Zenyatta figures to be center of attention Saturday at Santa Anita

There's her jockey, Mike Smith, who said after her last victory, in the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar, "She's just amazing."

And there's Shirreffs, who said earlier this week, "Zenyatta has just proven herself to be such an exceptional race horse."

There are only four horses willing to challenge Zenyatta in the $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, the fifth race on the 11-race card.

The intriguing part of the race figures to revolve around how quickly Zenyatta will need to chase down the expected pacesetter, Hystericalady, a 5-year-old mare who has won three consecutive Grade II stakes for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and came within a neck of beating Ginger Punch in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Zenyatta likes to unleash a powerful burst in the stretch. Two races back in the Vanity Handicap, she had to run down Silver Z, who opened a 12-length lead on the field.

Saturday's multiple stakes are, in a sense, a trial run for Oak Tree and many of the horses. The track is hosting the Breeders' Cup Oct. 24-25, and winners in five of the six Grade I races will earn automatic spots into the Breeders' Cup.

The other Grade I races are the $500,00 Goodwood at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up; the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon at 1 1/4 miles on the turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up; the $250,000 Oak Leaf at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies; the $250,000 Ancient Title at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up; and the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch at 1 1/4 miles on the turf for 3-year-olds and up.

Many of the horses running in the Grade I events are using the races as a final prep for the Breeders' Cup, and there are some good ones.

In the Ancient Title, Street Boss, with a five-race winning streak, will be trying to win his third consecutive Grade I sprint and establish himself as the overwhelming favorite for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

In the Goodwood, Well Armed and Mast Track, the second- and third-place finishers to Go Between in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, will seek to gain a Breeders' Cup Classic berth.

First post is 12:30 p.m. There will be a $1-million guaranteed Pick Six pool, and the first 25,000 fans receive a free Oak Tree polo shirt.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com