Breeders' Cup Flashback: Tiznow

By Mary Cage

“Tiznow wins it for America!”

Tiznow
Photo by Terri Cage

How fitting Tom Durkin’s words were as the gallant Tiznow crossed the wire in front in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). The intrepid Thoroughbred had won the same race in similar fashion the previous year at Churchill Downs and in both circumstances, the colossal Tiznow had denied international superstars victories in his nation – the nation in which he ruled the horse racing world.

Interestingly, Tiznow never went off at odds under 6-1 in his two Breeders’ Cup excursions. In the 2000 Classic, the grand horse was sent off at odds of 9-1, coming off a victory in the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (GII). Not even the European superstar, the great Giant’s Causeway, loaded into the gate at odds lower than 6-1. Rather, all the money was on that year’s Kentucky Derby (GI) victor, Fusaichi Pegasus.

But it was Tiznow and Giant’s Causeway that put on the greatest show. Breaking just inside of Giant’s Causeway on the far end of the starting gate, Tiznow broke sharply under the Twin Spires and was sent to the vanguard by Chris McCarron, settling just to the outside of Albert the Great. His dark, intimidating frame grew even with the Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) winner as they crossed the finish line for the first time, taking the lead as the star-studded field of thirteen entered the clubhouse turn.

Tiznow continued to lead narrowly as the classy Thoroughbreds galloped into the backstretch. As Tiznow set an initial half-mile in 47.55, Albert the Great joined him yet again on his inside, taking the lead by a small margin. Tiznow remained comfortable as he galloped alongside Albert the Great, a few paths off the rail. Just behind him sat the liver chestnut frame of Giant’s Causeway, whose legs carried him forward, closer to the battle that would be forever etched in Breeders’ Cup history.

Tiznow, at ease beneath McCarron, held the lead as the field turned for home, his long, dark legs stretching over the ground in lengthy strides as the Breeders’ Cup Classic contingent arrived at the top of the stretch. To his outside, the European monster set his sights on the lead that Tiznow had, growing closer to him as the wire neared. As they reached the final furlong marker, Giant’s Causeway was within a length of Tiznow and shortly, the two were neck and neck, their noses bobbing as they raced side by side.

Giant’s Causeway had every chance to get by, but Tiznow dug in, as his heart, and not just McCarron, urged his nose back in front. As his dark mane flowed, his face found itself ahead of Giant’s Causeway as he lunged forward, fighting for the victory. In the words of Tom Durkin, “Tiznow prevails!”

Tiznow was not only awarded the Eclipse Award for 2000 Champion Three-Year-Old Male, but also Horse of the Year. He began the next year with a victory in the San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (GII) before finishing second in the Strub Stakes (GII). Following a romp in the Santa Anita Handicap (GI), Tiznow was injured and did not return to the races until his third-place finish in the Woodward Stakes (GI). After yet another third-place result, Tiznow reached the final start of his career, returning to the stage that had defined his career: the Breeders’ Cup. This time, however, it was not the shadow of the Twin Spires that loomed over him; it was the shadow of the immense grandstand of Belmont Park.

Tiznow had landed in New York, the state in which less than two months earlier, a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center had left our country mourning. Belmont Park was just miles from Ground Zero and reminders of 9/11 were everywhere. America needed the presence of a true American champion, an American Thoroughbred that could prove to be a hero on that autumn day in New York.

The American horses started off strong on the Breeders’ Cup card, but as the feature race, the Classic, approached, things began going downhill for the United States horses. In the three races that preceded the Classic, European-based Thoroughbreds had gathered victories. It seemed it would be the same in the Classic – the Europeans had an assembly of three horses, including not only the menacing group one-winning Galileo, but also the winner of that year’s Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (GI) – one of the most prestigious races in the world – in Sakhee. It seemed as if Tiznow, coming off two losses, had lost his edge, but what better horse to look to than Tiznow, the reigning champion of the Classic, to become America’s hero?

Breaking from the tenth gate of thirteen on the far side of the expansive track, Tiznow inched closer to the lead under McCarron as the field raced through the opening stages of the renowned event. Towering over his rivals, the dark Thoroughbred found himself in third as the field entered the backstretch, galloping about two lengths off the leader. Another two lengths back was Sakhee – the Arc winner. Tiznow proceeded to run just off the leaders, comfortable in his position on the outside. As Albert the Great led through the far turn, Tiznow inched closer to him, grasping second as the track curved beneath his hooves. To his outside, Sakhee began to grow nearer, threatening to outrun Tiznow.

He did. As the field turned for home, Sakhee was ahead of Tiznow, who was in between horses as they arrived at the top of the stretch. Tiznow appeared as if he was destined to finish in the money, but not carry the blanket of flowers into the winner’s circle. That honor seemed to belong to Sakhee, the European. It appeared as if America would be kept from victory.

But the valiant Tiznow dug in, displaying his sheer determination. Suddenly, he was even with the Arc winner, stretching out his neck in tenacity. Against all odds, he stuck his nose in front, crossing the wire with a nose advantage to become the only horse to ever win the Classic twice. To the roar of the crowd, Tiznow had become an American hero. The imposing horse had denied the foreign horses another Breeders’ Cup victory and had shown America that with perseverance, you can overcome all odds.

The end of Tiznow’s career was not the end of his reign. The effect of the magnificent horse can still be felt in the Thoroughbred racing industry, as Tiznow is one of the top sires in the nation, having sired nine grade/group one winners. Regardless of his successful stud career, the striking stallion will forever be fondly remembered by racing fans, as Tiznow is a true American inspiration, champion, and hero.  

Tiznow at WinStar Farm
Photo by Terri Cage

Breeders' Cup Flashback: Dreaming of Anna

By Mary Cage

Racing fans love stories that tug on the heartstrings, especially when those stories are coupled with a gritty, yet dainty and appealing athlete. Make that athlete a horse that can overcome obstacles and make its connections’ dreams come true and you have a story that will leave fans captivated. But the best part is when one of these stories is true, and Dreaming of Anna’s story is.

Dreaming of Anna was destined for success and this was clear even as a foal. A fierce little chestnut, Dreaming of Anna’s bloodlines – by successful sire Rahy and out of a multiple stakes-winning mare – hinted that she would be something special. A homebred for Frank Calebrese, this precocious filly was named after Calebrese’s deceased sister, Anna Anderson.

She immediately lived up to expectations. Debuting at her connections’ home track, Arlington Park, Dreaming of Anna led from start to finish in a four and one-half furlong maiden special weight over the dirt surface, finishing four lengths clear of her competitors. Bred for turf – her dam, after all, was a half-sister to the 2004 Champion Turf Male, Kitten’s Joy – Dreaming of Anna made her stakes debut on the grass next out, romping in the Tippett Stakes at Colonial Downs.

The plan was to run Dreaming of Anna in the Washington Breeders’ Cup Lassie Stakes (GIII), but she scratched out of that race due to a sloppy track, opting for a race a week later at Woodbine instead, the Summer Stakes (GIII). Here, the surface was to her liking; she would be running over a firm turf course. However, she had to face the males, something quite rare among two-year-old fillies. In fact, she was the sole filly even nominated to the Summer Stakes.

Facing the males was not a problem for Dreaming of Anna. She easily defeated them by 3 ¼ lengths. It was on to the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs below the iconic Twin Spires.

Dreaming of Anna’s trainer, Wayne Catalano, had never won a Breeders’ Cup race. In fact, prior to Dreaming of Anna, he’d only had one Breeders’ Cup starter: Tamweel, fourth-place finisher in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI). As for Dreaming of Anna’s owner, Frank Calabrese, Breeders’ Cup day happened to be his seventy-eighth birthday. Needless to say, it was a big day.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) was the first race on the 2006 Breeders’ Cup card. Facing the best two-year-old fillies in the nation, as well as a foreign invader, the quick, light-footed Dreaming of Anna had a tall task ahead of her, but despite the high stakes, there was a certain something about this beautiful filly: she was fierce.

Dreaming of Anna sprinted out of the starting gate as if she had been shot from a cannon, immediately going to the lead with Rene Douglas aboard. Appealing Zophie caught up to her as they passed the finish line for the first time, but Dreaming of Anna maintained her lead as the field rounded the clubhouse turn, racing several paths off the rail.

Dreaming of Anna held a half-length advantage over Appealing Zophie as the fourteen fillies entered the backstretch, setting an initial quarter-mile in 23.72. Calebrese’s homebred remained at ease as she led her rivals down the backstretch, her chestnut legs carrying her over the track effortlessly as Rene Douglas sat aboard her. Through a half-mile in 47.96, Dreaming of Anna continued to lead comfortably, keeping a length between her and the others.

The others seemed to be catching up with her as the field traveled around the far turn, but Dreaming of Anna kicked clear at the top of the stretch, holding off the charge of her opponents. Octave grew closer to her and despite every chance to gallop past her, Dreaming of Anna dug in, using everything within her to repel the challenge of Octave. With impressive acceleration, the dainty chestnut filly drew clear, galloping effortlessly to a 1 ½-length victory.

Dreaming of Anna was honored as 2006 Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and though she never won another grade one event, she went on to have a very successful career on the turf, winning four graded stakes and two ungraded stakes, as well as placing in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (GI).

Though Dreaming of Anna’s racing career is over, we don’t have to let go of her just yet. She is now enjoying life as a broodmare and her first foal, an up-and-coming stakes-placed filly, is in training for the same connections as her dam. Her name? All Her Class – just like the call Trevor Denman made as Dreaming of Anna coasted to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies: “Dreaming of Anna digs deep. She calls on all her class…”

We can only hope that Dreaming of Anna’s offspring are at least half as tenacious as she was.

Breeders' Cup Flashback: Ghostzapper

Not many people would believe you if you told them that a lightly-raced four-year-old that had finished second in the previous year’s King’s Bishop Stakes (GI) prior to winning the Vosburgh Stakes (GI) would win that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). They certainly wouldn’t believe you when he ran away with that year’s Tom Fool Handicap (GII). They’d probably agree that he had a good shot at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI), but the Classic? No way, this horse was a sprinter. Only, he wasn’t.

This so-called “sprinter” was Ghostzapper. He was without a doubt highly successful at sprinting distances, but when the colt loaded into the starting gate for the 2004 Philip H. Iselin Breeders’ Cup Handicap (GII), he’d yet to run beyond seven furlongs. This time, he’d be racing at the distance of nine furlongs.

Ghostzapper soundly proved that he was not solely a sprinter, rating off the lead before galloping to a dominant 10 ¾-length victory in a final time of 1:47.66. Three weeks later, he started in yet another nine-furlong race, this time against grade one company in the Woodward Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park. This time, Ghostzapper’s victory would be a hard-fought one. The four-year-old prevailed by a neck over Saint Liam and was thus on his way to the Breeders’ Cup – and not the Sprint. Ghostzapper was headed to the Classic.

In horse racing, usually a horse that was so brilliant as a sprinter wouldn’t be successful at ten furlongs, especially against the caliber of horses contesting in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  But Ghostzapper wasn’t your usual horse.

Sent off as the favorite in a field of thirteen, Ghostzapper broke sharply from the rail and immediately went to the lead with Javier Castellano aboard. Carrying Stronach Stables’ silks to the front of the field that featured seven grade one winners excluding himself, Ghostzapper drifted off the rail as Roses in May drew even with him.

Ghostzapper regained a definite lead as the field rounded the clubhouse turn, setting an initial quarter in 23.42. He continued to lead down the backstretch, appearing comfortable beneath Castellano as he recorded a half-mile in 47 seconds flat. As Roses in May proceeded to pressure him, Ghostzapper began to be urged by Castellano as many of the superstars in the field raced after him.

But despite their rallies, Ghostzapper made it clear at the top of the stretch that the Classic belonged to him. His blinkers-clad face – resembling that of a masked superhero – led the field into the homestretch and with each stride, the bay colt drew away from his rivals. He continued to lengthen his advantage on the field, proving his supremacy as he galloped towards the wire. In a show of dominance, Ghostzapper crossed the wire 3 lengths in front in a spectacular final time of 1:59.02, which was not only a track record, but a Breeders’ Cup record. In fact, he had completed the ten furlongs in a time that was faster than that of Secretariat’s Kentucky Derby record.

Ghostzapper not only captured 2004 Horse of the Year, but was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame. Beginning to prove himself as a sire, Ghostzapper could have an effect on the racing industry for years to come. Whether he grows into a highly productive sire or not, Ghostzapper will always be looked upon as one of the most brilliantly versatile horses of all-time, as well as one of the greatest Breeders’ Cup champions of all-time.

Breeders' Cup Flashback: Lady's Secret

­­­­I am in full-on Breeders’ Cup mode. In about a month, I will be amidst the greatest Thoroughbred athletes in the world, watching them gallop before the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California at Santa Anita Park. Our last memory of the Breeders’ Cup is Drosselmeyer dancing home to a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI), earning Mike Smith redemption for his loss aboard Zenyatta in the same race a year prior, a race in which the great mare had recorded her greatest triumph. That triumph came at a track none other than Santa Anita.

This fall, for the first time, I will attend the Great Race Place. My eyes will take in the majestic racehorses that grace a track with arguably the greatest backdrop of any course nationwide – the San Gabriel Mountains. I cannot even begin to express my excitement.

Of course, since Zenyatta is my favorite racehorse of all-time, I will feel her presence greater than any other as I stand along the rail of the Arcadia, California track. But the presence of many other all-time greats will be felt as well, such as John Henry and Seabiscuit.

But there was another all-time great that graced Santa Anita, even winning a Breeders’ Cup race before the San Gabriel Mountains. Of course, multiple horses can fit into that description. But this was a silver Thoroughbred with a blaze and flowing black mane, sired by arguably the greatest horse to ever look through a bridle. This was Lady’s Secret.

Impeccably bred, the Oklahoma-bred Lady’s Secret was a daughter of Secretariat, the great red horse who owns the record for each of the Triple Crown races. Born seven years before the Triple Crown winner succumbed to laminitis, Lady’s Secret was the first foal out of the multiple stakes-winning track record setter Great Lady M, who was a daughter of Icecapade – a graded stakes-winning half-brother to the late great Ruffian.

Lady’s Secret began her career as a two-year-old at Belmont Park, but then was shipped to California and remained there for over seven months. As a juvenile, the gray filly captured two stakes at Hollywood Park and finished third in the Anoakia Stakes (GIII) in her initial start at Santa Anita – the first of eight career starts at the Great Race Place.

After beginning her sophomore season with a stakes win and other successful stakes outings in California, Lady’s Secret made her move back east, stopping at Oaklawn Park to take a stakes race before staying on the eastern seaboard for nearly the rest of the year, winning three grade ones, two grade twos, and three ungraded stakes races. Lady’s Secret’s first Breeders’ Cup start came in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) at Aqueduct, in which she finished second behind champion Life’s Magic.

Her next four starts came at Santa Anita, three of which were graded stakes victories, including two grade ones. Yet again, Lady’s Secret then made her way back east yet again, capturing six graded stakes – five of which were grade ones. Her return to Santa Anita came that fall in the race that defined her career: the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Sticking out like a sore thumb, the silver filly bounded to the lead shortly after breaking from the gate at the top of the Santa Anita stretch. Pat Day maneuvered her to an easy lead over Lady’s Secret’s seven rivals and the daughter of Secretariat looked incredibly comfortable as the field raced past the stands for the first time. The winner of the previous year’s Kentucky Oaks (GI), Fran’s Valentine, pressured her from the outside as the Thoroughbreds approached the first curve, but as Lady’s Secret led the field around the clubhouse turn, she lengthened her advantage on the others.

Several lengths distanced Lady’s Secret and the others as she galloped into the backstretch, with Pat Day sitting like a statue in the saddle. The gray filly recorded a brisk half-mile in 46 1/5 seconds, continuing to hold her dominant lead. As the crowd of over 69,000 people focused their eyes on the daughter of Secretariat, the striking gray proceeded to hold a lengthy lead on her opponents as the backstretch neared its conclusion.

With a three-quarters mark in 1:10, Lady’s Secret still held the lead as the field entered the far turn, though the others had begun to close the gap. Nonetheless, “The Iron Lady” maintained her lead around the final turn, keeping several lengths between her and her rivals. Pat Day remained stationary aboard his silver steed, leading the star-studded field by about five lengths.

At the top of the stretch, Pat Day began to move his hands along Lady’s Secret's neck as the others attempted to rally. But The Iron Lady was easily the best, drawing away as Day gave her reminders with his whip. Fran’s Valentine closed, but there was no way any of her rivals could catch Lady’s Secret. The striking filly crossed the wire 2 ½ lengths in front, stamping herself as clearly best.

The Distaff only put the icing on the cake for Lady’s Secret's 1986. Not only had the gray filly captured eight grade ones that year, but she had defeated males in the Whitney Handicap (GI) and had crushed rivals in the Ruffian Handicap (GI) despite carrying 129 pounds. With these accomplishments, The Iron Lady was not only honored as 1986 Champion Older Female, but also Horse of the Year. Six years later, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Lady’s Secret will forever be remembered by racing fans and holds a special place in the heart of many. Secretariat is often portrayed as somewhat of a failure as a stallion, but I do not believe that. He is not one of the best studs of all-time and did not re-produce himself, but face it: there will never be another Secretariat. He was the one and only; it would be impossible to re-produce him. But the great Triple Crown winner produced multiple millionaires, including the grade/group one victors Kingston Rule, Risen Star, and Tinners Way. Lady’s Secret is one of those millionaires. She is also one of those special horses that racing enthusiasts remember for decades, that leaves a lasting effect on not only the Breeders’ Cup, but the racing world in general. More than nine years have elapsed since the striking gray mare passed, but the legend of The Iron Lady still remains, as she is not easily forgotten by any means. Whether you were around during her reign or not, it easy to picture her graceful gray frame galloping across the finish line ahead of her rivals.

Breeders' Cup Flashback: Storm Flag Flying

Storm Flag Flying’s Breeders’ Cup Flashback could be three BC Flashbacks in one. It all goes back to Storm Flag Flying’s granddam, the great Personal Ensign.

Ogden Phipps’ homebred mare by Private Account came into the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) with twelve straight wins in just as many starts. Also in the field was that year’s Kentucky Derby (GI) winner, Winning Colors. On the muddy track at Churchill Downs, Personal Ensign got up by a nose. It was incredible that she even got there.  With that win, Personal Ensign retired undefeated in thirteen starts.

Claiborne Farm, where all three mares were born and
lived (or live) out their lives.
Photo: Terri Cage

Personal Ensign produced My Flag, who was Phipps bred through and through. The chestnut daughter of Easy Goer entered the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Belmont Park with just one win under her belt, though she had placed in two grade ones. Though the track wasn’t as sloppy as when her mother had won the Distaff, My Flag flew through the mud in a determined performance. Just like her mother, who appeared to have no shot as the horses grew closer to the wire, My Flag looked to be done as the horses were a furlong away from the wire. In fact, as the horses moved into the final eighth of a mile, the camera focused on just two horses: Cara Rafaela and Golden Attraction. Suddenly, however, My Flag reappeared and surged past the two to cross the wire, a half-length in front.

It is remarkable that Personal Ensign, a Breeders’ Cup champion herself, produced a BC Champion. It is even more remarkable that My Flag did the same. Personal Ensign’s daughter produced Storm Flag Flying, who won her first three races as a two-year-old, including the Matron Stakes (GI) and Frizette Stakes (GI). Her fourth race was the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Arlington Park. It would be a race to remember.

The filly ran just off the lead until near the quarter pole, where she took the lead. She passed Santa Catarina, one of three Bob Baffert trainees, as the horses turned for home. But suddenly another Baffert trainee, Composure, surged on the outside. The filly looked like she would sweep right past Storm Flag Flying. She did. However, the granddaughter of Personal Ensign was not giving up. She dug in, but still seemed beat. At the sixteenth pole, Storm Flag Flying abruptly found more. The excitement in announcer Tom Durkin’s voice rose rapidly as the Phipps filly regained the lead. She galloped forward triumphantly, crossing the wire in front by a half-length. In one of my favorite race calls ever, Tom Durkin described the filly perfectly: “Storm Flag Flying: the heart of a champion!”

Storm Flag Flying’s second and final appearance in a Breeders’ Cup race came as a four-year-old in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Lone Star Park. The filly finished an impressive second to champion Ashado. Fittingly, Storm Flag Flying had won the Personal Ensign Handicap (GI) two races earlier.

The family of Personal Ensign is truly a Breeders’ Cup family. It is one of the most incredible Thoroughbred families ever. I’m always blown away when I think of the three mares and how they formed a Breeders’ Cup Triple. They all put on some of the greatest Breeder’s Cup performances of all time, as each of them had the heart of a champion.


Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Breeders' Cup Flashback: Better Talk Now

It was one of the first Breeders’ Cups I remember watching. It was the year I had been bitten by the racing bug. I was a big fan of two horses that year: Smarty Jones and Better Talk Now. Only the latter of the two was in the Breeders’ Cup.

Lone Star Park, where Better Talk Now won the
Breeders' Cup Turf
Photo by Mary Cage

Horse racing was playing on the TV. I hardly knew anything about racing at the time, but I watched as the horses turned for home in the 2004 Man O’ War Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park. A dark, nearly black horse caught my attention as the horses headed toward the finish line. He had his neck stretched out and he was lengthening his stride robustly, galloping with determination toward the leaders. He didn’t win, but I was captivated by his beauty and the way he moved. I listened intently for his name and once I heard it, the name Better Talk Now was etched in my mind.

Considering Better Talk Now was the longest shot on the board in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI), I guess he didn’t impress others as much as he had impressed me. His price on the tote board didn’t matter, though. Within the final furlong of the Lone Star Park turf course, Better Talk Now drew away to win the prestigious turf race by nearly two lengths.

I thank God for 2004, because it was the year that started it all for me. I had picked Smarty Jones to win the Kentucky Derby and Better Talk Now to win the BC Turf. Both ended up winning and I am forever a huge fan of both of them.

Better Talk Now is my favorite turf horse ever and I will never forget following him throughout the rest of his racing career. In his next three Breeders’ Cup races, he finished second, fourth, and eighth in the Turf, respectively. After finishing second in the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (GI) for the second year in a row, Better Talk Now was retired due to a suspensory injury in his left hind leg.

The beautiful gelding, who lives out his days with his trainer Graham Motion, recently was treated at the New Bolton Center for a gastrointestinal problem. After quite the health scare, the winner of $4.3 million returned home to Motion's Herringswell Stables at Fair Hill. Let’s hope Better Talk Now lives the long, healthy, happy life he deserves.

Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Breeders' Cup Flashback: Zenyatta

It’s quite predictable that I would choose Zenyatta for my first Breeders’ Cup Flashback. She’s my favorite racehorse of all time and blew me away with all three of her Breeders’ Cup performances.

Zenyatta’s incredible Breeders’ Cup journey began in 2008, when as a four-year-old, the daughter of Street Cry was entered in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI). It was the first year the race was called the Ladies’ Classic rather than the Distaff.

Zenyatta
Photo: Terri Cage

Zenyatta was coming into the race with an undefeated record of eight wins. In her previous race, Zenyatta had easily defeated Hystericalady, who many actually picked over Zenyatta. Under Mike Smith, the half-sister to three-time grade one winner, Balance, effortlessly handed Hystericalady a defeat.

Zenyatta was the short-priced favorite in the Ladies’ Classic. Breaking from post position one, Mike Smith rode Zenyatta to a breathtaking win over Cocoa Beach. With an impressive final time of 1:46.85 for a mile and one-eighth, Zenyatta ran the final eighth of a mile in 11.73. The win secured her the Eclipse Award for older female.

As the 2009 Breeders’ Cup approached, the hype surrounded Zenyatta. People wondered if she would be entered in the Ladies’ Classic to defend her title or in the Classic to take on the males. Her connections chose the Classic.

It was a good choice. Zenyatta swept past the males in late stretch to defeat Gio Ponti by a length. It was an extraordinary performance, “one we’ll never forget.” The race gave me chills, leaving me breathless and screeching with joy. As soon as Zenyatta stuck her nose in front of Gio Ponti’s and galloped powerfully toward the wire, the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic became my favorite race of all time.

The 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic had even more hype. It would be Zenyatta’s last race and the remarkable mare was looking to eclipse the consecutive wins record. If she won that year’s Classic, she would retire with twenty wins in twenty starts. Unfortunately, as I watched from under the Twin Spires, Zenyatta fell just half a head short to Blame.

However, her performance in the 2010 Classic was just as impressive as the 2009 Classic. Many even consider it to be more impressive. It didn’t take away from her greatness; it only solidified it.

Zenyatta ran with determination that made the ground shake. She ran with her heart and everything within her, striving to do her best. Zenyatta, though she won nineteen times in a row, didn’t run to win, but rather for the sheer joy of running. She didn’t just attract fans because of her thrilling victories, but because of her appealing personality. It’s not every day a horse like this comes along. It’s not even every year a horse like this comes along. So rejoice in what Zenyatta gave us. Zenyatta is one of the greatest racehorses of all time.


Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.