Zenyatta Claims Dramatic 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic

by Patricia Woo | Nov 9 2009

The 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic was run Saturday, Nov. 7 at Santa Anita Park, a race that was the highlight of the two-day World Championships. The $5M Gr. 1 race featured 13 Group or Grade 1 winners going head-to-head over 1 ¼ miles, and the lineup included Kentucky Derby champion Mine That Bird, Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Summer Bird and last year's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic victor Zenyatta in her first start against males. A race full of drama from beginning to end, the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic was one for the history books.

The drama started when Florida Derby champion Quality Road refused to load in the gate. Twelve minutes later, Quality Road was scratched due to a scraped hind leg incurred during the incident and the race finally got underway. Speedster Regal Ransom broke from the gate first under Richard Migliore with Einstein (trained by Helen Pitts) and Rip Van Winkle (one of several European invaders) in hot pursuit. Sent off as the race favorite, Zenyatta, with Mike Smith aboard, broke a step behind everyone else and was 10 lengths back of the leaders as the race moved down the backstretch. Turf expert Gio Ponti, ridden by Ramon Dominguez along the rail for most of the race, then made his move; he charged to the front as the field turned for home.

But Zenyatta had recovered and was unleashing her trademark finishing kick - a move she had relied on heavily to win many of her previous 13 straight races. And though Gio Ponti was flying toward the finish, the Street Cry mare rolled past him in the final strides, winning the race in electrifying fashion. The winning time over the Pro-Ride surface was 2:00.62. Rounding out the order of finish: Twice Over, Summer Bird, Colonel John, Richard's Kid, Awesome Gem, Regal Ransom, Mine That Bird, Rip Van Winkle, Einstein and Girolamo.

Zenyatta's trainer, John Shirreffs, was beside himself with excitement after the race. “I can't believe it. She is a great, great filly,” he said. “She is all heart.”

Jockey Mike Smith was in agreement and had nothing but praise for his mount. As the winning duo was making their bid for the lead, Smith noted: “[Zenyatta] started pricking her ears and looking at the crowd, and I got after her a little bit, and she went on. And she still went, believe it or not, well within herself. She was pricking her ears and galloped out. She didn't even take a breath after the race was over. It's just incredible.”

The Kentucky-bred Zenyatta becomes the first female horse to ever win the Breeders' Cup Classic. She also surpasses Personal Ensign's incredible 13-13-0-0 record with this victory, and will retire from racing with a perfect 14-14-0-0 record.

In other Breeders' Cup news, Goldikova defended her title in the Breeders' Cup Mile, becoming only the fourth horse to do so. Conduit also repeated in the Breeders' Cup Turf, rallying from last. In a shocking Breeders' Cup Sprint, race favorite and expected winner Zensational could not overcome his extreme inside post and finished fifth; the winner by a mere nose was 25-1 longs hot Dancing in Silks, who, along with Crown of Thorns, Cost of Freedom and Gayego, were involved in a blanket finish.

The Breeders' Cup may be over for this year but there's still plenty of excitement to be had; get in on all the horse racing action at the Bodog Racebook!