The margin of victory was only a neck, but champion Zenyatta ran her record to a perfect 18-for-18. The massive mare strolled along near the back of the pack despite the glacial early fractions, with a half in :50 3/5 and six panels in 1:15.

Jockey Mike Smith made his move earlier than expected, and found himself fanned out wide at the top of the stretch, but, with ears flicking back and forth, Zenyatta motored past Rinterval, then toyed with that overmatched rival in the final yards.

"She was literally playing," Smith said.

 The only race Zenyatta has ever contested at Del Mar has been the Clement L. Hirsch and, as she did the last two years, the sublime Miss Z sauntered past her rivals in the stretch to win as she pleased. The Hirsch has produced the two closest finishes in the great mare's career--she won by just a head last year. But win she did.

"Oh, she was looking good today," Smith said.

"This was Zenyatta. I wanted everyone to see her, and she showed up. That mare that hooked her today was game--good for her. But we got it done. She was Zenyatta. She's something to believe in."