Breeders' Cup Classic heroine Zenyetta extended her remarkable unbeaten record when making a triumphant return to the track at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Initially retired following her success in the Classic, Zenyatta returned to training earlier this year and she showed that she is still head and shoulders above her rivals as she land the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap under Mike Smith.
Having failed to find the necessary room Smith was forced to switch his mount to the inside and once she found space she galloped away to claim the honours by a length and a quarter from Dance To My Tune.
"Obviously, (Smith) went to the inside and then had to come back out, so - I just have a lot of faith in Mike," said trainer John Shirreffs.
"I know once he gets her in the clear, he has a good chance.
"She's cut in between horses and everything, but when you have a big X on your back, a lot of places don't open up that normally would."
There was not such good news for her rival Rachel Alexandra as she went down in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds.
The four-year-old was beaten by four lengths after struggling to pick in the closing stages but trainer Steve Asmussen is confident his charge will bounce back.
"I'm just disappointed she didn't win. It was a lack in fitness, and it's our job to have her there and I didn't do it," said Asmussen.
"She was strong early and got tired. (It's) very disappointing that she lost. You hate to be in that position, but now that it's over you know it's not something we got away with."