Zenyatta praised by those associated with SLRD horses she joined in history

On August 7 Zenyatta won her 18th race in a row by finishing first in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar. Six days later the previous horse to take a double-digit win streak into Del Mar, Azeri, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. Azeri, who was stabled at the San Luis Rey Downs Thoroughbred Training Center, had won the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on August 10, 2003, for her 11th consecutive victory.

"She was a great horse," Zenyatta owner Jerry Moss said of Azeri. "Every once in a while brilliance comes around."

Zenyatta actually took two double-digit win streaks into Del Mar; she also won the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on August 9, 2009, for her 12th win in 12 starts. The only other horse ever to take a double-digit win streak into Del Mar was Cigar, another San Luis Rey Downs horse, who had won 16 races in a row but fell short in the Pacific Classic on August 10, 1996.

"Zenyatta represents the best there is in racing," Moss said.

Former San Luis Rey Downs trainer Alex Hassinger helped train both Azeri and Cigar. "I think we're fortunate to come around the horses like the Azeris and the Zenyattas," he said. "It's pretty exciting to watch."

Cigar was the only male horse among the three who took double-digit win streaks into Del Mar, so most of the comparison is between the two females. "Azeri and Zenyatta were obviously great horses in their own right,"

Hassinger said. "They're two different physical specimens, so that makes it even more interesting."

Mike Smith has been Zenyatta's jockey for all but her first three races and was also on Azeri for her first 18 starts, which include the entire 11-race win streak and 15 of her 17 career wins. He has won the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes three times on Zenyatta and twice on Azeri. Smith also rode Cigar for the first win in his streak.

"Great horses are easy to ride," Smith said. "That's what makes them so great."

Smith believes that Zenyatta has been the easiest to ride of those three horses. "You just put your hands down, and she gets into her own rhythm," he said.

Hassinger isn't jealous about Zenyatta overtaking Azeri and Cigar in perceived greatness. "The sport needs it," he said. "It would be great to get a Zenyatta or an Azeri or a Cigar every year."