Undefeated Zenyatta, showing she’s ready for next month’s much-anticipated Apple Blossom Handicap, caught the outsider Dance to My Tune in deep stretch to register her 15th consecutive victory March 13 in the $250,000 Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita.

The late-running Zenyatta gave her fans a scare, as she often does, en route to her 1 1/4-length win. Last of eight at the top of the stretch, jockey Mike Smith opted not to take Zenyatta wide as he usually does, instead guiding her to the inside to launch her bid. Zenyatta weaved through traffic near mid-stretch and took aim at 50-1 shot Dance to My Tune.

Smith never uncocked his whip as Zenyatta got the job done in 1:48.20 for the 1 1/8-mile distance on the Pro-Ride main track. She recorded her ninth lifetime grade I victory for owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs.

The jockey said he wanted to avoid a taxing trip by not going wide with Zenyatta