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Breeders' Cup Classic winner Zenyatta has been voted the number-one thoroughbred racehorse of the year in the final NTRA Thoroughbred Poll of 2009. The undefeated mare jumped over Rachel Alexandra following the historic victory on Saturday.
The much anticipated race between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta? Well, it's on, but only on paper. Horse racing's top two ladies will duke it out among voters for Horse of the Year honors after never meeting on the track.
Champion mare Zenyatta came from last to win the 26th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic to conclude the two-day $25.5 million Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park on Saturday.
Champion mare Zenyatta came from last to win the 26th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic to conclude the two-day $25.5 million Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park on Saturday.
Zenyatta has beaten the boys in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, running her record to 14-0 in a race delayed briefly when Quality Road bucked violently in the starting gate.
Odds-on favorite Conduit successfully defended his crown Saturday in the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita. The four-year-old colt covered the 1 1/2 miles in 2:23.75 on a firm course.
Furthest Land, ridden by Julien Leparoux, rushed past Midshipman down the stretch to win the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Saturday. The victory was the third of the weekend for Leparoux in the Breeders' Cup.
Defending champ Goldikova, ridden by Olivier Peslier, rallied down the stretch to capture Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita for the second straight year. Goldikova joins Miesque and Lure as back-to-back winners of the Mile.
European runner Vale of York made a late rush down the stretch to capture Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. The winner of the Juvenile is usually made the early Kentucky Derby favorite.
Dancing in Silks has pulled off a huge upset in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint, winning a four-horse photo finish by a nose.
Dancing in Silks prevailed in a blanket finish to win Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita. Ridden by Joel Rosario, the 25-1 longshot covered the six-furlongs in 1:08.14 on the synthetic track.
California Flag, ridden by Joe Talamo, led the entire way to win Saturday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. The time for the 6 1/2-furlongs was 1:11.28 on a firm course.
The 26th edition of the Breeders' Cup World Championships got underway Friday at Santa Anita Park under sunny skies with a post-time temperature of 70 degrees. This is the second straight year the World Championships are being held at Santa Anita.
Life Is Sweet, stablemate of champion mare Zenyatta, came roaring down the stretch Friday to win the $2 million Ladies' Classic at Santa Anita to conclude the first day of the 26th Breeders' Cup World Championships. The remaining eight championship events will be conducted Saturday.
Life Is Sweet has won the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, going from last to first with a stretch run on the far outside.
Informed Decision held off defending champion Ventura to win Friday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita. Informed Decision was the 3-1 second choice behind 4-5 favorite Ventura.
Life Is Sweet led a parade of longshots to the winner's circle at the Breeders' Cup on Friday, with the stablemate of Zenyatta scoring a 2 1/2-length victory in the $2 million Ladies' Classic.
European invader Midday held off a late running Pure Clan to win Friday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita. Finishing third was 2008 winner Forever Together.
She Be Wild rallied along the inside to win the second running of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Friday at Santa Anita. The two-year-old filly was ridden by Julien Leparoux for owner Nancy Mazzoni.
Tapitsfly, ridden by Robby Albarado, defeated Rose Catherine to win the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.
Day One of the 26th Breeders' Cup World Championships has gotten underway at Santa Anita Park with Man of Iron winning the $500,000 Marathon. Ridden by John Murtagh, Man of Iron defeated Cloudy's Knight by a nose in the 1 3/4 mile race.
Man of Iron has won the $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon in a photo finish over 9-year-old gelding Cloudy's Knight.
The Breeders' Cup began in 1984 with longshot Wild Again winning the inaugural Breeders' Cup Classic. This will be the 26th running of the $5 million, 1 1/4-mile event and not a single female has crossed the finish line first.
Though this could be called the year of the female in thoroughbred racing, Ladies' Day at the Breeders' Cup Friday is lacking in star power.