Unbeaten Zenyatta storms to Classic victory

By Alicia Wincze - awincze@herald-leader.com

ARCADIA, Calif. — She had done nothing wrong a day in her life, yet the criticism still lingered much to her connections' dismay.

After months of clamoring for Zenyatta to face males, there were some who wondered if the champion mare would be up to the task. And if the boys didn't get her, there was the question of whether the 11/4-mile distance she was traveling for the first time would.

Ultimately, only she could provide the answers.

And with every monstrous stride that came from her dancer-like legs in Saturday's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, Zenyatta crushed the few lingering doubts.

The 26th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park came to an emotional climax as undefeated Zenyatta unleashed her famous closing kick in the lane to collar four-time Grade I winner Gio Ponti by a length and become the first female runner to win the Classic.

As the 5-year-old, 17-hand daughter of Street Cry crossed the wire to the deafening roar of 58,845 fans, she crossed over into the annals of racing history.

If the Classic becomes her career finale, Zenyatta would go to the breeding shed with a perfect 14-for-14 career record that includes eight Grade I victories.

Not only has she stamped herself as the best older horse in the country of either sex, but she is now North America's richest female runner of all time with a bankroll of $5,474,580, passing Azeri's mark of $4,079,820.

She also became the first to win two different Breeders' Cup races, after she took the Ladies' Classic a year ago.

"We're over the moon, you know, what can you say," beamed Jerry Moss, who co-owns Zenyatta along with his wife Ann. "We had all kinds of opinions on whether we did the right thing or not, or whatever it was. I mean, we knew we wanted to do this for her to prove what we thought that she deserved this chance. She just performed so beautifully."

With 10 Grade I winners among the 13 entrants, the Classic was the most daunting test Zenyatta had faced in her career — and that task got more difficult before she left the gate.

As the 13-horse field was loading, Florida Derby winner Quality Road became unruly, bucking repeatedly in and outside the starting gate to the point he had to be a late scratch because of minor cuts on his legs.

The delay forced the field to reload, and when it was Zenyatta's turn to go back in, she became obstinate herself and then she broke as slowly as she ever has in her career.

"I was a little worried when the gates opened she wouldn't move period, and she didn't," said jockey Mike Smith, who has been aboard Zenyatta for 11 of her 14 starts. "I thought oh, God, no, not today. She actually spotted a length or two leaving there. I had to hit her out of there."

Once away, Zenyatta settled into her customary spot near the rear of the field, edging past Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird on the first turn and traveling easily while expected pacesetter Regal Ransom cut fractions of :24.16 for a quarter-mile and :47.88 through the first half with Rip Van Winkle just outside in second.

As Regal Ransom gave it up around the turn for home, turf star Gio Ponti began launching his rally from ninth after saving ground along the rail.

The bay son of Tale of the Cat charged to the front a furlong out, but by that point, Zenyatta had found her stride, swinging out after advancing along the inside and taking dead aim at the pack in front of her.

"At the half-mile pole I thought oh, God, they're stacked up," Smith said. "About that time a horse eased out and pushed everyone out."

Though Smith initially looked like he was going to send Zenyatta between Group I winner Twice Over and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird, he angled out his star mare further and let her reel in her foes with her incomparable acceleration, hitting the wire in 2:00.62.

"When she got outside and changed her leads and ... where she dropped her head, I just got so excited," said her trainer John Shirreffs, who also saddled Life Is Sweet to victory in Friday's Ladies' Classic. "Then as she crossed the finish line in front, it was just an unbelievably emotional experience to have her do this.

"She is a great, great filly. She is all heart."

Gio Ponti held for second, probably earning an Eclipse Award for champion older male as well as turf male. The gritty Twice Over was 11/4 lengths back in third with Summer Bird fourth.

Christophe Clement, trainer of Gio Ponti, said "The horse ran a great race but he couldn't beat the winner. She's a freak."

The only lingering question for Zenyatta: Was her Classic triumph enough to overtake super filly Rachel Alexandra for Horse of the Year honors?

"It's not really up to us. We just brought the horse here, she ran her race and she won," Jerry Moss said.

Everything else for her has become a moot point.

"She's straight from heaven. She just is," Ann Moss said. "She's a great, great gift. And every moment is just a pleasure."

Saturday's winners

Juvenile Turf: Pounced

Turf Sprint: California Flag

Sprint: Dancing in Silks

Juvenile: Vale of York

Mile: Goldikova

Dirt Mile: Furthest Land