Around fifteen years prior, during the warmer months, the realm of horse racing experienced one of its recurring surges in nationwide attention, fueled by the captivating saga of an undefeated, exceptional female horse originating from Southern California. As the 27th Breeders’ Cup World Championships approached at Churchill Downs, anticipation reached an intense level.
Zenyatta, a 6-year-old descendant of Street Cry, under the ownership of Jerry and Ann Moss and tutelage of John Shirreffs, initially emerged in early 2008, showcasing a series of impressive triumphs predominantly across California’s racetracks. Her achievements culminated in her inaugural Eclipse Award at the season’s conclusion, following her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (now Distaff) at Santa Anita Park, marking her ninth consecutive win.
The subsequent season proved even more remarkable – the year 2009 became known as horse racing’s “year of the female.” Zenyatta secured four additional stakes races leading up to her return to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup, while the 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra maintained an unblemished record in the Midwest and East, ultimately earning Horse of the Year recognition.
During the 2009 World Championships, the Mosses and Shirreffs opted to enter Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, foregoing a chance to defend her Ladies’ Classic title. In a race etched in the event’s history, she launched a powerful surge from a trailing position, securing a decisive victory over Gio Ponti, a multiple Eclipse Award recipient.
With an unblemished record of 14 wins in 14 races across three seasons, including a triumph against male competitors in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Zenyatta had undeniably proven her mettle. Nonetheless, her team decided to bring her back for a final performance in 2010. She continued her dominance throughout the spring and summer, adding five more graded stakes victories to her resume. This included a second win in the Apple Blossom Handicap (marking her only two appearances outside of California before the 2010 Breeders’ Cup) and third consecutive wins in the Vanity Handicap, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, and the Lady’s Secret Stakes, all on her home turf.
By this juncture, “the Queen” had attracted a massive and devoted following, with fans of all ages bringing signs, apparel, and various keepsakes to the racetrack as tokens of their admiration whenever Zenyatta competed.
Near the end of October, the acclaimed “60 Minutes” program broadcasted a special feature on Zenyatta, entitled “The Best Racehorse Ever?” In this segment, correspondent Bob Simon underscored the impending historical significance of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup, pointing out Zenyatta’s opportunity to become the first prominent American athlete to retire undefeated since boxer Rocky Marciano in the 1950s. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who first rode Zenyatta in her third race in April 2008 and remained her jockey ever since, told Simon, “Given the opportunity, I think we could see something incredible” at Churchill Downs.
A challenging group of contenders awaited in Louisville, each aiming to prevent Zenyatta from securing her 20th consecutive victory in the Classic. The lineup included Preakness Stakes champion Lookin At Lucky, Woodward Stakes victor Quality Road, and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Haynesfield. Also in the mix was Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s homebred Blame. This Arch colt had achieved eight wins out of his first 12 career starts, along with two second-place finishes and two third-place finishes. He also boasted a strong record at Churchill Downs, with three wins in four starts, including victories in the esteemed Clark and Stephen Foster Handicaps. Prior to his second-place finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, he had also emerged victorious in the historic Whitney Handicap at Saratoga earlier that year.
Despite this impressive array of competitors, Zenyatta entered the Classic on Nov. 7 as the even-money favorite. At the start, Smith guided Zenyatta towards the back, settling into her usual position behind the rest of the field. As the horses moved into the backstretch, Zenyatta trailed the leader, First Dude, by more than 14 lengths. She remained in last place among the 12 horses through six furlongs. It was only as they approached the far turn that Zenyatta began to make her move, maneuvering along the inside to save ground and momentarily slowing behind a fading Quality Road at the quarter pole. Meanwhile, Blame maintained a comfortable position in the middle of the pack under jockey Garrett Gomez, initiating his own rally around the same time – but with significantly less ground to make up.
Blame found an opening early in the stretch and surged forward to challenge Lookin At Lucky, while Smith steered Zenyatta away from the rail, moving six wide to gain a clear path. What followed was undoubtedly among the most exhilarating race finishes in recent memory.
The atmosphere was charged with emotion after Blame narrowly defeated Zenyatta by a head, ending her 19-race winning streak. Mike Smith, in a tearful post-race press conference, took responsibility, expressing, “She’s my everything, she’s just amazing. I just wish I would have been in the race a little bit earlier. … It hurts more than I can explain.”
Blame went on to win the Eclipse Award as champion older male and subsequently retired after the Breeders’ Cup, having accumulated over $4.3 million in career earnings.
Zenyatta, however, received the highest honor for 2010, being named Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards, in addition to her third award as champion older female. She made several public appearances in the following months in both Kentucky and California, greeted by her devoted fans, and currently resides at Lane’s End Farm as a broodmare. Without a doubt, Zenyatta is one of the most beloved racehorses of the 21st Century, gaining even more admirers following her first and only career defeat. She was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2016.
*** This article was initially written and released to the public in 2020, and has been updated ***
