Zenyatta beats the boys in Breeders’ Cup Classic

updated 7:22 p.m. ET Nov. 7, 2009

ARCADIA, Calif. - Zenyatta pawed the ground with her right front hoof and pranced past an adoring crowd jamming the grandstand as she made her way to the start of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

By the time the race ended, this showgirl would leave no doubt she’s as gutsy as the guys.

Zenyatta came from last after a poor start and fought off Gio Ponti in the stretch to win the $5 million Classic on Saturday, beating a loaded field of 11 males and becoming the first female to win the race in its 26-year history.

The 5-year-old mare ran her record to 14-0 in the most impressive effort of her career.

“She’s sent from heaven,” said Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who lovingly patted Zenyatta’s mane on the way to the gate. “She’s incredible. I still didn’t hit all gears.”

Her presence at Santa Anita gave a big boost to the signature race of the two-day world championships, which was missing the season’s other star female, Rachel Alexandra.

Now the argument is on: Who is the best in horse racing’s year of the girl?

“If they don’t reward her with Horse of the Year, it would be a travesty, or at least co-Horses of the Year,” said Bob Baffert, who trained sixth-place finisher Richard’s Kid. “It was the only time in horse racing that I didn’t mind getting beat in a big race. Zenyatta made the Breeders’ Cup, and the way she won! I’ve never seen a crowd so captivated.”

Voters will decide who wins Horse of the Year in January at the Eclipse Awards.

The race was delayed several minutes because Quality Road acted up at the starting gate and was scratched after scraping his hind leg. Zenyatta had problems, too, turning sideways instead of entering head first.

All the commotion may have explained her poor start, breaking on the wrong foot and dropping well behind the field. Still, Smith kept his cool and let Zenyatta lope along near the back — her usual running style in the early going.

“At the half-mile pole, I thought, ’Oh God, they’re stacked up. There’s no way I’m going to get around all these horses,”’ Smith said.

Brunker calls it right Mike Brunker defeated Vic Zast in the Breeders’ Cup Battle of the Handicappers, notching 83 points to Zast’s 64 on the second day of racing on Saturday. Brunker’s total for the two days of racing was 142 points to Zast’s 114. Points were awarded under this formula: 10 points for a win, 5 points for a place and 3 points for a show.

Rounding the final turn, Zenyatta still had a lot of ground to make up on the leaders and her chances appeared bleak. Race announcer Trevor Denman shouted during his call, “If she wins this, she’ll be a super horse!”

Zenyatta then made a bold inside move midway through the far turn, and Smith angled her to the far outside as the crowd of 58,845 fans erupted in cheers. Showing the grit of an undefeated champion, Zenyatta closed relentlessly and denied Gio Ponti the upset.

Smith pumped his left arm as Zenyatta galloped past the grandstand for possibly the final time in her sterling career.

She ran 1¼ miles in 2:00.62 and paid $7.60, $5.60 and $3.80 as the 5-2 favorite. Gio Ponti returned $9.20 and $6.60, while Britain-bred Twice Over paid $7 to show.

“The horse ran a great race, but he couldn’t beat the winner,” said Christophe Clement, who trains Gio Ponti. “She’s a freak. What can I say?”

More than $1 million was bet to win on both Zenyatta and 3-1 second choice Rip Van Winkle, an Irish import who finished 10th. Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird was fourth and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird ninth, extending his losing streak to five straight since his 50-1 upset on the first Saturday in May.

Colonel John was fifth, followed by Richard’s Kid, Awesome Gem, Regal Ransom, Mine That Bird, Rip Van Winkle, Einstein and Girolamo.

Debate had raged in the week leading up to the Classic about whether Zenyatta could handle an international field of males and possibly snatch away Horse of the Year honors from Rachel Alexandra. The argument only intensifies after her explosive performance.