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Zenyatta wins $500K Apple Blossom ... even without Rachel Alexandra

Linda Ann Nickerson's photo
Equestrian Examiner

Undefeated Zenyatta and Mike Smith win 2010 Apple Blossom Invitational (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

Zenyatta held onto her unblemished 16-0 record, galloping across the finish line in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Invitational on Friday, April 9th.

The undefeated six-year-old thoroughbred racehorse, piloted by jockey Mike Smith, beat second-place horse Taptam by 4 1/4 on the 1 1/8-mile dirt track at Oaklawn Park, in Hot Springs, Arkansas,. (Zenyatta also won the 2008 Apple Blossom Invitational.)

Horse racing fans had hoped the Apple Blossom Invitational would mark the on-track meeting of Zenyatta and 2009 NTRA Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, but it was not to be so. Instead, Rachel Alexandra’s jockey, Calvin Borel, rode Be Fair, who placed third in the race. Just Jenda and War Echo followed in the fourth and fifth spots.

Here’s a video of Zenyatta’s winning race at the 2010 Apple Blossom Invitational on April 9th. (Notice in the video how Zenyatta's jockey Mike Smith never actually used his whip during the race.)
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, Equestrian Examiner

Linda Ann Nickerson wears many hats, including those of a writer, editor, poet, photographer, journalist, equestrian, equine breeder and horse mom. A long-time horse lover, Linda Ann practices equine marketing and writing prolifically, particularly on horse-related topics. Linda Ann has several...

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