When I write a piece on a Sunday, especially in the spring, there are several storylines. This week, however, choosing the top storyline was an easy decision to make. A history of sorts was made on Friday at Oaklawn Park, a track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Zenyatta, the wonder mare, and that is how she is being referred to, won for the 16th time in her career. What is special about that win is the fact that Zenyatta has had only 16 lifetime starts. The Street Cry mare now stands shoulder to shoulder with Cigar and Citation who won 16 races in a row.

There is another mark that needs to be bettered. Pepper’s Pride, a mare who raced exclusively in the New Mexico circuit, retired last year after winning 19 consecutive races. Zenyatta’s connections have not concealed their intention to seek another win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Churchill Downs holds the Breeders’ Cup races this year in early November. Zenyatta has every chance of breaking Pepper’s Pride’s record.

There were only four who chose to oppose Zenyatta in the Grade I $500,000 Apple Blossom, a race over 1,800 metres on Oaklawn’s main (dirt) course. There were 44,973 fans in attendance on a picture perfect afternoon. Mike Smith had the 5-100 favourite in the rear until the final turn. Yes, if you had bet 100 dollars on Zenyatta, you would have received 105 in return. The other four were in high double digits.

Charging three-wide coming into the lane, Zenyatta struck the front and went on to win by four and one quarter lengths. The time was 1 50.71 seconds. The tote return was $2.10 on a $2.00 ticket. In America, there is a mandatory five-cent payoff on a dollar stake. This means that there could be a minus pool and the host track has to shoulder the consequences of a minus pool.

Jockey Mike Smith spoke: "It's a big relief. When you go for such a long streak, there is a touch of anxiety. I got to the lead sooner than I wanted and I kept her to the task with a reminder or two. She dipped her head, as though she was bowing, when her name was announced while we were in the parade ring. She's very special."

It was only the second time that the Ann and Jerry Moss-owned mare was racing on a conventional dirt surface. In 2008, Zenyatta won the Apple Blossom and one of those she beat was Ginger Punch who was the top distaffer that year. Trainer John Shirreffs explained how he got the champion mare ready for the race on Friday. "She was taken to the track around 8 30 AM. She jogged around the track (one mile) and she went right-handed and was accompanied by a pony. After the jog, Zenyatta walked for 45 minutes. There was a meal at 11 30 AM. She got a light snack at 1 30 PM."

Oaklawn Park is a left-handed course. The race was run at 6 30 PM. No plans about Zenyatta's next start were revealed.

Informed Decision was the half-money favourite in the Grade I $300,000 Vinery Madison Stakes for fillies and mares at Keeneland on Thursday. Informed Decision, winner of the Breeders' Cup distaff sprint, was defending her title in the Vinery Madison and was unbeaten in four appearances on Keeneland's polytrack. Dr Zic set the pace and Informed Decision, Julien Leparoux up, lay third and in striking range. Dr Zic opened up at the crown of the bend and ran on to win by two and one half lengths. The 1400-metre race was run in 1 21.32 seconds. Dr Zic was getting an encore. She was a laughing winner in a seven-furlong race at Tampa Bay Downs on March 13.

Kent Desormeaux was on Dr Zic, a Milwaukee Brew filly, out of Royal Corona by Holy Bull. "She was really full of herself. Last time at Tampa, I rode her. She got amped up. She got hot. Today, she was calm and collected. When I asked her to go fast at the quarter pole, she just lunged to the wire," jockey Desormeaux averred.

Six ran and Dubai Majesty headed the beaten brigade. Informed Decision was able to salvage third. Joan Scott, Dr Zic's trainer, was winning her first Grade I Race.

There was an undercurrent of sadness as the racing fraternity celebrated Zenyatta's victory. News of the death of Personal Ensign on Thursday came through. Personal Ensign had a 13 for 13 career capped by a sizzling stretch charge in the 1988 Breeders' Cup. Winning Colors held what looked like an insurmountable lead in the lane but Personal Ensign staged a determined rally to win in the waning yards. The Breeders' Cup was Personal Ensign's swansong. Personal Ensign was 26 and she died at the Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.

By Private Account out of Grecian Banner by Hoist The Flag, Personal Ensign was campaigned by Ogden Phipps. The unbeaten Personal Ensign was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993. Here are the races won by Personal Ensign. The Grade I Beldame in 1987 and 1988 went to the champion filly. The Frizette in 1986 was another graded race. In 1988, Personal Ensign won the Whitney, Hampstead, Shuvee and Maskette, all Grade I events. The two Grade II races she won were the Rare Perfume in 1987 and the Molly Pitcher in 1988.

My Flag, Miner's Mark and Traditionally, all progenies of Personal Ensign, are Grade I winners. Personal Ensign was a full sister to Personal Flag.

On Friday at Keeneland, the Grade I $300,000 Maker's Mark Mile (turf) was run. Jockey Julien Leparoux steered Karelian to a length and a quarter win over Court Vision, the favorite. It was an act of revenge. In the 2009 fall meeting at Keeneland, Court Vision beat Karelian by a nose in Shadwell Turf Mile. Karelian had the lead at the far turn and a furlong out, Court Vision, with Robbie Albarado, drew even. However, Karelian was able to find more and went clear. Karelian was a 28-10 second choice The time was 1 34.33 on a firm turf course.

Winning trainer Rusty Arnold was laconic: "He is a little better this year. I am looking forward to the rest of the year."

Robbie Albarado talked about the race: "At every point of the race, I thought I had it won but we just could not get to him."

Richard Migliore, the Breeders' Cup winning jockey, has been sidelined. He has a bulging disc and a pinched nerve in his neck. He will consult a neurologitst. "I'm in so much pain. I can't even see straight. I owe it to the people I ride for to be at 100%. Hopefully, the doctor will come up with an answer," Migliore stated.

The Australian Derby was run on Sunday at Randwick, near Sydney. Fourteen ran in the 2400-metre Grade I race that was worth 441,388 (British pounds) to the winner. Shoot Out, a colt by the peerless High Chaparral, was held up and began his move 400 metres out. He struck the front inside the last 100 metres. The margin was a length and a quarter and the time was 2 32.68 on a good to soft grass course.

John Wallace trains Shoot Out. Jockey Stathi Katsidis rode.Shoot Out's dam is Pentamerous who is by Pentire. The 11-4 favourite, Zabrasive finished fourth.

Now let us turn to the Grand National run at Aintree on Saturday. I watched the race at home on HRTV, a racing network in America. It was 10 30 AM in Chicago. London is six hours ahead of Chicago. Forty horses went to the start of the 7242-metre race with 30 fences. Only 14 finished the course. It is a race of attrition. I had Vencent Dhanraj, the Guindy announcer, on the phone and had him listen in to the Grand National call. I had the TV volume at a high pitch.

The 521,052-pound first purse went to Don't Push It ridden by AP McCoy, Britain's top jumps rider. It was McCoy's first Grand National win and came in his 15th attempt. Jonjo O'Neill trains the winner who is owned by John P McManus. It was the first victory in England's premier chase for the trainer and the owner. Don't Push It was the joint favourite at 10-1 with Big Fella Thanks, another O'Neill trainee who took fourth. Don't Push It won by five lengths.

Don't Push It was 17th for the first part, began tracking the front runners three furlongs out, stalked the leader a furlong out and drew clear in the final 150 metres of the 494-yard run-in. Don't Push it opened at 20-1 and dropped to 10-1 post time. He's a 10 year-old gelding by Old Vic out of She's No Laugh Ben by Alleged. That was the seventh win for Don't Push It in 23 career outings. I am mixing the English and metric systems but you should be able to figure these numbers out.

An emotional Tony McCoy spoke: "I'm being a big wuss. It means everything to me to win this. I have won a lot of big races and I am supposed to be a big jockey. Not to win the Grand National would be a bit of a negative on the CV."

CV stands for curriculum vitae. It is an individual's resume that lists the accomplishments.

Jonjo O'Neill commented: "It will take a bit of sinking in but it was fantastic. As a trainer, I have come close and hit the bar a few times but I just thought we were destined never to win the National."

J P McManus, who is involved in a big way with the game, paid tribute to O'Neill. "Full marks to Jonjo and his team as he (Don't Push It) has been a difficult horse down the years to keep right."

Jockey Ruby Walsh, another of the jumping greats, had a fall in an earlier race. He had a broken left arm. He was replaced on Big Fella Thanks by Barry Geraghty.

Mon Mome, the upset winner last year, fell at the 26th fence. Comply or Die, the 2008 hero, finished 12th.

The third race on Saturday at Aintree was the Dick Francis Aintree Hurdle, a Grade I event. It went to Khyber Kim who won by five lengths. Khyber Kim was a 7-2 chance. The race was over two miles and four furlongs and carried a first prize of 91,216 pounds.

The Board of Directors of the New York City off-track betting Corporation has announced that the 13,000 employees of the Corporation will be laid off this weekend. The Corporation is in bankruptcy. Raymond Casey, the President of the Corporation, is hoping he will be able to find a solution.