Nearly two decades ago, the sport of horse racing experienced a significant surge in public interest, fueled by the undefeated run of a sensational filly campaigning out of Southern California. As the 27th edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships drew near at Churchill Downs, anticipation among fans had reached an absolute peak.
This superstar was Zenyatta, a six-year-old Street Cry filly campaigned by owners Jerry and Ann Moss and conditioned by trainer John Shirreffs. She burst onto the racing scene in early 2008, racking up a series of dominant wins primarily in California, before securing her inaugural Eclipse Award by capturing the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (currently known as the Distaff) at Santa Anita Park—marking her ninth consecutive undefeated victory.
The following year proved even more remarkable, as 2009 came to be celebrated as the “year of the female” in Thoroughbred racing. Zenyatta captured four additional stakes triumphs prior to her return to Santa Anita for the championships, while the brilliant three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra completed an undefeated campaign across the East and Midwest to claim the Horse of the Year title.
For the 2009 World Championships, Zenyatta’s connections bypassed a title defense in the Ladies’ Classic, opting instead to challenge the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. In what became an iconic moment in racing history, she launched an astonishing closing run from the back of the pack to pull away for victory against the highly decorated Gio Ponti.
Having achieved a flawless 14-for-14 record over three years and defeated male rivals in the nation’s premier race, Zenyatta had absolutely nothing left to validate. Nevertheless, her team decided to run her for one final campaign in 2010. She cruised through her spring and summer prep with five straight graded stakes scores, including a second victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap (which, along with her first, were her only races outside California prior to November 2010), as well as third straight wins in the Vanity Handicap, the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, and the Lady’s Secret Stakes.
As her legend grew, the public adoration for “the Queen” reached unprecedented heights, with fans of all ages packing the grandstands with banners, custom apparel, and memorabilia to celebrate her whenever she stepped onto the track.
In late October, the renowned news program “60 Minutes” broadcast a feature dedicated to her called “The Best Racehorse Ever?” During the segment, reporter Bob Simon highlighted the immense stakes of her upcoming race at the 2010 Breeders’ Cup, noting she could become the first legendary American sports figure to retire without a single loss since boxer Rocky Marciano did in the 1950s. Mike Smith, the Hall of Fame rider who guided her beginning with her third race in April 2008, remarked to Simon that with the right trip, they could witness a truly historic performance at Churchill Downs.
A highly competitive group of challengers assembled in Louisville, all eager to derail Zenyatta’s quest for a perfect 20-for-20 record in the Classic. The lineup featured Preakness victor Lookin At Lucky, Woodward champion Quality Road, and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Haynesfield, alongside Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s talented homebred Blame. This son of Arch boasted eight wins, two seconds, and two thirds from his first dozen starts, showing a strong affinity for Churchill Downs with three victories in four outings, notably the Clark and Stephen Foster Handicaps. Earlier that year, he had also claimed the prestigious Whitney Handicap at Saratoga before finishing as the runner-up in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Even with such strong competitors in the gate, Zenyatta went off as the even-money choice on November 7. As the gates opened, Smith quickly settled Zenyatta at the back of the pack, keeping her in her familiar trailing position. Entering the backstretch, she trailed the early leader, First Dude, by over 14 lengths. She remained at the tail of the 12-horse field through three-quarters of a mile, only launching her bid as they approached the final turn, where she saved ground along the rail before encountering brief traffic behind a tiring Quality Road at the top of the stretch. Meanwhile, jockey Garrett Gomez had Blame perfectly positioned in mid-division, launching his challenge at a similar moment but with a much shorter path to victory.
Blame secured a clear path as they turned for home, advancing to tackle Lookin At Lucky, while Smith guided Zenyatta off the fence and angled her six-wide to find clear sailing. What followed was easily one of the most breathtaking stretch battles of the modern era.
The atmosphere was charged with intense emotion after Blame narrowly defeated Zenyatta by a head, snapping her 19-race unbeaten streak. In an emotional, tear-filled press conference afterward, Smith held himself responsible, stating, “She means the world to me, she’s simply incredible. I only wish I had gotten her involved a bit sooner. This hurts beyond words.”
For his achievement, Blame secured the Eclipse Award for champion older male and was retired to stud shortly after the Breeders’ Cup, concluding his racing career with over $4.3 million in earnings.
Nevertheless, Zenyatta earned the night’s ultimate prize as she was voted 2010 Horse of the Year, alongside her third consecutive champion older female trophy. Over the next several months, she paraded before legions of devoted fans in Kentucky and California before starting her second career as a broodmare at Lane’s End Farm. Widely regarded as one of the most beloved Thoroughbreds of the modern era, Zenyatta’s legacy only grew in the wake of her sole career loss. She was officially inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2016.
*** This article first appeared in 2020 and has since been revised ***
