Zenyatta overcame early trouble to beat the boys in the $5 million
Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, running her record to 14-0 in
the most impressive effort of her career.
The 5-year-old mare rallied from last after a poor start and
fought off Gio Ponti in the straight to win by a length at Santa
Anita, beating a loaded field of 11 males and becoming the first
female to win the Classic in its 26-year history.
"There are tears coming to my eyes. I can't believe it," said
trainer John Shirreffs, who eschewed a box seat to watch his star
horse from the rail near the finish line.
Quality Road was scratched at the starting gate after he
acted up and scraped his hind leg, delaying the start by several
minutes. Zenyatta initially turned sideways when it was time to
enter the gate, and all the commotion may have explained her poor
start.
She broke on the wrong foot and dropped well behind the
field, and U.S. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith let Zenyatta lope
along near the back -- her usual running style in the early going.
Rounding the final turn, Zenyatta still had a lot of ground
to make up on the leaders and her chances appeared bleak. Zenyatta
then made a bold inside move midway through the far turn, and Smith
angled her to the far outside as the crowd of 58,845 fans erupted.
Showing the grit of an undefeated champion, Zenyatta closed
relentlessly and denied Gio Ponti the upset. Smith pumped his left
arm as Zenyatta galloped past the grandstand for possibly the last
time in her sterling career.
Owners Jerry and Ann Moss said Zenyatta, named after the 1980
album "Zenyatta Mondata" by The Police, likely will go to the
breeding shed next year.
"I think she deserves to go out now with her record intact,"
Jerry Moss said.
Zenyatta ran 1 1/4 miles (2,000 meters) in 2:00.62 and paid
$7.60, $5.60 and $3.80 as the 5-2 favorite.
"She's sent from heaven," said Smith, who lovingly patted
Zenyatta's mane on the way to the gate. "She's incredible. I still
didn't hit all gears."
Gio Ponti returned $9.20 and $6.60, while Britain-bred Twice
Over paid $7 to show.
More than $1 million was bet to win on both Zenyatta and 3-1
second choice Rip Van Winkle, an Irish import who finished 10th.
Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird was fourth and Kentucky
Derby winner Mine That Bird ninth, extending his losing streak to
five straight since his 50-1 upset in May.
Zenyatta was the star of the show, prancing as she paraded
past the grandstand on her way to the gate. Fans held up pink signs
reading "Girl power! Go Zenyatta" and roared when the hometown hero
came through the tunnel and stepped onto the synthetic track.
Her presence gave a big boost to the signature event of the
two-day world championships, which was missing the year's other
star American female, Rachel Alexandra. The 3-year-old filly won
all eight of her races this year, including three against boys, one
in the Preakness Stakes. But Rachel Alexandra's owner, Jess
Jackson, shut her down for the season rather than run her on the
synthetic surface, which he dislikes.
Debate had raged in the week leading up to the Classic about
whether Zenyatta could handle an international field of males and
possibly snatch away U.S. Horse of the Year honors from Rachel
Alexandra. The argument only intensifies after her explosive
performance.
"If they don't reward her with Horse of the Year, it would be
a travesty, or at least co-Horses of the Year," said Bob Baffert,
who trained sixth-place finisher Richard's Kid. "It was the only
time in horse racing that I didn't mind getting beat in a big race.
Zenyatta made the Breeders' Cup, and the way she won! I've never
seen a crowd so captivated."
Smith endorsed Zenyatta for the top honor, last won by a
female in 2002 with Azeri, who also was ridden by Smith.
"She's horse of the decade by far," he said. "She should go
down as one of the greatest horses of all time."
Colonel John was fifth, followed by Richard's Kid, Awesome
Gem, Regal Ransom, Mine That Bird, Rip Van Winkle, Einstein and
Girolamo.
American horses earned eight victories over the two-day
championships, with Europe-based horses winning six, one better
than last year's total.
Irish import Goldikova successfully defended her title in the
$2 million Mile against 10 male rivals. Another Irish horse,
Conduit, repeated in the $3 million Turf, and Pounced won the $1
million Juvenile Turf.
Three geldings won races - California Flag in the $1 million
Turf Sprint; Dancing in Silks in the $2 million Sprint; and
Furthest Land in the $1 million Dirt Mile.
Vale of York, part of Godolphin Racing's European division,
won the $2 million Juvenile.
