Zenyatta is still perfect after coasting to an authoritative victory in the Grade I, $500,000 Apple Blossom Invitational on Friday at Oaklawn, her 16th consecutive victory.

The reigning two-time Eclipse champion older female and winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic last fall hasn't been defeated since she launched her career in late 2007. Her record now matches the accomplishments of 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation and 1995-96 Horse of the Year Cigar, who each won 16 consecutive races at an elite level while based in North America.

Peppers Pride retired in 2009 with a perfect 19-for-19 mark and Hallowed Dreams was a winner of 16 straight, but both females did the majority of their best running against state-restricted competition. Mister Frisky won his first 13 races in Puerto Rico, then rattled off three more stakes wins in California before tasting defeat. The Asian sprinter Silent Witness won 17 consecutive races earlier this decade.

Zenyatta, owner of the latest streak, has made it look all too easy. The longshot Be Fair, breaking from the rail, sprang to the lead out of the gate and allowed rider Calvin Borel to dictate a moderate pace, ticking off splits of :24.07 and :48.19 early. Meanwhile Zenyatta, under regular rider Mike Smith, waltzed out of the gate and settled in her customary position at the rear of the field, spotting the leader about 13 lengths down the backside.

The 6-year-old began to move up entering the far turn and swept by the field on the outside to take the lead at the top of the stretch, drawing away under a hand ride with her ears pricked to hit the wire 4 1/4 in front.

Zenyatta was making her first start outside of California and her first start on a conventional dirt surface since the 2008 Apple Blossom, which she also won in dominant fashion. She picked up $300,000 for her latest victory, pushing her career earnings to $5,924,580. She already owned the North American record for earnings by a female runner.