Previously unbeaten Zenyatta loses to Blame by a head in Breeders' Cup Classic | Horse racing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — She came running as she had done so often before — 19 times to be precise — stretching every ounce of her 17.2-hand frame down the middle of the track as those long legs swallowed up yards of ground with each stride.

Somehow, despite being 15 lengths behind after a half-mile, the 6-year-old mare was again passing rivals with ease and zeroing in on the finish line.

It was quintessential Zenyatta, except for one major difference: This time, she didn't get to the wire first.

This time, on this day, there was a better horse.

The 72,739 in attendance at Churchill Downs on Saturday came to see if history would be made in the $4.545 million Breeders' Cup Classic. Instead, fans were stunned into relative quiet as multiple Grade I winner Blame, a 4-year-old colt, defeated the previously unbeaten Zenyatta by a head in an epic finish.

Of all the grand horses who have come to the Breeders' Cup with records and reputations on the line, perhaps none has done so with the kind of fervor that followed the charismatic Zenyatta, who is trained by John Shirreffs.

Her 19 victories included beating males in last year's BC Classic on the synthetic surface at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Once she arrived in Kentucky on Tuesday, her quest for a 20-0 record featured police escorts to and from the track.

What it didn't include was a trip to the winner's circle.

A tearful Mike Smith, who rode even-money shot Zenyatta, said, "It hurts more than I can explain, just because it was my fault. She should have won, and it hurts."

Blame, trained by Al Stall Jr. and ridden by Garrett Gomez, ran 1 ¼ miles on dirt in 2 minutes, 2.28 seconds. He was the third betting choice in a field of 12 and paid $12.40 to win.

Seth Hancock, president of Claiborne Farm, said Blame will be retired to stud at the farm near Paris, Ky.

Hancock said Blame deserves to be voted 2010 Horse of the Year more than Zenyatta.

"Well, I thought the battle for Horse of the Year was fought about a half-hour ago, and Blame won it," he said. "I mean, she's a great horse, Zenyatta is. But she had her shot to get by and she didn't do it. So I don't think you can vote for her."

Fly Down was third at 26-1. Lookin At Lucky, co-owned by former Mount Vernon resident Mike Pegram, was the second wagering choice at 9-2 and finished fourth.

Atta Boy Roy suffers injury

Washington-bred Atta Boy Roy finished 10th at 6-1 odds in the $1.818 million Sprint, won by 5-1 shot Big Drama.

Atta Boy Roy, a 5-year-old ridgling trained by Valorie Lund and ridden by Calvin Borel, was vanned back to the barn.

Wayne McIlwraith, chief Breeders' Cup veterinarian, said, "He has a mild injury to a medial branch suspensory ligament. It is certainly not life-threatening and probably not career-threatening."

Dakota Phone pays $77.40

Dakota Phone, whose owners include Dr. George Todaro of Seattle, paid $77.40 when he defeated Morning Line by a head in the $909,000 Dirt Mile. Joel Rosario rode the 5-year-old gelding for trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer.

Goldikova gets Mile hat trick

Superstar Goldikova took down the boys one more time, winning the $1.818 million Mile on turf for the third consecutive year.

"My English is not good enough," said trainer Freddy Head, who is French. "It's something unreal. I mean, even in the worst soap opera, you can't imagine anything like that."

Goldikova, a 5-year-old mare ridden by Olivier Peslier, paid $4.60 to win and was 1 ¾ lengths in front of runner-up Gio Ponti, second in the betting at 4-1.

Goldikova is the first horse to win three Breeders' Cup races.

Notes

• Pluck ($14.80 to win) captured the $909,000 Juvenile Turf and 23-1 shot Willcox Inn, owned in part by Jack Hodge, vice president of Emerald Downs in Auburn, was third. Rough Sailing suffered a fatal injury.

• In a powerful effort, Uncle Mo ($4.80) won the $1.818 million Juvenile by 4 ¼ lengths over Boys At Tosconova.

• Chamberlain Bridge ($15.80), a 6-year-old gelding, took the $909,000 Turf Sprint and Dangerous Midge ($19), a 4-year-old colt, captured the $2.727 million Turf.