For the 4th time this year, I get to write a blog about a filly beating the boys impressively in a major stake. But, for the 1st time this year, this is not a story about Rachel Alexandra.
The list of racing’s greatest mares includes the likes of Personal Ensign, Ruffian, Paseana, Regret, Lady’s Secret, and Winning Colors. And there’s no doubt that Rachel’s name gets to be added to that list – but not before you see Zenyatta there.
The mare whose gritty style will have your heart in your throat until the wire’s shadow has past.
The mare whose every win came with a pre-race dance and ears pricked at the wire.
The mare whose jockey says he still doesn’t know how many gears she has.
The mare whose Beyer figures and Sheets numbers never scared you enough to toss her but never had you rushing to the windows.
Zenyatta: the mare who retires a perfect 14-for-14 lifetime.
On a Breeders’ Cup weekend that saw 3 returning champs get beat, we also had 3 win (taking liberty that Zenyatta won last year, just in the other Classic). Yesterday was a day for multi-named winners: Life Is Sweet, Man of Iron, Informed Decision, etc. Today, on the other hand, was one for the single named: Zenyatta, Conduit, Goldikova, and Pounced.
It wasn’t without controversy – we had the only official jockey objection and steward’s inquiry in the Dirt Mile (kudos to Manny Cruz for trying to get the extra purse money for a fading horse who was barely bumped: that may be ok at Calder, but this is the big leagues baby).
Today also wasn’t without giant prices. Yesterday’s longest shot was $21.60 (Tapitsfly in the Juvenile Filly Turf) … today had 3 over $40, topped by $63.20 (Vale of York in the Juvenile).
Speaking of Vale of York, yes, you can already pencil him in to the Kentucky Derby starting gate for next year. Don’t believe me? When asked about how the horse performed today, Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford’s response was basically “we’ll see how it goes next first Saturday in May on the Churchill Downs dirt.”
And Churchill Downs’ John Asher has admitted to already adding to the bio book for next year’s Derby – and for a great reason: Vale of York’s rider is a Dubaian apprentice jockey who literally makes a second living riding camels in the UAE desert and was deported from the UK at some point for what I’m told were “immigration issues”. If you’re not already, I highly recommend following Ahmed Ajtebi on Facebook – the kid’s hysterical.
Among the other racing news, we saw a wonderful career closeout performance by Conduit – the dual Turf winner will soon head off to Japan to start life as a stallion. I find it a truly remarkable circle of racing life that Conduit’s stallion, Dalakhani, will now be neighbors at the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud with Sea The Stars, who just beat Conduit in the Arc in what would turn out to be both of their final performances on European soil.
Then there’s Goldikova – your repeat Mile winner. Remember when folks said Rachel was the only 3yo filly to be facing (let alone beating) older males? Yeah, well, US memories are short when it’s a Euro we’re talking about. Regardless, Goldikova proved she’s as gusty and gritty and yet girly as they come – she took on 2 tough (if not stellar) Breeders’ Cup Mile fields and did the near impossible: she won. That now makes 4 dual Mile winners, 3 of those consecutive (Miesque and Lure being the other 2).
When asked about what honor Zenyatta should receive given her record and performances this year, jockey Mike Smith said simply and honestly that “she’s the Horse of the Decade”. There’s no doubt that the debates that have already been started will now rage like a true Southern California wildfire about Horse of the Year and other end of year honors – Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, Summer Bird, Gio Ponti, Mine That Bird, etc.
I’m not a turf writer and therefore don’t have an official vote, but I’m seriously thinking that this weekend be called the Breeders’ Cup of the Decade.
