I really thought lightning couldn’t strike twice in one year, yet alone ever with two wonderful and fabulous filly & mares. But, just when you thought you saw everything with the three year old season that Rachel Alexandra had, Zenyatta adds to it with a powerful victory in the Breeder’s Cup Classic.
The same could be said with the Breeder’s Cup being held at Santa Anita Park for the second straight year too! Much like last year, my handicapping skills excelled on the “pro-ride” surface. But, this year it came quickly in the first race on Friday afternoon in the Marathon . My selection and play of Man of Iron set things up quickly with $300 in my account. Unfortunately, the remaining 13 races didn’t fare quite as well as that. But, overall my bankroll showed a profit for the second straight year at racing’s biggest event on the synthetic racing surface.
It seemed that it was the opposite sex (filly and mares) that had center stage on both racing days. Of course five out of the six races on Friday were for the distaffers. Two year old filly; She Be Wild had a tremendous rail skimming ride in the Juvenile Fillies race and quite possibly locked up year end honors in that category. Informed Decision showed that she is the best older female sprinter in the country outgunning Ventura to victory and is now perfect sprinting on polytrack. In the Ladies Classic, Life is Sweet came out of the shadow from her stablemate; Zenyatta and showed her affinity for Santa Anita’s track surface in victory. Again this year, after day one there was a trend beginning and an all too familiar one.
Saturday’s racing was a mixed bag of results for my wagering. I came ever so close in the day’s first two races from making lots of money. Had the wrong European runner in the Juvenile turf race and if Gotta Have Her wins the turf sprint, I see a payout much like Man of Iron plays on Friday. Once again, a sharp local runner who is a female and lover of Santa Anita’s downhill course came through. This race follows the form we’ve seen before, as does the dirt sprint race. The winner, although seemed to face less competition was victorious over a track he had race well over in the past.
I could not come up with either winners of the Juvenile or the Dirt Mile, but returning champions Goldikova & Conduit remembered Santa Anita well from last year and now are two time repeat winners in their categories. But, all the previous 13 races from this year’s Breeder’s Cup could not compare to what was about to happen in the Breeder’s Cup Classic.
The loading of the starting gate was most eventful with Quality Road literality losing his mind and having to be scratched. At the break, Zenyatta dropped way back as the twelve other runners made their way on the pro-ride surface. Mike Smith then guided Zenyatta masterfully through the pack and clear after occurring traffic in mid stretch. Then with her powerful kick that we’ve seen so many times before, Zenyatta roared past the “boys” with a breathtaking victory and a record in the history books. She became the first female horse to ever win the Breeder’s Cup Classic and to remain undefeated, a perfect 14 for 14. Everything that her connections planned for her came true. It was another defining for the sport this year by a filly, something we rarely see. The debate will go on for months on whose better; Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta. But for now, we’ll savior the moment on the wonderful and history making performance by the undefeated Zenyatta.
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