Gulfstream Park added the name of the great western-based racemare Zenyatta to the list of superstar nominees whose fees have been waived to the 2010 Donn Handicap.

            Zenyatta joins the 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra as well as classic winners Mine That Bird and Summer Bird and Florida Derby winner/Saratoga record-holder Quality Road as horses whose Donn candidacy has been paid for by Gulfstream Park.

            “The Donn has been a major stepping-stone toward the Dubai World Cup since the World Cup’s inception in 1996,” said Gulfstream Park President and General Manager Bill Murphy.

            “But, in addition to its undeniable link to the World Cup, our race would also provide the stage that Jess Jackson is looking for when talking about his ‘Rachel’ meeting Zenyatta: We have a dirt racecourse, a neutral site, and a full field of horses would be in prospect.

            “Because of these reasons, our race, and our racetrack, provide the perfect venue for that meeting.”

            Zenyatta has only one career race off California’s synthetic surfaces (winning the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn) and Rachel Alexandra has only one race on synthetic footing (a victory in a Keeneland allowance race last October). Neither has run at Gulfstream Park. Nor have Mine That Bird and Summer Bird.

            Quality Road took the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park after losing his debut here earlier this year.

            The 2010 Donn Handicap will be run Saturday, Feb. 6, the day before the Super Bowl, which will be played about nine miles to the west of Gulfstream Park, at Dolphin Stadium.

            While the stakes schedule has yet to be finalized, Mr. Murphy indicated an interest in boosting the  $500,000 Donn purse “if circumstances warrant,” he said.

            Much as the Florida Derby has become the leading barometer for success in the Triple Crown races – with Big Brown (2008) and Barbaro (2006) doubling in the Florida and Kentucky Derbys in recent years – the Donn has produced five winners of the $6 million Dubai World Cup.

           World Cup winners who competed in the Donn are Cigar (1996), Silver Charm (1998), Captain Steve (2001), Roses in May (2005) and Invasor (2007). Harlan’s Holiday, the Donn winner of 2003, was second in the World Cup five weeks later.

            No filly or mare has yet to win the World Cup.

            Since 2007 the Dubai World Cup has been run the same day as the Florida Derby, which is set for March 27, 2010.