Undefeated Mare Zenyatta Wins Breeders' Cup Classic

Print Email Add to Favorites RSS

Perhaps the Horse of the Year title is not a foregone conclusion. Zenyatta gave the crowd what they waited for--and the patrons responded by cheering, clapping, and waving--as she ran her unbeaten streak to 14 with a magnificent performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 7 at Santa Anita.

Zenyatta looked uncomfortable for the first 200 yards and was last the first time by the stands, but she was flying down the stretch the second time and rolled by Gio Ponti to win the $5-million race.

Most voters had Rachel Alexandra penciled in as Horse of the Year but Zenyatta's victory over males has re-opened that argument.

Zenyatta was a bit reluctant to load, but the assistant starters had no problem getting her in the gate once they locked arms behind the big daughter of Street Cry and coaxed her forward.

The same could not be said for Quality Road, who became unruly and started bucking. The assistant starters were unable to load the colt until putting a blindfold on him, but he continued rearing. Jockey John Velazquez jumped off and Quality Road kicked the front of the gate open. An assistant starter grabbed him but he began wheeling and bucking because he still had the blindfold on. Finally he settled down but was scratched.

All of the members of the field, except for Richard's Kid and Awesome Gem, were in the gate when Quality Road acted up. The runners were backed out and reloaded with ease.

Regal Ransom broke like a shot and was throttled over from the 11 post by Richard Migliore. He was followed by Einsten and Rip Van Winkle as the field ran a quarter in :24.16 and a half-mile in :47.88. Zenyatta was about 10 lengths from the lead as the field was heading down the backstretch, with Regal Ransom still on the lead and Rip Van Winkle in second. They ran six furlongs in 1:11.88.

As they began cornering for home, Ramon Dominguez, who had a ground-saving trip on the rail, had Gio Ponti on the move and he found a hole and hit it as Summer Bird moved out a bit. Dominquez then split horses and Gio Ponti hit the front full of run. But Mike Smith had asked Zenyatta to commence her run through the turn as well and she moved off the rail and split horses out in the middle of the track.

While Gio Ponti had opened up a bit of daylight, Zenyatta was simply gobbling up the ground, and as the crowd screamed during the final 100 yards, she moved by to get the historic win by a length.

Zenyatta captured the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic last year for her ninth straight win. In her start prior to the 2009 Breeders' Cup, she won the Lady's Secret Stakes at Santa Anita, that victory, her 13th, tying the modern-day mark set by Personal Ensign.

This year, owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Schirreffs entered Zenyatta in both the Classic and Ladies Classic but opted to meet males for the first time in the Classic.

"There are tears coming to my eyes," Shirreffs said. "I can't believe it. She is a great, great filly. She is all heart. The way the crowd took to her was just amazing. They cheered for her; they love her. What a wonderful relationship."

Gio Ponti finished second, followed by Twice Over and Summer Bird. Zenyatta paid $7.60, $5.60, and $3.80. Gio Ponti returned $9.20 and $6.60, and Twice Over was worth $7.

Zenyatta was bred in Kentucky by Maverick Production from the Kris S. mare Vertigineux. She became the first filly to win the Classic.

(Orginally posted on www.BloodHorse.com.)

See more photos from the Breeders' Cup in TheHorse.com Photo Store.

 

Buy these photos.