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Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Breeders Cup: Mare could make race history in Classic

By Alicia Wincze - McClatchy Newspapers

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ARCADIA, Calif. -- She has her Eclipse Award, a sterling reputation and credentials that almost certainly will one day earn her a place in the Hall of Fame.

But if Zenyatta can pull off the feat being asked of her Saturday, she will silence the one question that has loomed over her remarkable career.

Those watching the 26^th running of the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park could witness an industry milestone as the undefeated mare attempts to become the first female to conquer the 11/4-mile test on the second day of the World Championships event.

Exercise rider Steve Willard gives Zenyatta a workout in preparation for a potentially groundbreaking race today.

Today's Breeders' Cup Odds

Juvenile Turf

1 mile (Turf), 2YO Colts & Geldings

Purse: $1 million

Horse	Jockey	Odds
1. Zip Quik	Smith	50-1
2. Viscount Nelson	Murtagh	6-1
3. Codoy	Gomez	15-1
4. Pounced	Dettori	9-2
5. Gallant Gent	Rosario	30-1
6. Awesome Act	Moore	20-1
7. Bridgetown	Landry	8-1
8. King Ledley	Bejarano	20-1
9. Kera's Kitten	Maragh	12-1
10. Becky's Kitten	Leparoux	12-1
11. Interactif	Desormeaux	4-1
12. Buzzword (GB)	Ajtebi	6-1
13. Dean's Kitten	Dominguez	12-1
14. Summer Movie	Baze	50-1

Turf Sprint

6 1-2 furlongs (Turf), 3&UP

Purse: $1 million

Horse	Jockey	Odds
1. Noble Court	Rosario	8-1
2. Silver Timber	Leparoux	8-1
3. California Flag	Talamo	7-2
4. Lord Shanakill	Crowley	8-1
5. Get Funky	Bejarano	20-1
6. Cannonball	Dominguez	8-1
7. Gotta Have Her	Baze	15-1
8. Square Eddie	Dettori	20-1
9. Diamondrella (GB)	Maragh	4-1
10. Canadian Ballet	Garcia	20-1
11. El Gato Malo	Flores	30-1
12. Strike the Deal	Fallon	15-1
13. Desert Code	Migliore	20-1
14. Delta Storm	Gomez	10-1
15. Tenga Cat	Smith	30-1
16. Cherokee Heaven	Blanc	30-1

Sprint

6 furlongs (Dirt), 3&Up

Purse: $2 million

Horse	Jockey	Odds
1. Zensational	Espinoza	7-5
2. Cost of Freedom	Baze	20-1
3. Fatal Bullet	Da Silva	9-2
4. Crown of Thorns	Bejarano	12-1
5. Gayego	Gomez	5-2
6. Dancing in Silks	Rosario	12-1
7. Join in the Dance	Velazquez	30-1
8. Capt. Candyman Can	Castellano	15-1
9. Fleeting Spirit (IRE)	Dettori	8-1

Juvenile

1 1/16 mile (Dirt), 2YO Colts & Geldings

Purse: $2 million

Horse	Jockey	Odds
1. Alfred Nobel (IRE)	Murtagh	20-1
2. Piscitelli	Desormeaux	50-1
3. Beethoven (IRE)	Moore	20-1
4. Noble's Promise	Martinez	8-1
5. D' Funnybone	Prado	5-2
6. Pulsion	Smith	20-1
7. Vale of York (IRE)	Ajtebi	20-1
8. Eskendereya	Castellano	10-1
9. Aikenite	Garcia	8-1
10. Aspire	Leparoux	30-1
11. Radiohead (GB)	Dwyer	15-1
12. William's Kitten	Dominguez	30-1
13. Lookin At Lucky	Gomez	8-5

Mile

1 mile (Turf ), 3&Up

Purse: $2 million

Horse	Jockey	Odds
1. Court Vision	Albarado	12-1
2. Whatsthescript (IRE)	Desormeaux	15-1
3. Cowboy Cal	Velazquez	6-1
4. Delegator (GB)	Dettori	3-1
5. Karelian	Maragh	20-1
6. Courageous Cat	Gomez	20-1
7. Ferneley (IRE)	Bejarano	20-1
8. Zacinto (GB)	Moore	8-1
9. Gladiatorus	Atjebi	20-1
10. Justenuffhumor	Garcia	10-1
11. Goldikova (IRE)	Peslier	8-5

Dirt Mile

1 mile (Dirt), 3&UP

Purse: $1 million

Horse	Jockey	Odds
1. Mastercraftsman (IRE)	Murtagh	6-5
2. Furthest Land	Leparoux	20-1
3. Midshipman	Gomez	6-1
4. Bullsbay	Rose	3-1
5. Neko Bay	Smith	20-1
6. Mambo Meister	Cruz	30-1
7. Pyro	Velazquez	10-1
8. Mr. Sidney	Desormeaux	12-1
9. Chocolate Candy	Rosario	15-1
10. Ready's Echo	Borel	20-1

Turf

1 1/2 miles (Turf), 3&Up

Purse: $3 million

Horse	Jockey	Odds
1. Telling	Castellano	20-1
2. Conduit (IRE)	Moore	7-5
3. Red Rocks (IRE)	Leparoux	20-1
4. Allegre	Velazquez	50-1
5. Dar Re Mi (GB)	Dettori	3-1
6. Presious Passion	Trujillo	4-1
7. Spanish Moon	Fallon	5-2
8. Monzante	Bejarano	30-1

Classic

1 1/4 miles (Dirt), 3&Up

Purse: $5 million

Horse	Jockey	Odds
1. Mine That Bird	Borel	12-1
2. Colonel John	Gomez	12-1
3. Summer Bird	Desormeaux	9-2
4. Zenyatta	Smith	5-2
5. Twice Over (GB)	Queally	20-1
6. Richard's Kid	Solis	12-1
7. Gio Ponti	Dominguez	12-1
8. Einstein (BRZ)	Leparoux	12-1
9. Girolamo	Garcia	20-1
10. Rip Van Winkle (IRE)	Murtagh	7-2
11. Regal Ransom	Migliore	20-1
12. Quality Road	Velazquez	12-1
13. Awesome Gem	Florez	30-1

When Today

Where Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

TV ABC, 1:30-3:30 p.m.; ESPN2, 3:30-7 p.m.

Zenyatta will be the fourth filly or mare to run in the Classic, joining Azeri (fifth in 2004), Jolypha (third in 1992), and Triptych (sixth in 1986).

Her 13-for-13 career record and seven Grade I wins left the 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry with little left to prove against her own gender, prompting her connections to finally give the hulking mare a chance to show she ranks as one of the best handicap horses, period.

However, in what will be her first test against males, Zenyatta is facing a Classic field that boasts nine other Grade/Group I performers including Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird, top turf star Gio Ponti and the brilliant European runner Rip Van Winkle.

"I guess I always believed in dreaming big, you know," said Jerry Moss, who owns Zenyatta along with his wife, Ann. "I think sometimes those dreams don't come true but at least you get a chance to try them out. We're hoping this time our big dream will work."

The secret to Zenyatta's success is no secret at all: hang back early and attempt to swallow up her opponents with her patented late kick.

However, a potential problem for Zenyatta is that she could be stuck in a cavalry charge in her first try over the 11/4-mile distance as Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, Pacific Classic victor Richard's Kid, Gio Ponti, and Awesome Gem are also most effective making similar runs.

Godolphin Racing's Regal Ransom appears the best candidate to set the pace in the Classic although Quality Road and Summer Bird could force the early fractions.

Though Rip Van Winkle is considered the top European threat, Juddmonte Farms' Twice Over is a tank of a specimen and comes into the Classic with three straight wins at 11/4 miles, including the Group I Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 17.