 2010 — Won the Grade I Vanity Handicap for the third straight year, sweeping by St. Trinians in deep stretch to get up by half a length.

Aug. 7, 2010 — In the second-closest finish of her career, had to unleash a furious five-wide rally in the lane to edge Rinterval by a neck in the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch.

Oct. 2, 2010 — Provided another heart-stopping finish when she was forced to run down Switch late in the stretch to win the Grade I Lady's Secret for a third straight year, this time by just half a length at Hollywood.

Alicia Wincze

This story was originally published October 31, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Zenyatta's road to perfection: 19 races, 19 wins."