As she continues going through a winning streak, adding race after race, 6-year-old Zenyatta has also added an entertaining pre-race performance, for the delight of her followers: prancing in the saddling paddock and shaking a front leg in the post parade. “She's gotten to where she really knows she's a superstar,” jockey Mike Smith commented. “It's almost as if she tries to intimidate the competition when she dances in the paddock. She loves entertaining.”

Today, the mare will go for her 18th victory when she runs in the Grade I, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar, near San Diego, a race she has won twice already. If she manages to win again and reached the 18 wins in a row, she’ll be closer to the record set by thoroughbred Peppers Pride, who won 19 consecutive races, all of them in New Mexico.

Zenyatta has already won 11 Grade I events and four Grade 2 races and last year became the only female to win the Breeder’s Cup Classic. “Whenever you see her whole record on paper, it's just amazing," jockey Smith commented. "The way she runs makes it even more impressive. She's had to pass almost every single horse in every race.”

Some have criticized trainer John Shirreffs and owners Jerome and Ann Moss for their decision of running her in not so ambitious races, including the Clement L. Hirsch. “It used to bother me, but she is who she is,” Smith said. “What she has done is incredible”.