The Zenyatta Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, age three and older the distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt scheduled annually in September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.[1]

Zenyatta Stakes
Grade II race
LocationSanta Anita Park
Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated1993 (as Lady's Secret Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
WebsiteSanta Anita
Race information
Distance1+116 miles
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFillies & Mares, three-years-old and older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
Purse$200,000 (2020)
BonusesBreeders' Cup "Win and You're In" - Breeders' Cup Distaff

History

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The event was named after Hall of Famer Lady's Secret[2] who had won the 1986 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park.

The event was inaugurated on 11 October 1993 as the Lady's Secret Handicap and was won by the odds-on favorite Hollywood Wildcat who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye in a time of 1:41.05.[3] In her following start Hollywood Wildcat won the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park. The following year Hollywood Wildcat repeated her victory leading all the way to a comfortable 2+14 length margin.[4]

After two runnings of the event was classified by the American Graded Stakes Committee as Grade III and was upgraded to Grade II status in 1996.[5] In 2007 the event was upgraded to Grade I.[1]

After the 2009 running, it was announced that the race would be renamed the Zenyatta Stakes, on the assumption that Zenyatta (who had won the race in 2008 and 2009) would retire at the end of 2009. That change, however, was held off for 2010 at the behest of the mare's connections.[6] For 2010, it was again run as the Lady's Secret Stakes because Zenyatta was in the field, winning the race for the third time. The race was again run as the Lady's Secret Stakes in 2011 but was then run under its new name in 2012.

Beholder was able to equal Zenyatta's record of winning the event three times in 2015. After winning the 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita, Beholder won this event as a three-year-old before winning the Breeders' Cup Distaff which also was held at Santa Anita. After winning this event in 2014 and 2015 Beholder did not enter the Breeder's Cup. In the 2016 running of the event, Beholder ran for the fourth time and was beaten by a nose by Stellar Wind,[7] however she turned the tables winning the Breeders' Cup Distaff for a second time in her last career start.

In 2019 the event was downgraded to Grade II.[8]

Records

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Speed record:

Margins:

  • 5+14 lengths – Adare Manor (2023)

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Santa Anita Park – Zenyatta Stakes
2024 Sugar Fish 4 Tyler Baze Jeff Mullins Sweetwater Stable & Talla Racing 1+116 miles 1:43.53 $200,000 II [9]
2023 Adare Manor 4 Juan Hernandez Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen 1+116 miles 1:43.70 $196,000 II [10]
2022 Midnight Memories 3 Ramon Vazquez Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman 1+116 miles 1:45.07 $200,000 II [11]
2021 Private Mission 3 Flavien Prat Bob Baffert Baoma Corporation 1+116 miles 1:43.77 $201,500 II [12]
2020 Harvest Moon 5 Flavien Prat Simon Callaghan Alice Bamford & Michael Tabor 1+116 miles 1:43.03 $196,000 II [13]
2019 Paradise Woods 5 Abel Cedillo John Shirreffs HS Stable & Martin J. & Pam Wygod 1+116 miles 1:44.31 $200,351 II [14]
2018 Vale Dori (ARG) 6 Joseph Talamo Bob Baffert Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum 1+116 miles 1:44.88 $300,345 I [15]
2017 Paradise Woods 3 Flavien Prat Richard E. Mandella Steven Sarkowsky & Martin J. & Pam Wygod 1+116 miles 1:44.34 $294,000 I [16]
2016 Stellar Wind 4 Victor Espinoza John W. Sadler Hronis Racing 1+116 miles 1:41.80 $300,000 I [7]
2015 Beholder 5 Gary L. Stevens Richard E. Mandella Spendthrift Farm 1+116 miles 1:42.83 $300,750 I [17]
2014 Beholder 4 Mike E. Smith Richard E. Mandella Spendthrift Farm 1+116 miles 1:42.19 $300,000 I [18]
2013 Beholder 3 Gary L. Stevens Richard E. Mandella Spendthrift Farm 1+116 miles 1:42.11 $250,500 I [19]
2012 Love and Pride 4 Martin Garcia Todd A. Pletcher Green Hills Farm 1+116 miles 1:43.09 $250,000 I [20]
Lady's Secret Stakes
2011 Zazu 3 Joel Rosario John W. Sadler Ann & Jerry Moss 1+116 miles 1:41.59 $250,000 I [21]
At Hollywood Park – Lady's Secret Stakes
2010 Zenyatta 6 Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs Ann & Jerry Moss 1+116 miles 1:42.97 $250,000 I [22]
At Santa Anita Park
2009 Zenyatta 5 Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs Ann & Jerry Moss 1+116 miles 1:42.89 $299,000 I [23]
2008 Zenyatta 4 Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs Ann & Jerry Moss 1+116 miles 1:40.30 $245,000 I [24]
2007 Tough Tiz's Sis 3 Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Watson & Weitman Performances 1+116 miles 1:41.64 $196,500 I [25]
Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap
2006 Healthy Addiction 5 Victor Espinoza John W. Sadler Pamela C. Ziebarth 1+116 miles 1:43.60 $233,500 II [26]
2005 Healthy Addiction 4 Garrett K. Gomez John W. Sadler Pamela C. Ziebarth 1+116 miles 1:43.23 $235,000 II [27]
2004 § Island Fashion 4 Kerwin John Marcelo Polanco Everest Stables 1+116 miles 1:43.43 $235,000 II [28]
2003 Got Koko 4 Alex O. Solis Bruce Headley Aase Headley & Paul Leung 1+116 miles 1:42.92 $300,000 II [29]
2002 Azeri 4 Mike E. Smith Laura de Seroux Allen E. Paulson Trust 1+116 miles 1:41.10 $217,500 II [30]
2001 Queenie Belle 4 Brice Blanc Ben D. A. Cecil Gary Seidler 1+116 miles 1:43.64 $209,400 II [31]
2000 Smooth Player 4 Eddie Delahoussaye Dan L. Hendricks John Spohler & Martin J. Wygod 1+116 miles 1:42.27 $204,600 II [32]
1999 Manistique 4 Corey Nakatani John Shirreffs 505 Farms 1+116 miles 1:42.39 $197,500 II [33]
1998 Magical Allure 3 David R. Flores Bob Baffert Golden Eagle Farm 1+116 miles 1:42.55 $173,800 II [34]
1997 Sharp Cat 3 Alex O. Solis D. Wayne Lukas The Thoroughbred Corporation 1+116 miles 1:41.45 $179,400 II [35]
1996 Top Rung 5 Earlie Fires Willard L. Proctor Glen Hill Farm 1+116 miles 1:41.84 $178,450 II [36]
Lady's Secret Handicap
1995 Borodislew 5 Gary L. Stevens Eduardo Inda 505 Farms 1+116 miles 1:41.61 $130,250 III [37]
1994 Hollywood Wildcat 4 Eddie Delahoussaye Neil D. Drysdale Irving & Marjorie Cowan 1+116 miles 1:40.61 $106,400 [4]
1993 Hollywood Wildcat 3 Eddie Delahoussaye Neil D. Drysdale Irving & Marjorie Cowan 1+116 miles 1:41.05 $106,700 [3]

Legend:
  All Weather Track   Dirt
Notes: § Ran as an entry

See also

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List of American and Canadian Graded races

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Zenyatta Stakes (Gr. 2)". equibase.com. 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. ^ "LADYS SECRET (USA) gr. M, 1982 - 45 Starts, 25 Wins, 9 Places, 3 Shows Career Earnings: $3,021,325". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b "1993 Lady's Secret Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 11 October 1993. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b "1994 Lady's Secret Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 October 1994. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  5. ^ "ZENYATTA STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  6. ^ Shandler, Jason. "Zenyatta Stakes Changed Back to Lady's Secret". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
  7. ^ a b "2016 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  8. ^ BloodHorse Staff (30 November 2018). "Graded and Listed Races for 2019 Released". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  9. ^ "2024 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  10. ^ "2023 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  11. ^ "2022 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  12. ^ "2021 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  13. ^ "2020 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  14. ^ "2019 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  15. ^ "2018 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  16. ^ "2017 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  17. ^ "2015 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  18. ^ "2014 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  19. ^ "2013 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  20. ^ "2012 Zenyatta Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  21. ^ "2011 Lady's Secret Stakes Grade 1 - (race 6)". Equibase. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  22. ^ "2010 Lady's Secret Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  23. ^ "2009 Lady's Secret Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  24. ^ "2008 Lady's Secret Stakes Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  25. ^ "2007 Lady's Secret Stakes Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  26. ^ "2006 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 3)". Equibase. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  27. ^ "2005 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 2 October 2005. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  28. ^ "2004 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 3 October 2004. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  29. ^ "2003 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 28 September 2003. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  30. ^ "2002 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 2 October 2002. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  31. ^ "2001 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 29 September 2001. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  32. ^ "2000 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 9 October 2000. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  33. ^ "1999 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 October 1999. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  34. ^ "1998 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 11 October 1998. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  35. ^ "1997 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 19 October 1997. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  36. ^ "1996 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 6 October 1996. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  37. ^ "1995 Lady's Secret Handicap Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 8 October 1995. Retrieved 24 September 2020.