Jae C. Hong / AP

Jockey Mike Smith celebrates after Zenyatta won the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday.

Rachel Alexandra, a 3-year-old filly, went 8 for 8 this year and won three times against the boys, including her stirring victory in the Preakness Stakes. But her owner, Jess Jackson, shut her down for the season rather than run her on the synthetic surface, which he dislikes.

Smith endorsed Zenyatta for the top honor, last won by a female in 2002 with Azeri, who also was ridden by Smith.

“She’s horse of the decade by far,” he said of Zenyatta. “She should go down as one of the greatest horses of all time.”

Zenyatta was clearly the star of this show, high-stepping like a Radio City Rockette. Fans held up pink signs that read “Girl power! Go Zenyatta,” and roared when the hometown hero came through the tunnel and stepped onto the synthetic track.

“It’s just wonderful to have so many fans and that so many enjoy her, and that she’s so feminine, too,” said Ann Moss, wife of co-owner Jerry Moss. “She’s just dancing and strutting and enjoying her majestic, beautiful self, and that’s a gift.”

The Mosses said Zenyatta, named after the 1980 album “Zenyatta Mondata” by The Police, likely will go to the breeding shed next year.

“I think she deserves to go out now with her record intact,” said Jerry Moss, who co-founded A&M Records. “She’s a lot more generous than a lot of stars are, let me put it that way. She gives you back an awful lot.”

The Mosses decided to enter Zenyatta in the Classic instead of trying to defend her title in the $2 million Ladies’ Classic on Friday.

“We thought that she deserved this chance,” Jerry Moss said.

American horses earned eight victories over the two-day championships, with Europe-based horses winning six, one better than last year’s total.

Irish import Goldikova successfully defended her title in the $2 million Mile against 10 male rivals. Another Irish horse, Conduit, repeated in the $3 million Turf, and Pounced won the $1 million Juvenile Turf.

Three geldings won races — California Flag in the $1 million Turf Sprint; Dancing in Silks in the $2 million Sprint; and Furthest Land in the $1 million Dirt Mile.

Vale of York, part of Godolphin Racing’s European division, won the $2 million Juvenile.

More news

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First Triple Crown in 34 years?

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Mike Stewart / AP

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  Slideshow: I'll Have Another one win away from becoming the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

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