Vic Zast

ARCADIA, Calif. -

Three weeks ago, Breeders’ Cup officials were touting the anticipated showdown between Big Brown and Curlin in the Classic as the race that would determine Horse of the Year honors. Then Big Brown went down after scalping a chunk of skin from his foreleg in practice.

Friday, the first of the two Breeders’ Cup race days, changed things again.

Zenyatta suddenly thrust herself into the picture. The massive, undefeated 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry beat excellent fillies and mares on Ladies’ Day. She broke from the rail, dropped propitiously to the back of the pack under Mike Smith and looked ready to suffer her first loss, as the leaders coaxed a pace that was unsuited for closers. With her fans fearing the worst, Zenyatta turned on the afterburners, winning the Ladies’ Classic easily. In addition, Smith never whipped her.

The thrilling victory, while being a joy to witness, was also an indicator that Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic was back on the agenda as the definitive Horse of the Year race. If Curlin was to lose, Eclipse Award voters would be switching their backing to the less attended gender.  If the reigning champ was to win, they’d most likely be endorsing a second term for him.  Obviously, we know what happened. How will the other shoe drop now?

For the record, the winner of the Classic has been elected the Eclipse Award’s Horse of the Year in each of the last four consecutive years.  Ghostzapper began the streak after capturing the Classic at Lone Star Park in 2004.  Saint Liam followed suit with a Belmont Park victory.  Invasor upset Bernardini at Churchill Downs to win in 2006 and last year Curlin took the honors at boggy Monmouth Park.  In all, 14 of 24 previous Breeders’ Cup Classic winners won the ultimate end-of-year honor.

On only two occasions, a Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner has been named Horse of the Year, so it wouldn’t be unprecedented for Zenyatta to accomplish the feat. Back in 1986, Lady’s Secret followed with Distaff win with the Horse of the Years honor.  In 2002, Azeri accounted for the elusive double distinction. Lady’s Secret, Azeri, Zenyatta – these are champions for the ages.  They belong in the same breath of air.

Stack the credentials of both Zenyatta and Curlin against each other.  Zenyatta is a perfect seven for seven in her 2008 starts.  She has won four Grade 1 stakes and been favored on six occasions.  The rap against her before the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic was that she didn’t beat much en route to her enviable record.  But the assemblage she faced Friday included Hysterical Lady (four graded wins in 2008), Cocoa Beach (a recent winner of the Grade 1 Beldame), Music Note (three for four in Grade 1 competition) and Ginger Punch, last year’s Distaff winner that just happened to have won five of her seven starts in her current campaign, including four that were grade 1 races.

It’s important to understand also that Zenyatta displayed her talent in the Ladies’ Classic before 90 percent of the Eclipse Award voters.  She chose this influential stage to obliterate the field like a dominatrix.  Speaking of whips, jockey Mike Smith never used his.  Zenyatta broke last, inhaled the field on the far turn without a respirator (it was 98 degrees), and strode down the center of the track like a queen fielding praise from her minions.

MORE FROM HORSE RACING

Churchill Downs doubles its night racing

Churchill Downs doubles its night racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel dies at 68 Perfect Zenyatta (14-0) awaits breeding career Racing's Year of the Girl Zenyatta beats the boys in Breeders’ Cup Classic   Video: Filly Rachel Alexandra wins Preakness thriller   Video: Watch replay of Mine That Bird's victory Interactive: Triple Crown winners, near misses Vote: When will we see next Triple Crown winner? Equibase: Quick results from top tracks   Add Horse racing headlines to your news reader: