Ladies’ day
A truly super Saturday for Darley stallions Medaglia d’Oro and Street Cry sees their outstanding daughters Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta add further G1 glory to their already exceptional records
Saturday 27 June could be described as one of the Darley stallions’ most successful days yet, as two of America’s most talented racehorses - Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta – further bolstered their truly outstanding race records when winning for the Mother Goose and Vanity respectively.
Rachel Alexandra, by Darley’s newest stallion Medaglia d’Oro, eased to victory in the G1 Mother Goose, run over nine furlongs at Belmont Park. Settled off the pace under Calvin Borel, the three-year-old filly took the lead entering the stretch and the race was over in a matter of strides as she opened up a huge lead and eventually won by 19-and-a-quarter lengths. Her time of 1:46.33 was a new Stakes record.
This was her first start since her historic victory over the colts in the Preakness Stakes, where she became the first filly to land the second leg of the Triple Crown for almost a century. She was also the first ever Kentucky Oaks winner (a race which she won by an astounding 20-and-a-quarter lengths) to take the Preakness.
The New York Racing Association were clearly thrilled to have this superstar filly running at Belmont, providing free admission for ladies on Saturday. They also gave away pink bracelets embossed with Rachel Alexandra’s name, in recognition of the decision by her co-owner Jess Jackson and his wife Barbara Banke to contribute part of her future earnings to Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the global breast cancer movement.
Medaglia d’Oro, who will stand as a Darley stallion for the first time in 2010, recently added a second G1 winner to his resume, when Gabby’s Golden Gal led all the way to win the Acorn Stakes at Belmont. From just two crops of racing age, he has already sired seven Black type winners and a further ten Black type performers.
Also on Saturday, on the opposite side of the United States at Hollywood Park, Street Cry’s unbeaten five-year-old daughter Zenyatta extended her winning streak to eleven when landing the G1 Vanity Handicap for the second consecutive year. This was the fifth victory at the highest level for Zenyatta and her victory was all the more impressive as she was carrying a hefty 129 pounds – at least 13 pounds more than any of her rivals.
Last year’s Eclipse Champion Older Female and a finalist for the Eclipse Horse Of The Year award, Zenyatta enjoyed a superb campaign last year, winning four G1 and three G2 contests including the Apple Blossom and the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.
Earlier this year, she commenced her five-year-old campaign by notching her tenth straight win, coming from last to first to take the G2 Milady Handicap by a length-and-three-quarters, the second time she had won the eight-and-a-half furlong contest.
Zenyatta is one of nine Group or Grade One winners for Street Cry, whose other top-class performers include Street Sense and Street Boss, both of whom now stand alongside their sire at Darley America.
25 June 2009