UConn, UCLA, Pepper and Z- Amazing Streaks

What do the UConn Women's Basketball Team, the UCLA Men's Basketball Team, and two horses New Mexico legend Pepper's Pride and of course the one and only Zenyatta have in common? Consecutive win streaks. Today the Huskies tied the Bruins for most wins in a row, on Tuesday they more then likely will hold that title on their own (they already have the Woman's Record for consecutive wins). That got me thinking about Pepper and Z. However, much like it's not fair to compare John Wooden's teams to Geno Auriemma's teams. It's not fair to compare to two fillies to each other.

For one, all of Pepper's wins where against state bred competition and never faced outside company. She tied and broke the record against Allowance company. There was a lot of heat on her owners and trainer for not taking a risk and going to outside company. Now she is living in Kentucky in foal to Distorted Humor, in a way poetic justice. While we never knew how good she really was, there is always that what if.

For Zenyatta, it's even more impressive. Yes as a KY bred, she had no choice but to face open company. Keep in mind though, due to her sheer size and nervousness that her siblings (especially Balance from what I hear), she didn't make her first start till her 3 year old season. And that was after Hard Spun, Street Sense, and Any Given Saturday where retired, Curlin was done for the year, Octave was retired and lastly Rags to Riches. She was really until her Apple Blossom win, knowns as Balance's little sister. As we soon realized though, she was her own horse and she will be the standard bearer for fillies and mares in the future. Unlike Pepper however, Z did not finish her career undefeated, but in a way that made people love her more.

UCLA was beaten by Notre Dame, UConn lost their first streak to Villanova. Blame was Z's ND and Nova, while Pepper never had to go though that. With that being said, Zenyatta did win the BC Classic the first filly or mare to win the race and finished second in the AP voting twice (last year to Serena Williams, this year to Lindsey Vonn). In the end, much like UCLA and UConn have set the bar, Pepper's Pride and Zenyatta will be the standard for consectutive wins in North America. If their foals could be half as good as they where, that would be great for racing.

Here is Pepper's final win,



And Z's