(Monday, November 9) On Saturday afternoon, I could not help but think that all those fans waving the Zenyatta signs, taking pictures with their phones, and betting on the undefeated mare to the 5/2 favorite would be very disappointed after the boys manhandled her into defeat for the first time in the Classic.

After all, I wrote on Friday about vulnerable favorites, and watched Zensational, Lookin At Lucky, and Mastercraftsman lose, just as I predicted.

Zenyatta was the next favorite in line that would go down to defeat.

Or so I thought.

The undefeated mare pranced onto the racetrack for the Classic full of herself. She did not look the least bit intimidated by her date with destiny against a dozen males.

Named by her owner, A&M Records founder Jerry Moss after The Police album Zenyatta Mondatta, she looked like a rock star.

Not quite like Sting (and Moss won the Kentucky Derby with Giacomo, named after Sting’s son), but more like Elvis, with a little J Lo and Britney mixed in.

She strutted, skipped, and danced onto the track for the post parade as if she knew she was the Belle of the Ball.

With hall of fame jockey Mike Smith aboard, it was hard not to stare at her awesome presence, 17 ½ hands tall and rippling with muscle.

However, my mind was wandering to what I was going to do with all the money I was going to win when my top pick Gio Ponti, flying under the radar at 12/1, scored his fifth Grade 1 race on the year.

After a tense delay at the gate caused by Quality Road acting up, Zenyatta was off last, tossing her head around, and for a split second I was transformed back to Belmont Park for the 2008 Belmont Stakes.

We are not going to witness another Big Brown debacle, are we?

Track announcer Trevor Denman exclaimed, “Zenyatta is dead last! Zenyatta is dead last early!”

Smith began moving the mare down the backstretch, saving some ground along the way.

As they came around the far turn Denman said, “Now here’s Zenyatta, let’s see…Zenyatta has a lot, a lot of ground to make up, If Zenyatta wins this she will be a superhorse!”

In a flash Smith took her from the two path to the outside for clear sailing, and she rolled right by Gio Ponti in the final 70 yards to win by a clear length to the roar of the crowd, and from my wife, who was blocking the television rooting for her, despite the fact she had no action on the race and I was sitting on a huge windfall with Gio Ponti.

Denman said what we were all thinking.

“This….is….un…be…lieve…able!. Zenyatta, what a performance, one we will never forget!”

“Looked impossible! But it is… Zenyatta!”

Sensational performances in horse racing seem to be too few and far between in recent years, and this was one for the ages.

It is not often I am smiling after watching my 12/1 longshot get beat in deep stretch, but it was hard not to get caught up in the hoopla.

I actually may have appreciated it more than most that were watching.

There were 58,845 on hand at Santa Anita, and it sure looked like they were all expecting to see that performance.

I certainly was not.

Other thoughts: Zenyatta’s victory overshadowed another female that performed brilliantly earlier on the card. Goldikova was awesome defending her title in the Mile over males…The other surprising performance was Life is Sweet, who was much the best in the Ladies’ Classic on Friday… The filly is also trained by John Shirreffs, who certainly will garner attention for outstanding trainer this year…

The Europeans performed well over the two day event despite the disappointing efforts from Rip Van Winkle and Twice Over in the Classic..In addition to Goldikova, Conduit defended his title in the Turf, Pounced won the Juvenile Turf, Vale of York won the Juvenile, Man of Iron won the Marathon, and Midday won the Filly & Mare Turf…

It was a breakout performance for jockey Julien Leparoux, who picked up three wins. On Friday, he won the Juvenile Fillies aboard She Be Wild, and Informed Decision in the Filly & Mare Sprint, and guided Furthest Land to victory in the Dirt Mile on Saturday…

The ride of the two day event may have been by Ahmed Ajtebi, who pulled off the upset for Godolphin with Vale of York in the Juvenile, nipping favorite Lookin At Lucky by a head…The colt broke awkwardly and ducked out, had to steady while a bit rank going into the first turn, saved ground heading down the backstretch, had to check slightly along the inside on the far turn, finally found some running room when altering course to the outside and brushed with the favorite while getting up late…

There was one winning ticket in Saturday’s Pick 6, paying $1,838,305, and it was not me...The consolation for 5 of 6 returned $4,822.00…The six-race sequence was a very tough one to have: Dancing in Silks ($52.60), Vale of York ($63.20), Goldikova ($4.80), Furthest Land ($44.60), Conduit ($3.80), and Zenyatta ($7.60)…

Turf winner Conduit is headed to Japan for stud duty, but still may make one more start, likely in either Japan or Hong Kong…Also under consideration for a trip to Japan is Summer Bird…Forever Together, who was third in her attempt to repeat in the Filly & Turf will likely be retired…

Ventura also failed in her attempt to repeat, and is heading to the breeding shed next year. She could make one more start this year, likely coming in the Matriarch at Hollywood Park on Nov. 28…Godolphin is reporting that Music Note, Cocoa Beach and Seventh Street are being retired…

Quality Road, who was a gate scratch before the Classic, has a few minor scratches. Pletcher reported, "There are some gashes on his hind legs mainly from kicking. But it's nothing too severe."

Mike Smith moved closer to catching Jerry Bailey as the all time winning jockey at the Breeder’s Cup, picking up his 13th career win aboard Zenyatta. The retired Bailey has 15 Breeders’ Cup wins…Jockeys picking up their first wins at the Breeders’ Cup this year were Joe Talamo, Joel Rosario, Tom Queally, and Ahmed Ajtebi.

Attendance improved over last year’s numbers. Saturday’s crowd of 58,845 was a 6% increase over last year, and Friday’s crowd of 37,651 was an increase of 20% from last year…Total handle dropped 6% from 2008, coming in at $96,159,747…