Smith will feel the pressure again Saturday, when Zenyatta enters the starting gate for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.
“If we’re blessed enough to finish this thing 20-0, how do you even describe it?’’ he said. “It would just be incredible.’’
Last year, she beat the boys to become the first female to win the Classic.
Now she’ll take on the best male horses again. A victory would likely make Zenyatta horse of the year, an honor she lost out on last year to Rachel Alexandra.
“It’s the first Classic ever that everybody is going to be rooting for one horse,’’ said trainer Bob Baffert, who will saddle Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky in the race.
Zenyatta has that effect on people, making her a huge star in a battered industry desperate to attract new fans, especially women. She drew the largest crowd in nine years — 25,837 — to Hollywood Park for her most recent race last month. They held up homemade posters and paintings, snapped photos, and cheered for the 6-year-old mare whose come-from-behind style creates drama almost every time.
She rewards them with a show, too, high-stepping around the paddock, bowing her head, and pawing the ground. Trainer John Shirreffs told Smith after Zenyatta wins to stop her along the grandstand so fans can get a closer look.
“I’m crazy about her,’’ declared Penny Chenery, who owned Triple Crown winner Secretariat.
“She’s like Secretariat in that she’s a great show. He’d kind of blow himself up to intimidate the competition. With her dance, it’s like her opening number to prance into the walking ring.’’
Unlike most high-strung thoroughbreds, Zenyatta is fan friendly. Shirreffs allows barn visitors to stroke the white blaze on her head and pose for photos with the richest female horse in history.
Owners Jerry and Ann Moss bought her for $60,000, and she’s rewarded them with earnings of more than $6.4 million.
“She’s a great star,’’ said Jerry Moss, who had big names on his old A&M Records label. “It’s just a beautiful thing to be part of.’’
