Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

ARCADIA, Calif., — Zenyatta proved on Saturday at Santa Anita Park that no matter what the obstacle, she can overcome it. The Street Cry filly came from last in an eight-horse field to make at least that wide a move to run down the speed to claim the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic and remain unbeaten in nine lifetime races.

Zenyatta broke last as Bear Now raced Santa Teresita from the gate to grab the lead before they reached the line the first time. Bear Now kept the lead into the first turn with Santa Teresita pressing and followed by Hystericalady, Carriage Trail, Ginger Punch, Music Note, Cocoa Beach and Zenyatta.

Jockey Mike Smith kept Zenyatta lopping behind the rest as the field hit the half-mile :48.06 seconds. Bear Now still was having her way on the lead with Santa Teresita to her outside at the three-eighths pole in 1:11.08. Smith shook the reins at Zenyatta at that point and she stared to gather in the field.

Midway through the second turn Zenyatta was five wide and had put her game face on and meant business. She had the lead by the quarter pole and the others were scrambling to stay with her. Cocoa Beach found a hole on the rail and was in pursuit. Music Note came out of the middle of the pack but she could not keep up with Zenyatta.

Smith still was using a hand ride on Zenyatta while the other jockeys were working feverishly with their whips. Zenyatta crossed the line in 1:46.85 for the mile-and-an-eighth race. Cocoa Beach was second and Music Note was third. Carriage Trail checked in fourth.

Smith, who also rode 2-year-old Stardom Bound to a win earlier on the card, was full of praise for his filly. “She’s just amazing.  As soon as we got away in good order, I knew it was good.  I knew (her run) was there any time I asked her.

“I’ve never seen a horse go past other horses like this filly can. She sets herself up to come to them, and she just blazes by them. That was a field of world-class fillies. I’ve been on other horses that have speed and can pass other horses, but none like her. I don’t know if she has a bottom.”

Trainer John Shirreffs couldn’t believe what was happening. “Winning a Breeders’ Cup race with a filly like this is just an amazing experience. You watch these races, but to actually be a participant is fantastic. And then to win with a filly like this, the feeling I have right now is something that’s hard to put into words. I don’t even think I can tell you what I was thinking as I watched the race. I don’t know if I can explain how I feel. Isn’t she great?”

The jockeys on the second and third-place finishers were full of praise for the winner. Ramon Dominguez said, “I was just second best today. I was real proud of the way she ran. I felt the winner moving on the outside. I knew she was going to be circling horses. I just tried to save ground and give my horse her best shot, but she was just second best.”

 Javier Castellano said, “I had the perfect trip – right where I wanted to be. I was following horses all the way around and happy with my spot. At the quarter-pole, I wanted to get the jump and I did. But then I saw the big filly go by. She just went. She was much the best today. My filly ran great, but we got beat.”

Saeed bin Suroor, who trains Cocoa Beach and Music Note, was proud of both of them. – “We’re happy with how they ran. That is a star filly they ran behind. It’s hard to beat a horse like that. They both ran very well.”

The Ladies’ Day portion of the Breeders’ Cup races drew a crowd 31,257.

Breeders’ Cup President/CEO Greg Avioli said, “The horse racing fans of Southern California and sports fans around the world responded enthusiastically to the new format for Championship Friday. This was a day of amazing performances on the track, led by Zenyatta’s spectacular Ladies’ Classic, and a perfect start to the 25th Breeders’ Cup World Championships.”