AZERI CLOSES IN ON PERFECT 10.

Byline: KEVIN MODESTI Horse Racing 

INGLEWOOD - Untouched by the pressure a human would feel in a week that could shape her legacy, the great racing mare Azeri walked quiet warm-up laps inside Hollywood Park's barn 50 Thursday morning, led by groom Miguel Soto and watched by trainer Laura De Seroux.

Because Azeri was calm, De Seroux was serene.

``The last time we were here, it took two of us to walk her, she was so overready and overeager to run,'' said De Seroux, recalling Azeri's mood as she prepared to end a seven-week layoff by winning the May 24 Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park. ``This is the Azeri of last year.

``Looking back at last year, going to the Breeders' Cup, despite the cold weather (in Chicago), all the people and all the press, she was in her most Zenlike state. And that's when she ran her best race. That makes me happy.''

Saturday afternoon, Azeri will run in her most important race since the Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup Distaff victory that clinched the first Horse of the Year title to be won by a female thoroughbred since Lady's Secret's in 1986.

Five-year-old Azeri has been assigned 127 pounds, nine more than the closest of six opponents, for the $250,000 Vanity Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares. She and jockey Mike Smith probably will be 1-5 morning-line favorites. Track executives have canceled show betting for fear that plunger action will cost them money.

If Azeri lives up to the odds, it will be her 10th consecutive victory, making her the first horse with a double-digit winning streak at the championship level since Cigar had 16 in a row in 1994-96 to tie Citation's record set in 1948-50.

Along with the attention that 10 in a row would bring, Azeri's handlers would receive louder calls from fans and reporters for the Annika Sorenstam of the species to be tested against male horses. In 2002, Azeri became Horse of the Year because she dominated the distaff division while the major male divisions produced no standout. In 2003, she'll probably have to do more to take the attention back from Triple Crown rivals Funny Cide and Empire Maker.

At stake is Azeri's chance of becoming the first female ever to repeat as Horse of the Year.

As De Seroux considered the 10-wins mark and the decisions ahead, she watched an assistant stop Azeri for a few seconds and feed her a peppermint candy.

``It's elite status, isn't it?'' De Seroux said of the milestone. ``That's why we're doing what we're doing, not rushing into any bullish tasks.''

Although Azeri's streak has been accomplished entirely in races against her own gender, it also has been accomplished entirely in races at the Grade I and II levels. Cigar, Citation and Personal Ensign - who won all 13 of her races in the 1980s - mixed in some sub-stakes-level starts. If Azeri hadn't dropped too far off the pace to catch Summer Colony in the 2002 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita, she would be 13 for 13 now.

Owner Michael Paulson, whose late father Allen owned Cigar, believes if Azeri keeps winning against females, a second nod from Horse of the Year voters would be hard to deny.

``We're going to focus on what's best for her, not on pleasing the sportswriters, and what's right for her is winning,'' Paulson said. ``The one time she lost, she was depressed for a week.''

Paulson said he has studied the careers of other top fillies and mares that challenged males and has concluded that even if they succeed, the battle often leaves them injured or worn out.

Paulson all but ruled out putting Azeri in the July 13 Hollywood Gold Cup, where she would face not only males but 1 1/4 miles for the first time and vows to wait to see how she looks Saturday and then be ``methodical'' in choosing her challenges.

Azeri, who won the Vanity by three lengths over Affluent and Starrer in 2002, would be the first to win it twice in a row since It's In the Air in 1979-80. It's hard to see why she would lose. She has won nine consecutive Grade I and II races. Her opponents have never won any.

Maybe Azeri is so calm because she can read the Daily Racing Form.

She's calm but competitive.

About 9 a.m. Thursday, Azeri and exercise rider Nuno Santos went to the Hollywood Park track for a gallop.

``When Nuno turned her to gallop,'' said De Seroux, who was astride a pony next to them, ``there was another horse in front of her, and she got tough. She's definitely not dull. She's right where you want a racehorse to be.''

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- Kevin Modesti