Sixteen years in the past, horse racing was at considered one of its periodic upticks in nationwide publicity as followers had been drawn to the exploits of an unbeaten star racemare based mostly in Southern California, and by the point the 27th Breeders’ Cup World Championships arrived at Churchill Downs, pleasure was at a fever pitch.
Zenyatta, a 6-year-old daughter of Avenue Cry owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and educated by John Shirreffs, had emerged on the scene throughout early 2008 with a string of emphatic victories, primarily at California tracks, and earned her first Eclipse Award at season’s finish after taking the Breeders’ Cup Girls’ Traditional (now Distaff) at Santa Anita Park, her ninth win with no defeat.
The following season was even higher – 2009 was horse racing’s “12 months of the feminine.” Zenyatta gained 4 extra stakes races main as much as a return to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup, whereas 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra went undefeated within the Midwest and East en path to Horse of the Yr honors.
On the 2009 World Championships, the Mosses and Shirreffs entered Zenyatta within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional somewhat than bid for a repeat Girls’ Traditional win, and in one of the crucial memorable races within the occasion’s historical past, she unleashed a livid rally from properly again within the discipline to win going away over a number of Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti.
Going 14-for-14 by means of three seasons and defeating males within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional left Zenyatta with nothing left to show, to say the least – however her connections introduced her again for one final hurrah in 2010. She rolled by means of the spring and summer time with 5 extra graded stakes victories, successful the Apple Blossom Handicap for a second time (her solely two journeys exterior of California earlier than the 2010 Breeders’ Cup) and the Vainness Handicap, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, and the Girl’s Secret Stakes every for the third consecutive time again house.
By this time, fan curiosity in “the Queen” soared, as racegoers younger and previous introduced indicators, clothes, and a various assortment of trinkets to the monitor to indicate their fandom each time Zenyatta ran.
On the finish of October, the storied “60 Minutes” aired a particular on Zenyatta titled “The Finest Racehorse Ever?” In it, correspondent Bob Simon summed up the historic significance of what lay forward on the 2010 Breeders’ Cup when he noticed that Zenyatta had the prospect to grow to be the primary nice American athlete to retire undefeated since boxer Rocky Marciano within the Fifties. Corridor of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who took the mount for Zenyatta’s third begin again in April 2008 and by no means relinquished it, informed Simon, “Given the chance, I feel we may see one thing unimaginable” at Churchill Downs.
A formidable discipline awaited in Louisville in an try to deny Zenyatta a 20th straight victory within the Traditional. Preakness Stakes winner Lookin At Fortunate, Woodward Stakes winner High quality Street, and Jockey Membership Gold Cup winner Haynesfield had been all lined up, after which there was Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s homebred Blame. The Arch colt had gained eight of his first 12 profession begins with two seconds and two thirds and was 3-for-4 at Churchill Downs, together with wins within the prestigious Clark and Stephen Foster Handicaps. He had additionally gained the historic Whitney Handicap at Saratoga earlier within the 12 months earlier than working second within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
Regardless of all of these credentials, Zenyatta was the post-time even-money favourite within the Traditional on Nov. 7. When the sphere broke, Zenyatta instantly was taken again by Smith and settled in her customary place properly off of the tempo. By the point the sphere straightened out within the backstretch, Zenyatta was greater than 14 lengths behind pacesetter First Dude. She remained final of 12 by means of six furlongs, and solely when the sphere hit the far flip did Zenyatta start to maneuver, saving floor alongside the within by means of many of the far flip and steadying briefly behind a faltering High quality Street on the quarter pole. All of the whereas, Blame was sitting comfortably in midpack beneath Garrett Gomez, and he started his personal rally at roughly the identical time – however with far much less work to do.
Blame discovered a gap in early stretch and moved as much as problem Lookin At Fortunate, whereas Smith moved Zenyatta off of the rail and 6 broad to safe clear working room. What commenced after that was unquestionably one of the crucial thrilling race finishes of this century.
Feelings ran excessive after Blame ended Zenyatta’s 19-race successful streak by a head. Smith blamed himself in a tearful post-race press convention, saying, “She’s my all the things, she’s simply superb. I simply want I might have been within the race a bit bit earlier. … It hurts greater than I can clarify.”
Blame went on to obtain the Eclipse Award as champion older male and would retire as properly after the Breeders’ Cup, banking greater than $4.3 million in his profession.
Zenyatta, nevertheless, took high honors for 2010 as she was named Horse of the Yr on the Eclipse Awards to accompany her third award as champion older feminine. She made a number of appearances earlier than adoring followers within the following months in Kentucky and California, and now resides at Lane’s Finish Farm as a broodmare. Inarguably one of the crucial well-liked racehorses of the 21st Century, Zenyatta gained much more admirers after her solely profession defeat. She was voted into the Racing Corridor of Fame in 2016.
*** This function was initially printed in 2020 and has been up to date ***
