INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Rain fell at Hollywood Park early Monday, but the weather did not match the mood of trainer John Shirreffs.
Two days after his star mare Zenyatta suffered her first loss, finishing a head behind Blame in an epic Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs, Shirreffs was smiling more often than not, reflecting on the mare’s remarkable career of 19 wins in 20 starts.
“I think everyone realizes what a champion she was and what an effort she made,” he said.
WASHINGTON – The nationwide television audience watching “Zenyatta: A Quest for Perfection” and the 72,739 people cheering for the mare at Churchill Downs surely felt deflated when she lost to Blame in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. They shouldn’t have despaired. Zenyatta was more ennobled by this defeat than by almost anything she did during the 19-race winning streak she brought into Saturday’s race.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Zenyatta may have finished second in her final career start on Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but she remained first in the hearts of her fans here Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, literally stopping traffic on a public road adjacent to the barn area when motorists realized she was out grazing.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Mike Smith jumped off Zenyatta following Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, dirt in his face, tears in his eyes. He was used to the former. He had never experienced the latter.
After getting accolades for more than two years for his rides aboard Zenyatta - through 16 of the mare’s 19 straight victories including two Breeders’ Cup triumphs - Smith blamed himself for that streak coming to an end by a head to Blame in Saturday’s $5 million Classic at Churchill Downs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Zenyatta is the heavy favorite in advance wagering and in will-pays for the two-day daily double wager combining the winners of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic on Friday and the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
In advance betting for the Classic, and with $138,680 in the win pool, Zenyatta was 3-5, followed by Lookin At Lucky (9-2), Blame (8-1), and Quality Road (12-1).
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- The following is the final report card for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup card from observations I have made here at Churchill Downs over the past two weeks.
Juvenile Turf
Master of Hounds: Was not crazy about the way this top European contender got over the turf, both warming up before and during Thursday’s three-furlong blow-out.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The entire cast for the 2010 Breeders’ Cup was on the grounds at Churchill Downs by Thursday morning, with all the preparations over, save for a few last-minute tweaks here and there that included several blowouts both over the main track and turf course.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There were 172 horses entered in the 14 races in this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs, 94 of them in the eight BC races on Saturday. There are champions competing from the United States, Europe, and Asia. As good as they all are, though, everyone has a back seat to the magnificent mare Zenyatta. She is the one driving this bus.
