Del Mar, CA (My Sportsbook) - Zenyatta, reigning champion older female, needed every inch of the 1 1/16 miles to win Sunday's $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar. The five-year-old remains undefeated in 12 career starts, including a second straight Hirsch Stakes.

Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Zenyatta and jockey Mike Smith came from last in the seven horse field to capture the race by a head over Anabaa's Creation.

The champion left from the outside post as Lethal Heat set the pace followed by Champagne Eyes and Anabaa's Creation. Zenyatta was about 13-lengths off the pace up the backstretch.

Trained by John Shirreffs, the favorite began her move around the turn for home, picking off rivals four wide as she gained ground. Coming off the turn Lethal Heat had a short lead with Dawn After Dawn second, Anabaa's Creation in third and Zenyatta joining the group.

At the top of the stretch Zenyatta still had ground to make up as Lethal Heat and Anabaa's Creation continued on the front end. Anabaa's Creation passed Lethal Heat with about 50 yards to go, but was unable to hold off Mike Smith and his 1-5 favorite.

Zenyatta caught Anabaa's Creation at the wire and was credited with a head victory over the mare and jockey Tyler Baze. Finishing third was Lethal Heat followed by Life Is Sweet, Dawn After Dawn, Tidal Dance and Champagne Eyes.

"It was close, it was really close," said Shirreffs who also trains Life Is Sweet.

The time for the Clement L. Hirsch was 1:43.24 on Del Mar's all-weather surface.

Briecat, Patricia's Gem and Hot n' Dusty were all scratched from the race Sunday morning.

"My hat's off to the competition. They ran an incredible race today," Smith commented after the win.

Zenyatta picks up $180,000 with her third win of 2009 to increase her career earnings to nearly $2.6 million. The mare is second to Rachel Alexandra in the current NTRA national poll.

Zenyatta opened this year with wins in the Milady and Vanity Handicaps after concluding 2008 by capturing the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic.

Zenyatta returned $2.40, $2.20 and $2.10. Anabaa's Creation paid $7.60 and $5.80, and Lethal Heat paid $5.20 to show.

A major topic of conservation in racing is the possible meeting of Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. Jess Jackson, co-owner of Rachel Alexandra, has been emphatic that his filly will not run in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, because of the track's synthetic surface.

Elsewhere in thoroughbred racing, Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito announced Sunday morning that two-time Whitney Handicap winner Commentator has been retired after finishing third in Saturday's renewal at Saratoga.

"He's officially retired. We'll let him go out on a high note," Zito said. "It would have been wonderful for him to win. Physically, there's nothing wrong with him other than his age. Considering what he has to do to run back in those Grade 1 races, we thought this was the best thing to do."