Zenyatta Loses By A Head - Breeders' Cup 2010

Racehorse Zenyatta barely loses to Blame in the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 6th, 2010.
Heartbreaking...
She raced her heart out, she'll always be the Queen!

[@moose6241]

Mike Smith has 5000+ wins and has been riding for over 20 years. He's in the Hall of Fame, and he's won pretty much every major race in America. No one on KZbin has the right to question his ride. Hindsight is 20/20 perfect.

[@fenpom39]

For her to go from last to second like she did was phenomenal. She was a great racehorse!

[@Icyhotboo]

Zenyatta, the greatest filly/mare at the classic distance in north american history!!!

[@arleneirvine1526]

i am so in love with this horse, it is an obsession

[@crsnkai]

Best call ever

[@FairyFistFights]

Nobody has any right to blame Mike Smith. What would any of us had done? We aren't jockeys, (I think) so we don't know what we could have done if WE were in that situation. Mike wanted to win that so badly, it's not like he wanted to lose. In the press conference Smith said she wasn't running great to begin with. He had to hold her back to get a comfortable stride. Anyways, we're all human and we all make mistakes. Just because most of us got our hearts broken doesn't mean we have to blame Mike.

[@baseballheaven2009]

remember watching this live....so close...damn

[@joshuadoherty562]

Maybe not pulling away, but she certainly wouldn't be closing the gap. He's just that good. His last race at York he had tonnes left in hand barely off the bridle while his speed wasn't even dropping until he was eased. He isn't a bridle horse either. As we've seen what he can do off it. It's frightening to think what he would have done had he been let loose.

[@joshuadoherty6704]

(cont) So yes she was 19-1 and it is no coincidence for me that the race she lost in, was one of 2 against top opposition in a race against the boys. You can make excuses all day but she lost. Now to Frankel. 13 wins from 13 Average winning distance over 5 lengths had nothing more than a little tap with the whip this season. The highest rated horse in the experience of the international classifications, a whopping 12lbs clear of Zenyatta. He's still improving, he was immature last year (cont)

[@joshuadoherty6704]

but raced in one of our triple crown races, he raced against older horses at 3 too. He had 5 group 1 wins by the end of his 3 year old season despite being a good way off maturity. He'll retire at the end of the season because of his stud value. He's had terrible rides and yet his class has seen him through. I could go on, I really could but I think a blind man could see what you cannot. Only injury/Freak accident could stop him. He stuck 7 lengths on a breeders cup turf winner... on the bridle

[@saramadi100]

When I watched this as they were on the backstrech I was screaming at the top of my lungs like "GO, GO, GO, GO BABY GOOOOO.....*then eyes widen* GOOOOOO...NO!"

[@LeeAnne151]

She hated the icy cold dirt hitting her in the face, Smith wasn't holding her back. He was waiting for her to get comfortable and into stride.

[@benjaminbarrett7389]

Mike Smith ran a perfect race. Zenyatta carried much more weight than the others and couldn't run fast fractions. Mike had to be tactical. Plus Zenyatta was 6 years old.

[@ivandafoe5451]

But she had to run through the middle pack that noticeably slowed he down, that made the difference at the finish.

[@E_M_FEN]

There is nothing to blame Mike Smith for, he can't control every aspect or variable. This does nothing to diminish this great mare. She was the still the best in this race even losing it. Do you realize what kind of insane form a horse has to have to compete time and time again; running from the back of the pack? We'll probably never see a Zenyatta -like mare again. All the greats suffer heart-breaking losses at some point, it's good for the soul, it proves we're alive and can feel.

[@drunknmonkee72]

I came on here to appreciate a top racehorse, and Zenyatta is that. Frankel is also a top racehorse. What I don't appreciate is some no-mark called Davercks stating that Frankel's connections have no class when it is wholly unjustified. Straight enough for you?

[@purplepinto]

In the end it was a badly ridden race and the better horse/jockey team on the day won. Kind of annoys me how they focused on Zenyatta so much post-race. She didn't win it, give the winner a bit of spotlight. It's a big race and Blame ran it well, and was ridden much better.

[@iamjumbo]

you've obviously been eating better mushrooms than i ever had to have hallucinations like that

[@saramadi100]

Please enlighten me on how many times Frankel came to America? All of his races so far have been in Great Britan.

[@joshuadoherty562]

If he did run and did lose, it would be due to the surface NOT ability. He is vastly superior to anything that has been around for a long, long time.

[@joshuadoherty6704]

(cont), he was another who peaked late. He may be past his best but the Handicapper deemed that he only run 7lbs below his BC run last week. Frankel beat him 16 lengths in that race barely off the bridle. It could have been a lot more. It wasn't a one off either. If it was 2 or 3lbs difference I'd accept it a possibility as these things are never certain. But 12lbs difference barely pushed. I honestly think daylight would be second. Like the rest of his opponents, just not as much of it.

[@supertiggy01]

Blame was begging for the finish wire to come up soon! and she did not even want to race today, by dropping so far back that Smith litrally asking to move way before he normally does.

[@joshuadoherty6704]

She looks flat out in both of her wins against the boys. He beats his competition, certainly more this year, barley off the bridle. He, like what seems like most of the Galileo progeny has developed late and IMO it's a shame we wont see him at 5, because thats when he'll probably be at his best. I mean this with no disrespect to Zenyatta but I'm convinced he'd pull further away even with her late run. I look at where she finished in relation to Twice Over and she beat him 4 lengths was it?(Cont)

[@joshuadoherty6704]

I think you've misunderstood the statement. 300m was a reference to versatility. So she won Group 1's at a distance from 1700m to 2000m. A span of 300m. I said frankel has from 1400m to 2100m a span of 700m = More versatility. Now, you say she was running at 6 which is great, but what was she doing at 3? She never ran in any triple crown races, and in her whole career she ran against the boys twice. Losing once. If she was that superior she would have won and won comfortably. (cont)

[@iamjumbo]

of course not. frankel has a way to go to rise to zenyatta's level

[@irenedavis6633]

Regardless, she is the winner.

[@zenyattaandwinx1758]

😢

[@joshuadoherty562]

sorry mate didn't read this comment. I would be stuck between Wise Dan and Excel right now. But I still think Wise Dan. I don't really know how Exel will run on the track or take to the bends or I don't even know how much last Saturday has taken out of him. I suspect though, the heavy ground may well have done a little damage. There is too much of the unknown and too little between the two Wise Dan and Excelebration for me to back the latter with all those things I mentioned considered. Continue

[@joshuadoherty562]

actually I'm beginning to think Wise dan is right in the top drawer as is Point of Entry for the turf. Cityscape may not have run to form yes. Was he really giving 3lbs to Wise Dan though?

[@saramadi100]

Now I get what you're saying.

[@joshuadoherty562]

He's running on soft undulating tracks, not artificial carpets that's why. She hasn't shown form figures in the 140's on the bridle. Form is universal, time isn't.

[@joshuadoherty562]

Yes and he may just catch the ARC which is round about the same purse and has vastly superior horses in it. Does a lot more for his already mammoth stud value.

[@breyercrazy11]

god she wanted that so bad.......she ran her heart out!!! god smith let her go to late.........but all is well she would of won it and she did her best and thats all that really mattered right?....YES

[@joshuadoherty562]

What Evidence do you have to suggest otherwise?

[@joshuadoherty562]

SHC has a helluva lot of class, as does the prince as does Teddy Grimthorpe. Sending him over to America to race against inferior horses?

[@ArtietheArchon]

Man the race call is annoying. Are there other horses in the race besides Zenyatta or is this a time trial???

[@jordangoat2654]

Wow u hating on a horse

[@saramadi100]

First of all, let me get this straight, why are you here in the first place if you don't like Zenyatta? You don't see me going over to Frankel's videos and saying that he is no good.

[@joshuadoherty562]

I mean what evidence would you have to suggest that she is better. I have plenty, I have a stack of form, past performances winning distances, opposition faced and the fact he's won G1's over a span of 700m, compared to her 300m. Now, it's your turn. I await your response with bated breath.

[@iamjumbo]

it's not likely that he could run like he does, and still be pulling away from zenyatta down the stretch.

[@akkikhan8963]

Mike is a great. You don't control Zenyatta. Zenyatta controls you. For the jockey it is sit back and enjoy the ride. Better yet don't be a back seat driver.... Literally.

[@jeffmitchell4515]

Akki Khan he waited to late to pick it up to much to make up u got to keep a better pace than that u ask to much of the horse being that far back. Mike smith look to cocky

[@DarthMuse]

Black Caviar beats both Frankel and Zenyatta she's Usain Bolt of Horse Racing!

[@kwgrid]

Black Caviar was a sprinter. No comparison. And Z would beat Frankel handily in a 1/14m race.

[@zenyattaandwinx1758]

kwgrid Zenyatta was the definitive Usain Bolt of horse racing......Giant Stride length + fast twitch fibres+finishing "rocking" momentum speed due to large horse weight.......so bad comparison IMHO.

[@joshuadoherty562]

I wouldn't have ran her in the Arc, I may have tried a DWC though being the greedy bastard I am lol. She was fantastic yes. But I don't think, she was as good as STS and that (along with it being on soft turf most years) was why I wouldn't have run her in the arc. I do think she would have beaten So You Think though, who has 10 g1's to his name, on any surface as that artificial stuff isn't that different to turf and she went well on that.

[@Davercks101]

lol they said that it is EXTREMLY UNLIKELY that he will come to the BC. HIS owners wont even run him even after he destroyed his company earlier this week by 11 lengths. Shows what league he is in smh. No real class

[@iamjumbo]

sorry about your luck. zenyatta ran 1330m plus. 300 meters isn't even a quarterhorse race. at any rate, the bottom line is that she retired 19-1, which should have been 20-0, when she was six years old. how about frankel?

[@joshuadoherty562]

sorry mate thought you were saying I would run her in the Arc not yourself. To be fair she would have beaten workforce in 10. But then the Arc is too draw dependent messy race where the best horse doesn't always win... See Nijinsky with the outside draw. Add that to the fact she likes to hit the back too it wouldn't have been fair on her if she got caught in too much traffic.

[@saramadi100]

So, he's gonna miss a 5,000,000 dollar race... lol.

[@drunknmonkee72]

Frankel's career isn't over yet, and his connections haven't entirely ruled out taking him to America, but Davercks comes out with this bullshit that they have no class. Zenyatta's connections NEVER had the courage (and NEVER will, as she is now retired) to take her outside of the U.S. Enough said.

[@samhalemba]

Mike is a great jockey, but this was jockey error, you have a horse rolling like this at the end of the race and you come up short by a head than you botched it.

[@iamjumbo]

she DID win, and win comfortably. in every race that she ran, she always came from out of the clouds to win it. there is no doubt that frankel is a good horse. i certainly give you that. in a head to head match though, i'm sure that zenyatta would beat him

[@carlogambino76]

zenyatta was a good horse but is not in the same league as FRANKEL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@joshuadoherty562]

Ah no well perhaps you should ask yourself why zenyatta never ran 2400m? Same reason as Frankel I guess. He'd annihilate Wise dan, not even an Argument. Exelebration beat bloody cityscape so I wouldn't be getting too carried away. He's ran against at least 5 better horses than Wise Dan already. Null argument. Why should he go to the BC anyway? Better horses here. You don't send yours here. Oh why didn't Zenyatta run the Arc? she must have been dodging it. Obviously not!

[@joshuadoherty562]

What you are failing to realize is in this comment is for some time now, our racing in Europe has been far superior to yours. It may not have been the case during the 70's but we've been top of the tree for a while now. He'd beat doctor fager. I'd go as far as saying you've only had one horse that would ever beat him. She's a closer who ran to pretty much the same form no matter what. Even when she lost she only ran a couple of lbs below her peak. He is oceans better than her. As good as he was

[@joshuadoherty562]

Continued... I k now an American gbetet on here that is backing excel, but I can't see it. It's a race too many. Same goes for st Nic, a race too many as impressive as he was last year his form has been average at best and point of Entry looks better than him.