Maybe Lookin at Lucky doesn't flatten out mid-stretch, or Quality Road doesn't stop after 6 furlongs. Or maybe a longshot hits. Too many things can happen in horse racing...
Lucky always sounds a bit harsh. Zenyatta had traffic problems and had too much ground to make up on a very good horse. Zenyatta is in the greatest of all time discussions; Blame is not.
Honestly, it drives me a little bit crazy how they keep talking about how she "lost" this race and implying that Blame was the better horse here. Blame was fantastic, no doubt about that, he's a great horse, but if she'd moved a second earlier, or if they'd had one more stride, she would've had Blame beat, no question. She was in the process of passing him, he wasn't pulling away from her. For all intents and purposes, she won this race, she just won it a couple feet past the line. She deserves all the praise and congratulations in the world for this phenomenal race.
Zenyatta never passed him even after they crossed the finish line. I think he saw her and was not going to let her pass him. She did not lose, Blame beat her. Mike Smith used the same strategy he used in the other races. Both horses were far behind early and had to fight through traffic.
lynn marie I disagree and agree with you. In terms of the trips of Zenyatta and Blame, its not even close. Blame was back in the pack, yes, but had an absolutely PERFECT trip in this race. Zenyatta was simply too far back to win if a live horse got the jump on her and pulled away, and that's exactly what happened. That being said, I agree with you that Blame ran a great race and beat her fair and square. If Zenyatta isn't in the race, Blame CRUSHES this field. I bet Blame that day and I think that Zenyatta was the better horse that day, but again, give credit to Blame. He ran huge.
Well, I first responded because the original post states if the race had been one stride longer Zenyatta would have won. If you watch the race replay you see at no point did she pass Zenyatta pass Blame after the finish line. I do not believe that Blame once he saw Zenyatta was going to let her pass him, and even after the finish line she didn't. I also take issue with those who say that she was too far back to win. Just one year earlier we all remember a horse named Mine That Bird was much further back than Zenyatta who came from behind to win easily in the Kentucky Derby
Disagree. This is the oldest closers excuse made and is always made when closers lose, had they only moved sooner, blah blah blah. She trailed early and conserved energy against a very fast early pace. If she's closer to the pace early she finishes slower, reality. You all conveniently ignore the fact all the energy she saved by dawdling early. Blame beat her fair and square. She caught him with 50 yards to go and as soon as he got her in his vision he held her off. REALITY!
I could not agree with you more. She was 1 year past her prime and still otherworldly. Blame got very lucky, and as good as he was, he was not her equal. No other horse in Breeders Cup classic history came from that far back, or ran a closing quarter like she did, to just miss by a nose. This was her greatest race. There will never be another like her.
Zenyatta won the 2009 BCC in 2:00.62. She lost this one by half a head to Blame in a time of 2:02.08. I chalk it up to traffic. She was much the better horse. mho That's horse-racing.
***** I am not sure we saw the same race, both horses were far off the pace most of the race,both horses had to get through traffic, and Zenyatta moved away from the rail in the straightaway which does not add distance. Even in the gallop out she never passed Blame. In addition her move from the rail almost caused a collision with Fly Down the third place finisher. As for running on your home track,did not Zenyatta do that the year before on Santa Anita's synthetic track? When you both have an identical records,head to head should decide your horse of the year. When the Patriots lost the Super Bowl to the Giants after being undefeated all year, they were not crowned champions anyway.It was also funny that TVG showed Zwnyatta's winning of the Breeder's Cup in 2009 about 10,000 times, and when Blame won one of the closest most exciting Classic races ever,we never saw it again, they probably burned the video. It's ok to award Horse of the Year for popularity instead of accomplishments. We elect presidents that way too.
Hi, The reason I mentioned the gallop out is because you will often see a horse pass another just after the finish line, and it is obvious that had the race been one stride longer a different outcome would have occurred. The horses do not know where the finish line is, so the fact that Blame saw Zenyatta and never let her pass is relevent, much in the same way Affirmed and Alydar had their stretch runs and Alydar never won even when it appeared he would go past Affirmed. I mentioned the 2009 Classic because is was alleged that the surface and location was somehow responsible for her defeat in 2010, but nobody seemed to want to penalize her for running on a synthetic surface at Santa Anita where she ran a third of her races. It was there that Curlin finished fourth in 2008 and his connections complained about the synthetic surface. Zenyatta did run twice on dirt at Oaklawn,she won both and it was said at the time that she ran two of her better races on the dirt. Don't get me wrong, I thought she was a great racehorse but in this race she was second best. However I see many comments that suggest she wasn't, that it was her Jockey, the dirt, or the Kentucky air she was breathing that caused her defeat Electing a president is a an effective analogy, people do not always vote for who would do the best job, but for other reasons. Blame was not the media darling Zenyatta was, he was not on 60 minutes the week before the Breeder'a Cup, nobody was giving out Blame posters at Churchill the day of the race. It was said she deserved horse of the year for what she did for the sport of horse racing, and that denied that honor for the horse that should have won it on the track. Just my opinion
lynn marie I really need to find the picture I saw of Z and Blame just past the finish line...maybe a stride or two. Someone took it from just inside the rail and the horses were almost directly in front of them. Z's head is in front of Blame by a few inches. It may not have lasted but a second or two, but it happened. Just sayin'...
I always thought she was a very good horse, but really did not have a year in 2010 that deserved being the horse of the year. She did not win a race with a single grade 1 winner in it, and with that in mind I thought her overwhelming winning horse of the year was a decision based on non racing facts, which many said was a factor in their voting. What was never discussed was Zenyatta's move away from the rail, and cutting off of Fly Down who was third, and actually had closed ground on both at the end. If you read the comments on each horse on the race chart, it states Fly Down steadied, checked and that is when Z cut him off and almost collided with him. It also states Blame was carrying more weight than both Z, and Fly Down. It all just left a bad taste in my mouth, including the race coverage, which was so biased I almost couldn't stand it, Including Trevor Denman's call of the race. I was glad I could not hear it.
I just remember the conversation at the time was that Zenyatta deserved HOY because of what she did for racing. I agree with that, and I also think she should have been HOY in 2008 for her accomplishments, she beat quality female horses, and was unbeaten. The Daily Racing Form writers who cover racing voted 38-21 for Blame, but all other voting blocks voted for Zenyatta, including the NTRA which promotes racing, not the results on the track. It was a popularity contest, I get that. Blame could have sprouted wings and flown the last 100 feet and would still not have been HOY. One thing I never understood, the California bias. Zenyatta was bred, foaled and raised in Kentucky, only her trainers and owners we California based. She s back here now, making babies and looking very much like the Champion she was. Thanks for the debate, we may not agree on this point, but there is nothing like the thrill of horse racing, I was an exercise rider for two years and was in awe of even the marginal horses.
Blame is no match for Zenyatta, he just got lucky with her wide trip and her having to lose ground going around each horse in the stretch. Still to this day this race makes me angry!
Blame had to go through traffic. Going wide on the final turn gives a clear run at the leaders, and the horse doesn't have to corner, so it's actually not a bad trip at all. Going wide on the FIRST turn, however, is another matter.
I was at Churchill Downs near the finish line and the crowd reaction was devastation when she came up short. When they passed the wire the first time she was so far behind the next to last horse that it seemed impossible for her to win. That she came that close was incredible. Mike Smith had too much confidence in her and left just a little too much ground to make up. He gave her a great ride to save ground on the turn and weave through traffic to get to the outside in the stretch but Blame had something left to hold her off. It was like being at a funeral after the race. So many people were crying. So glad I got to see her dancing in person.
You can't spot Blame 25 lengths! On his home track, where he's won 3 of 4! What was Smith thinking? The 2 packs of horses may have deceived Smith? Instead of being 15 lengths back, he was actually 25 back due to the front pack of leaders that he didn't see. If Smith stays 10 lengths closer she beats Blame by 15 lengths. Textbook race of how a jockey can lose a race the horse should've won.
Zenyatta was not to BLAME for this loss. The defeat proved her greatness more than all of her victories combined. She destroyed all but one of the best handicap males in America on dirt, something people had assumed she could never do.
Ray Gordon Teaches Chess stick to chess you think franked and zapper were great horses both never ran more then a mile zapper was a sprinter front runner try going from dead last 19 for 19 then get beat a head to blame jeez Zenyatta would run circles around ghostzapper
Ghostzapper won the BC Classic aat 1.25 miles, and never broke a sweat. Other guys who make speed figures said the same thing. As for Frankel, take that up wth the Brits.
Zenyatta beat fillies in five-horse fields in California for most of her wins. She was truly great, but Ghostzapper was so great he made his wins look easy. You insult me with an inaccuracy if you think Ghostzapper never ran a mile and a quarter, because the 2004 BC Classic was run at ten furlongs. He dusted Roses in May, who was hardly a slouch. That he could also sprint says just how good he was, like Forego, who I still think could have beaten Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont, had he not chosen to dominate an allowance field a mere 30 minutes earlie.
I have made a substantial profit as a horse handicapper throughout my life. I made speed figures with the Beyer method and know what goes into those figures. Ghostzapper's top figure was 128 and he wasn't even challenged. Zenyatta barely broke 110.
Watching this, my heart started pounding just like it did that day. After Zenyatta lost, I bawled my eyes out. I'm not ashamed to admit it. It was so disappointing, and I just was devastated. Especially because I thought that cemented Zenyatta as the greatest horse to never win horse of the year. But she did. And I don't care what the Andy Beyers of the world say; she deserved it. It isn't just about speed and number of wins; it's about charisma and contribution to the sport, too. CTD
Folks need to remember how many terrific boys she beat that day!! Gomez said Blame ran the best race he's ever run. He also said he would not want a rematch with Zenyatta because he knew how lucky he got that day. I think it's irrelevant that she didn't race the boys more than she did. The Mosses and Shirreffs campaigned her to not only win, but to keep her sound. They knew she was special and wanted to keep her safe. Kudos to them!
How on earth can you give away 10 lengths in a Breeders cup classic and expect to win , I believe this was Zenyatta's best ever performance to get within a head of pulling it off , I know this is the way she raced but the jockey should have been a lot closer to the back runners giving Zenyatta a lot less to do up that straight ,she'd have won this by two lengths if it wasn't for the jockeys major blunder
I suppose Seth Hancock looked so long-faced during the presentation because everyone was bemoaning Zenyatta's loss in her last race instead of being happy for Blame. Blame got lucky...even Garrett Gomez said so and that Blame ran the best race of his life...that plus a perfect trip. He even said he wouldn't want a rematch because of how lucky he knew he was. Yeh, lucky indeed.
First of all people the reason zenyatta lost was mike smith. He thought he could save ground like the year before and got stuck behind a exhausted quality road then had to check her and go wide which costed her momentum and a few strides and that's what cost her perfection.
No Dimitri..it was John Shirreffs error for not giving Z even one workout over the Churchill track...which when the dirt started hitting her...well she never was so far back..he fucked up bad
I still cry watching this race. She just ran out of track! She was so far back. And, to be that close and lose- heartbreaking. She’s an amazing race horse!
Zenyatta (Beauty n Grace she would dance before each race / respect one day would come /her jockey always knew right from the start ,at the end of each race she would stop your heart ,race after race her fame had grown ,no other horse wanted to face her. The Greatest Lady Racer. Zenyatta
I find it creepy that the first three trainers interviewed were (1) the trainer of the horse that beat her at the wire and (2) the trainer whose horse stalled her in the turn and cost her the race and (3) the trainer that said the horse that beats her will have to run the race of his life and that's exactly what Garrett Gomez said Blame did.
I've now lived to see a Triple Crown winner and I was here at Churchill Downs for this race and I can now say - she was the best I ever saw, what heart she showed. Every time I watch this race I still think she's going to catch him
@@signoresantinoburnett1169 You cannot compare Zenyattas run in that race vs Blame. Blame had a clean inside path, experience on dirt, and was not held up by another horse in the race. Luck is what won that race for Blame. Zenyatta had bad luck and that is what racing boils down to in many cases. Luck not just skill. Zenyatta almost pulled up to a stop after breaking the gate due to dirt in her face. She had no experience breaking last into a hail of wet mud. She ended up much further back in the back stretch due to that and Mike Smith not judging better and getting her closer till too late. Last bit of bad luck Quality Road, always a trouble horse, blocked her at the final turn forcing her to stall and then have to drive to the outside down the stretch. In effect Zenyatta ran a much longer race than Blame against terrible luck and still almost caught him. Gomez even said later that Blame was lucky to beat her that day.
+cheryl Maclean Zenyatta never deserved HOY in ANY year. Curlin, Rachel Alexandra and Blame all had better overall campaigns than she did in their respective years. One race does not make a HOY. Zenyatta's 2009 campaign for HOY depended exclusively on her Classic victory, while Rachel Alexandra's consisted of the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Haskell and Woodward Stakes. Zenyatta had one good race. Rachel Alexandra had the better overall campaign. She fully deserved to be Horse of the Year. Zenyatta was shot in the foot two years in a row by her connections who campaigned her so conservatively.
cheryl Maclean Female sentimentality won out over logic. Many females don't care about facts, they just think based on emotion. Zenyatta winning HOY had no logical basis, just the feelings of emotional women.
I have been a beloved fan of zenyatta and actually it was her who really got me into horse racing and me to pursue this industry as a business. I always believed she was one of the best of all time to do it. Than I watched Rachel and personal ensign and Winx begin to wonder how good was Zenyatta. When back and watched all 20 races can confirm she is the best mare of all time and its not even close.
she beat all the others!!! what heart...love to you Zenyatta !!! and hey look how awesome secretariet was and how he still is thought of as being the greatest horse ever and he was beat more times than zenyatta..... Zenyatta is the greatest horse i have ever seen run males or females how many could come from way back everytime???like she did and go 19-0 NOT many thats for sure !! koodos and kisses zenyatta !!!!
Well, you know them California trainers don't have to deal with this type of track except at Delmar... it's like Bob baffert with Congaree and point given both get a guttural pouch infection from Kentucky and can't finish the damn race at Churchill Downs.... they don't have that problem in California
Zenyatta did not loose this race, Mike Smith did it. You can not let the leader to get so far in the front of you. In this case Blame had some fuel left to compete in the last 40 meter and it was enough to win.
I get the worst adrenaline rush every time I watch this race. All the love to Zenyatta who introduced me to horse racing, my life hasn't been the same since!
It was unfair of Bill Nack to say she didn't run against a single female that had won a G1 race. For pete's sake, Z ran 5 G1's in 2010 and won them all. Who was there to run against that had won one??
Zenyatta should have won this race. I have no idea what Mike Smith was doing taking her inside through all that traffic then finally going to the outside where Zenyatta owned the track. I'll never understand it, and I believe Smith knows he made a mistake. He had the best horse, and he knew it. It didn't matter what track she was running on or who her competition was, Zenyatta had more heart and talent than the whole field put together.
The question is Zenyatta the best filly/mare of all time you can debate that, to me she is but there’s one thing you can not debate is Zenyatta is the most precious horse that has ever set foot on the planet!!! We love you Z!!! Girl power!!!
I can only stand to watch this by thinking of all the great horses she DID beat in this race and only lost by a nose after a bad trip. She was the best horse on the field!! ♥
More than any other, this race proved her greatness. She did about as well as Blushing John or Forty Niner, and that's not bad. Personal Ensign would not likely have gotten as close had she tried the boys instead of ending her career in the Distaff.
Tengo más de 40 años viendo carrera de caballo y nunca vi una yegua cómo zenyatta la mejor de todos los tiempos. Todavía veo este video y lloro que animal tan honesto y sensible ❤❤❤ eso fue zenyatta
I just loved watching her race and actually enjoyed watching her in the paddock and post parade with her signature gallop and prance in place. Phenomenal racehorse and gorgeous too.
What is there left to say about beauty in motion! Kenyatta was all that and more. Those of us who had honor and privilege of seeing Kenyatta perform,truly saw beauty in motion. I'm sure there is no doubt in anyone's opinion a bout it, she is in to this day everyone is in agreement on that point, she reigns even today,as the best ever !!!. Elaine Acosta
I have mis-spelled Zenyatta's name twice in what I had written in what I wrote,and could not fix it when I re-read it. These new fangled contraptions have me and at 86 years of age,I guess I'll never get it right.Hoping everyone will forgive my error.
I believe firmly that this race was her best one How many horses could go from dead last at the top of the stretch, and only loose that race by a nose She proved how good she was!!
Zenyatta lost because of a Pat Day ride by Mike Smith, Blame was not the better horse, Rachel Alexandra would have lost, Even Quality Road without his Abcess issue would have still lost..Zenyatta was clearly the better horse she spotted everyone 20 lenghts and that was Mike Smiths error, if pushed earlier she would have won, Blame would never match her stride, never.
Spooting those 20 lengths meant also she ran slower early and saved more energy. If she was closer early she'd have finished slower too. REALITY! Blame beat her fair and square. She had him caught with 50 yards to go and as soon as he got her in his vision he held her off.
ghostzapper2006 check out the 'gallop out'...Blame re-breaks past the finish line and puts 3 lengths on her in two seconds....this mare is very good, but anyone who tries to put her in the company with Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed and now American Pharoah is only playing the politically correct game....its cool to be on the side with the female beating the male because it happens rarely here in the United States....but good try, Zenyatta, just not good enough
+Iwastherein1969 why would Zenyatta need to beat Blame after the finish line. Clearly Mike pulled her up. She ran her race and was defeated (probably due to MS) so why make her run on.Is she Secretariat-no. Is she American Pharoah-again no. But in her own time she was an awesome horse that almost pulled off an incredible feat and only lost by a nose.
There's the oldest horse in the race, a female, should already be retired, twenty-plus lengths behind all by her sorry self, trying to catch the best male champion horses in the land in their primes, she having to journey thousands of miles to run in a track she was not used to. There she is trying to chase Blame, a resident of this racetrack, who had won many times on this track. There are the connections of Blame instead of screaming "come on come on come on!" were whispering "oh sh*t oh sh*t oh sh*t".
Well if that race would of been 1 foot longer we know what the result would have been. And if that race tarnished her legacy then you don't know jack about anything. Maybe she's not Secretariat but she is one of the greatest horses and definitely the most exciting horse in history. Male or female
No works over the Churchill dirt...and she drops further behind than ever before...not used to dirt in her face ? Why not work her behind horses to get her used to...almost all her races were on synthetic...John Shirrefs got her beat...best horse in the race !!
i keep rewinding to the last 30 seconds of the race, watching zenyatta flying down and closing in and thinking lol even hoping that zenyatta would pass blame already knowing the result... but i keep rewinding
Zenyatta is one of the best ever, but I'd like to respect Blame. Posts say Z lost because: Smith held her too far back (I agree); Blame was lucky; Blame was in his prime (he was) and Zenyatta was past hers (huh?); you can't spot Blame 25 lengths (she didn't -- even entering the first turn the announcer says, "Blame is being taken to the rear" and for about 9/10 of the race Blame was 6-7 lengths in front); Blame was on his home track (he did win on many others) etc. Blame is a winner, too.
Yeah, you're "pissing in the wind" but not for the reason you think. Listen Einstein, I know what an open class race is, just like anyone who has been watching racing for 40 years would. Get over yourself. Gee, let's think about this. Numerous trainers, racing sports writers, Sports Illustrated and even GOD help me, Andy Beyer think she is the best mare in modern history. But you don't. Guess who I agree with? The only one who trumps her is Kincsem from the 19th century.
She is a awesome fillie!!! Really fun to watch but for the people who are saying she is the greatest of all time she is no where near that. I think horse racing nation has her listed as the greatest fillie right above Ruffian but like number 50 all time. Still that’s pretty awesome for a fillie
RachelAlexandra79, I heard the same crap about Rachel Alexandra: that she didn't beat anyone of note in all her races. Of course that is what it was: crap. As is your comment about Zenyatta not beating anyone. Go to Wikipedia and google "Zenyatta" and read the statistics. If that doesn't convince you, nothing ever will and you have a bias. In my opinion, both Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra were absolutely brilliant horses but their achievements were different. I don't have to disrespect one, to elevate the other. This is something you might want to emulate. As for Blame, his clean trip had alot to do with his victory. It was not so much about being on his home track. He was a very, very good horse. He was very gutsy and hung on to win. But one final word: listen to both the commentators and here what they say "She is the greatest female horse of all time." If you want to say that Rachel Alexandra or Ruffian were equally as great, I would not argue with you. There is an argument to be made for all 3. I just feel lucky to have been alive to see them all.
Paula, Rachel broke records in every start, so competition is irrelevant. She ran faster than almost every thoroughbred to ever attempt those races amidst a campaign Zenyatta could never handle, or at least never PROVED she could handle. The same cannot be said about Zenyatta. Also, the majority of statistics you reference for WIKIPEDIA (a stupid source by the way) for Zenyatta come from one race, not all her races. You make is sound like she beat Classic fields in 19 starts and she didn't. Looking at it in a skewed way isn't accurate. Volponi beat a ton of GI winners in his Classic victory, but so what, it's one race? Tiznow won the Classic twice! So does that make him better than Zenyatta? Furthermore, Paula, the grand champion should be facing GI competition during the year. I don't think this person was tearing down Zenyatta just because they pointed out facts. The commentator stated opinion, IN THE MOMENT, and did not state fact. Who cares about their opinion? I personally have tons of knowledge about racing, and I think it's important to factor in Zenyatta's weak campaign schedule, she never wheeled back in 2 weeks like Rachel, never ran on slop, never ran hard during the year, etc. TRUE Champions do this...try reading up on Busher and Twilight Tear. They make Zenyatta look like a claimer. People tear down Rachel all the time, and that is why her fans respond with factual evidence to support her, not to tear down an innocent animal. Zenyatta was great, but not the greatest based on 19 wins against mostly weak females. Beating males MULTIPLE times while starting 17 times as a 3-year old, however, DOES prove greatness. You have trouble handling the truth because your love for Zenyatta blinds you. Go ahead, love her. I don't care, but her record was nowhere near as impressive when you look at it in its totality and look at it compared to horses who REALLY campaigned hard, like champions.
BigRed73Forever Which is more impressive: a filly that has a sparkling short career or a filly that has a consistently winning long career? It's really not fair of anyone to compare Zenyatta and RA. As one commenter on another clip said, "Zenyatta breathed different air." Her greatness is a different category, a different quality. RA is great in her own right. So is Zenyatta.
+BigRed73Forever I have never torn down Rachel Alexandra. Unlike yourself, I can appreciate both of them. I never wanted them to meet because I never wanted one of them to lose to the other. BTW, the same rubbish you are accusing Zenyatta of (weak fields) I heard about Rachel on the blogs. It is all garbage and not true about either one of them. They ran against whoever showed up. Their owners/trainers planned different campaigns for specific goals. Jess Jackson planned a stellar 3 year old campaign and accomplished it. Rachel had the greatest 3 year old year of any filly. Jerry Moss planned a longer career with BCC's at the end of the year. Not to mention the distaff in 2008. Zenyatta had 19 wins and a BCC win against the males and a win in the BC distaff. Then 2nd in 2010 with a half a head loss to Blame. How you consider that anything less than jaw dropping is mind boggling. Both should be appreciated for what they accomplished and not torn down by armchair critics like yourself. It is really unfortunate that you cannot appreciate the greatness of Zenyatta and respect her accomplishments. It is really your loss.
totally Mike's fault she was beat .... he had her Wayyyyy to far out of it , and still only got beat a NOSE !! not her fault with a clean break she destroys Blame !!........................SO sorry her she ran her Heart out ! came up a nose short ! her Name will live Forever in Horse-racing History for what she did for the Game !!
2006 was the first Kentucky Derby I remember watching. I had always loved horses and horse racing sparked an interest and I watched the derby every year. It was in early 2009 when Animal Planet released a tv series called 'Jockeys' and they featured Zenyatta. I immediately fell in love with her and truly fell in love with horse racing. In October of 2009, I watched her win the Lady's Secret and then a month later her win the Classic. Zenyatta truly made me love thoroughbred horse racing, every race, especially this race, she demonstrated every characteristic a race horse has. I still can't watch this race, as it still feels like yesterday this happened. But Zenyatta truly saved horse racing and sparked a new generation of lovers.
Defeated or not. Zenyatta is still the Queen and she always will be,she gave her Fans her all even though it wasnt enough but even now as she is retired and expected her next foal,Zenyatta still treated like a Queen and passing on her Royal Genes to her Offspring so they too someday continue on what she left off. Blame was a Great horse even though he Beaten the Queen but Zenyatta is still loved by her fans. she still gave her fans one Final Dance as she left
Zenyatta have the longest stride both male and female,the only horse that could beat zenyatta is Secretariat and only because his heart was two times bigger than any horse
I had only heard about Zenyatta until this evening bit I watched her races posted on here and I have to say that she was indeed a great champion racehorse. This was what i call a "fortune" race. If you have good fortune, and you are great, you will win it. She did not have good fortune this night. In her case, it did not matter what her competition was, she was capable of winning every race. I still consider Ruffian to be the best of her gender, but Zenyatta is right there.
Zenyatta had personality. She was powerful. I always thought she ran somewhat like Secretariat, something about that stride and form. 17.2 hands, 27 ft stride. She was beautiful.
Still it was incredible what she did that day. I will only remember her as a winner. And everybody who knows about racing and athletes can only agree. Sublime upload, thanks.
It's hard to say, i agree tho he should have had her way farther up, i get she didn't like the surface of the track, real dirt, but i think he could have gotten her way farther up from the start and just blew em away. I watch her races all the time 👍can't get enough.
He defeated Haynesfield in 2 out of 3 starts in 2010, the only loss coming when Haynesfield enjoyed an uncontested lead. I suspect if Zenyatta had run on dirt against males in the top Graded events in the country, not just Cali against fillies and mares, that she, too, would have encountered similar scenarios in which a loose speed horse was uncatchable. Blame deserves a lot of credit, and if you think Zenyatta was ten times better, then how did he beat her? Just admit he was better that day!
Obviously she did not run against Haynesfield that day or else she would have been beat by a dozen lengths He ran a big one, sometimes you just have to give the horse his due.
It doesn't happen often, but every great once and awhile you learn as much about a horse's intelligence, heart, and determination in a loss where everything they have gets left on the racetrack in defeat as you would with another win. This race without question was one of those "every great once and awhile's."
I still feel bad for Mike Smith. He's probably feeling regretful and guilty to this day. He was only a microsecond too late prompting Zenyatta and that's all it came down to...
Ghostzapper would have destroyed Zenyatta by 5+. Zenyatta never beat anything of consequence. Evene her 09 BCC win was against a bunch of soso polyturfers on a polytrack surface. Nice mare, way overhyped and overated though. As soon as Blame got her in his vision with 50 yards to go he held her at bay. She was never going to get by him, REALITY!
So here are the stats: Rachel Alexandra: 19 starts, 13 wins, 5 places, total earnings of $3,506,730. Zenyatta: 20 starts, 19 wins, 1 place, total earnings of $7,304,580. If you owned a racehorse, would you rather win consistently, earn the big bucks and keep your horse sound or would you rather set records, overrun the horse, and risk injury? I'll take the former.
The gallop out says it all...10 yds past the finish line Blame rebroke and put 3 lengths on Zenyatta. Check out 45.18 to 45.22..She was through, he could have run around yet another lap around Churchill Downs and not have caught Blame. Sorry, you Z lovers, just keeping it 100%.
Blame is a nice horse.... But I can't watch this. Blame - "The horse that silenced the whole statium. ".... BLAME - The WORST name other than Violence. Who named that poor horse? "Marlys Freedom" dumped that horrible name but those colts got stuck with it. Pretty horse or colt ... but I just refuse to watch this actual race. The Great BEHOLDER vs Songbird amazing race ! ... than there's Arrogate...
I was ahead $2500 from friday.i bet $1000 exacta zenyatta over blame straight,then $1250 exacta box zenyatta with blame.was mad when she got beat,but not a bad return.remember will pay was around $25 for $2 exacta zenyatta over blame.blame over zenyatta paid around $37.still wanted to see her race against Rachel alexander.the styles were polar opposites of each other regarding pace however.mike smith love him,or hate him.
Fun facts about Zenyatta. Who did she beat? How far did she travel? Etc., etc. BTW, two of her best margins of victory were at Oaklawn twice in the Apple Blossom, on the dirt. db.tt/NKXHQcvv
HOLLYWOOD OR ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD SHOULD MAKE A MOVIE ABT ZENYATTA AND USING THE REAL ZENYATTA & THE PPLE SURROUNDING HER, WHILE ALL OF THEM ARE STILL ALIVE!!!!! LET THE WORLD KNOWS THIS GREAT GREAT MARE IN HISTORY. JERRY MORSE & MIKE SMITH CAN FORK OUT SOME MONEY TO COPRODUCE THIS FILM & MAKE LOTS OF MONEY BUT REMEMBER TO GET A GOOD SCRIPTOR AND DIRECTOR.
Perhaps....too much blame was placed on Mike Smith. I have watched this race a hundred times & it could've gone one way or another. Getting caught behind a bunch of horse's, dying right in front of him...."Blame" gets 'late' those last few strides ???
It looked like when Mike Smith wanted her to run she wouldn't get in gear right away. She veered out a little in the stretch and that cost her the race. I've never seen a horse like Zenyatta, such speed and power. I think she's the best ever. In my mind I don't think she lost this last race, she just ran out of track. This horse is special.
Churchill Downs in the fall is not made fast like they make it for the Derby it's riverbottom sand... they don't dare make it fast in the fall If it freezes they would never get inside out for the races AND most big striding horses can't handle it because it cups out with them especially in the fall when they don't tighten it up or DARE to put much water on it
Remember it well.i didn't bet zenyatta but was pulling for her..blames owner was a classless jerk... poor mike.. the way the race shaped out he wanted to get over to the rail to save ground and it was nowhere to be had....she truly was something special...
Now how they says she's the best she couldn't run like Secretariat she run a time of 2002-3 when Secretariat doing is morning work out he doing 158 easy she couldn't have any chance against him smh
Have to wonder about zenyatta,and Rachel how each ones babies never were outstanding.alot of hearsay about both of them being pumped with roids which led to complications with there foaling.insides were destroyed.just hearsay don't know for certain,but game has been tainted so badly wouldn't shock me if it was true.
Such thrilling finishes for Zenyatta... but... just started her run just a few few strides too late... I know it's her style... but sometimes you just want to know what she would have done if she'd been closer to the front in the race.
The jock's timing was just a fraction of a second too late atop Zenyatta. Yes, Blame crossed the finish line first "by a nose" over Zenyatta, but t'was Zenyatta's race, not Blame's.
What bothers me the most is Zen was Sooooo far back, to be able to come in like she does was way way way better than what Blame or any other horse could have ever done, Blame never would have won that far back ,never ever so Raspberries to anyone who says anything to up Blame. Her effort was never to be seen ever again by any race horse ever. And yes i feel bad for Garrett bcz he has passed but ya should never try to doop the Queen, Karma is a real bitch😬sry not sry
![ลองสั่งของจากแอพ temu ถูกจริงหรอ?? [โกงไหมครับ ep.88 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RTcZSQTiDZw/mqdefault.jpg)
John Shirreffs said recently that if they could run that race 9 more times, Zenyatta would win them all. I believe that.
Maybe Lookin at Lucky doesn't flatten out mid-stretch, or Quality Road doesn't stop after 6 furlongs. Or maybe a longshot hits. Too many things can happen in horse racing...
as long as blame isn't in there
Chris hughes yea that’s ridiculous. If smith had gone inside he wouldn’t have made it through. Quit being sour.
Well they only ran once and Blame did win.
If they ran the race 9 more times Zenyatta would win like twice, there are too many good horses and any one of them can fire on any given day
Hat's off to Blame he did what no other horse could do.But when it comes down to it i don't think Blame is the better horse,he just got lucky
Lucky always sounds a bit harsh. Zenyatta had traffic problems and had too much ground to make up on a very good horse. Zenyatta is in the greatest of all time discussions; Blame is not.
@@stevencooke6451 I agree, it was Mike smiths fault that she lost. He kept her too far back and let her loose too late. But hey, thats horse racing.
he bulled his way through he was good not lucky
Well Blame won the race and he deserved to win
@@DanielSong39 of course he deserved to win. Zenyatta deserved to carve herself into the Mt. Rushmore of Horses with this race.
Honestly, it drives me a little bit crazy how they keep talking about how she "lost" this race and implying that Blame was the better horse here. Blame was fantastic, no doubt about that, he's a great horse, but if she'd moved a second earlier, or if they'd had one more stride, she would've had Blame beat, no question. She was in the process of passing him, he wasn't pulling away from her. For all intents and purposes, she won this race, she just won it a couple feet past the line. She deserves all the praise and congratulations in the world for this phenomenal race.
Zenyatta never passed him even after they crossed the finish line. I think he saw her and was not going to let her pass him. She did not lose, Blame beat her. Mike Smith used the same strategy he used in the other races. Both horses were far behind early and had to fight through traffic.
lynn marie
I disagree and agree with you. In terms of the trips of Zenyatta and Blame, its not even close. Blame was back in the pack, yes, but had an absolutely PERFECT trip in this race. Zenyatta was simply too far back to win if a live horse got the jump on her and pulled away, and that's exactly what happened. That being said, I agree with you that Blame ran a great race and beat her fair and square. If Zenyatta isn't in the race, Blame CRUSHES this field.
I bet Blame that day and I think that Zenyatta was the better horse that day, but again, give credit to Blame. He ran huge.
Well, I first responded because the original post states if the race had been one stride longer Zenyatta would have won. If you watch the race replay you see at no point did she pass Zenyatta pass Blame after the finish line. I do not believe that Blame once he saw Zenyatta was going to let her pass him, and even after the finish line she didn't.
I also take issue with those who say that she was too far back to win. Just one year earlier we all remember a horse named Mine That Bird was much further back than Zenyatta who came from behind to win easily in the Kentucky Derby
Disagree. This is the oldest closers excuse made and is always made when closers lose, had they only moved sooner, blah blah blah. She trailed early and conserved energy against a very fast early pace. If she's closer to the pace early she finishes slower, reality. You all conveniently ignore the fact all the energy she saved by dawdling early. Blame beat her fair and square. She caught him with 50 yards to go and as soon as he got her in his vision he held her off. REALITY!
+ghostzapper2006 She was wide down the stretch, really wide. It cost her those 2-3 seconds on that track.
seriously I thought she ran her best race losing bye a nose . just an incredible effort only to lose bye a nose greatest mare ever.
no photo We saw who won never got past blame
You must have never watched her half sister Winx race.
miscalculation of Mike....
@@nestormanuel1431 100% too much to make up and started late.
Actually she lost by a head but it was a good attempt that fell short
Watch what a "great" champ Blame was in the JCGC that year. Whatever, Blame isn't half the horse Zenyatta is.
I could not agree with you more. She was 1 year past her prime and still otherworldly. Blame got very lucky, and as good as he was, he was not her equal. No other horse in Breeders Cup classic history came from that far back, or ran a closing quarter like she did, to just miss by a nose. This was her greatest race. There will never be another like her.
Her and Afleet Alex going into the home stretch off a slow pace I gotta give it to Zenyatta. Zenyatta vs American Pharaoh? Who knows? lmao
Zenyatta won the 2009 BCC in 2:00.62. She lost this one by half a head to Blame in a time of 2:02.08. I chalk it up to traffic. She was much the better horse. mho That's horse-racing.
I'm so glad that Zenyatta won Horse of the Year instead of Blame. She deserved it bigtime.
***** I am not sure we saw the same race, both horses were far off the pace most of the race,both horses had to get through traffic, and Zenyatta moved away from the rail in the straightaway which does not add distance. Even in the gallop out she never passed Blame. In addition her move from the rail almost caused a collision with Fly Down the third place finisher. As for running on your home track,did not Zenyatta do that the year before on Santa Anita's synthetic track? When you both have an identical records,head to head should decide your horse of the year. When the Patriots lost the Super Bowl to the Giants after being undefeated all year, they were not crowned champions anyway.It was also funny that TVG showed Zwnyatta's winning of the Breeder's Cup in 2009 about 10,000 times, and when Blame won one of the closest most exciting Classic races ever,we never saw it again, they probably burned the video. It's ok to award Horse of the Year for popularity instead of accomplishments. We elect presidents that way too.
Hi,
The reason I mentioned the gallop out is because you will often see a horse pass another just after the finish line, and it is obvious that had the race been one stride longer a different outcome would have occurred.
The horses do not know where the finish line is, so the fact that Blame saw Zenyatta and never let her pass is relevent, much in the same way Affirmed and Alydar had their stretch runs and Alydar never won even when it appeared he would go past Affirmed.
I mentioned the 2009 Classic because is was alleged that the surface and location was somehow responsible for her defeat in 2010, but nobody seemed to want to penalize her for running on a synthetic surface at Santa Anita where she ran a third of her races. It was there that Curlin finished fourth in 2008 and his connections complained about the synthetic surface.
Zenyatta did run twice on dirt at Oaklawn,she won both and it was said at the time that she ran two of her better races on the dirt.
Don't get me wrong, I thought she was a great racehorse but in this race she was second best. However I see many comments that suggest she wasn't, that it was her Jockey, the dirt, or the Kentucky air she was breathing that caused her defeat
Electing a president is a an effective analogy, people do not always vote for who would do the best job, but for other reasons. Blame was not the media darling Zenyatta was, he was not on 60 minutes the week before the Breeder'a Cup, nobody was giving out Blame posters at Churchill the day of the race.
It was said she deserved horse of the year for what she did for the sport of horse racing, and that denied that honor for the horse that should have won it on the track. Just my opinion
lynn marie I really need to find the picture I saw of Z and Blame just past the finish line...maybe a stride or two. Someone took it from just inside the rail and the horses were almost directly in front of them. Z's head is in front of Blame by a few inches. It may not have lasted but a second or two, but it happened. Just sayin'...
I always thought she was a very good horse, but really did not have a year in 2010 that deserved being the horse of the year. She did not win a race with a single grade 1 winner in it, and with that in mind I thought her overwhelming winning horse of the year was a decision based on non racing facts, which many said was a factor in their voting.
What was never discussed was Zenyatta's move away from the rail, and cutting off of Fly Down who was third, and actually had closed ground on both at the end. If you read the comments on each horse on the race chart, it states Fly Down steadied, checked and that is when Z cut him off and almost collided with him. It also states Blame was carrying more weight than both Z, and Fly Down.
It all just left a bad taste in my mouth, including the race coverage, which was so biased I almost couldn't stand it, Including Trevor Denman's call of the race. I was glad I could not hear it.
I just remember the conversation at the time was that Zenyatta deserved HOY because of what she did for racing. I agree with that, and I also think she should have been HOY in 2008 for her accomplishments, she beat quality female horses, and was unbeaten.
The Daily Racing Form writers who cover racing voted 38-21 for Blame, but all other voting blocks voted for Zenyatta, including the NTRA which promotes racing, not the results on the track. It was a popularity contest, I get that. Blame could have sprouted wings and flown the last 100 feet and would still not have been HOY.
One thing I never understood, the California bias. Zenyatta was bred, foaled and raised in Kentucky, only her trainers and owners we California based. She s back here now, making babies and looking very much like the Champion she was.
Thanks for the debate, we may not agree on this point, but there is nothing like the thrill of horse racing, I was an exercise rider for two years and was in awe of even the marginal horses.
Blame is no match for Zenyatta, he just got lucky with her wide trip and her having to lose ground going around each horse in the stretch. Still to this day this race makes me angry!
Mallory S
Blame was four and at his peak. Zenyatta was almost seven and proved she was more than a match for Quality Road.
Blame had to go through traffic. Going wide on the final turn gives a clear run at the leaders, and the horse doesn't have to corner, so it's actually not a bad trip at all. Going wide on the FIRST turn, however, is another matter.
Mallory S blame was a nice horse.
Mallory S aww come on. It’s a horse race. You can’t say he was no match. Both had great races.
I was at Churchill Downs near the finish line and the crowd reaction was devastation when she came up short. When they passed the wire the first time she was so far behind the next to last horse that it seemed impossible for her to win. That she came that close was incredible. Mike Smith had too much confidence in her and left just a little too much ground to make up. He gave her a great ride to save ground on the turn and weave through traffic to get to the outside in the stretch but Blame had something left to hold her off.
It was like being at a funeral after the race. So many people were crying.
So glad I got to see her dancing in person.
You can't spot Blame 25 lengths! On his home track, where he's won 3 of 4! What was Smith thinking? The 2 packs of horses may have deceived Smith? Instead of being 15 lengths back, he was actually 25 back due to the front pack of leaders that he didn't see. If Smith stays 10 lengths closer she beats Blame by 15 lengths. Textbook race of how a jockey can lose a race the horse should've won.
Zenyatta was not to BLAME for this loss. The defeat proved her greatness more than all of her victories combined. She destroyed all but one of the best handicap males in America on dirt, something people had assumed she could never do.
Ray Gordon Teaches Chess stick to chess you think franked and zapper were great horses both never ran more then a mile zapper was a sprinter front runner try going from dead last 19 for 19 then get beat a head to blame jeez Zenyatta would run circles around ghostzapper
Ghostzapper won the BC Classic aat 1.25 miles, and never broke a sweat. Other guys who make speed figures said the same thing. As for Frankel, take that up wth the Brits.
Zenyatta beat fillies in five-horse fields in California for most of her wins. She was truly great, but Ghostzapper was so great he made his wins look easy. You insult me with an inaccuracy if you think Ghostzapper never ran a mile and a quarter, because the 2004 BC Classic was run at ten furlongs. He dusted Roses in May, who was hardly a slouch. That he could also sprint says just how good he was, like Forego, who I still think could have beaten Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont, had he not chosen to dominate an allowance field a mere 30 minutes earlie.
I have made a substantial profit as a horse handicapper throughout my life. I made speed figures with the Beyer method and know what goes into those figures. Ghostzapper's top figure was 128 and he wasn't even challenged. Zenyatta barely broke 110.
Ray Gordon Teaches Chess if ZENYATTA WAS A COLT GHOSTZAPPER COULDN'T HOLD HER LEFT NUT ......PLEASE..... GHOSTZAPPER BEAT NOBODY'S
She may be the most Beautiful creature ever to walk this earth !!!!!!!!
jay Carlin that goes to secretariat my friend
Watching this, my heart started pounding just like it did that day.
After Zenyatta lost, I bawled my eyes out. I'm not ashamed to admit it. It was so disappointing, and I just was devastated. Especially because I thought that cemented Zenyatta as the greatest horse to never win horse of the year.
But she did. And I don't care what the Andy Beyers of the world say; she deserved it. It isn't just about speed and number of wins; it's about charisma and contribution to the sport, too. CTD
Folks need to remember how many terrific boys she beat that day!! Gomez said Blame ran the best race he's ever run. He also said he would not want a rematch with Zenyatta because he knew how lucky he got that day. I think it's irrelevant that she didn't race the boys more than she did. The Mosses and Shirreffs campaigned her to not only win, but to keep her sound. They knew she was special and wanted to keep her safe. Kudos to them!
your absolutely Right and how many G-1 Races she won and beat the Boys Azzzz well !! well done Zenyatta (the Queen )
Kalar Walters Garrett never said that and I know for a fact that he said that if they would of went around again she still wouldn't of gotten by Blame
She won 1 Grade 1 race vs. open company, granted it was the Classic and it's 1 more than most horses win.
talis finey since she passed him one length after the finish line.
@@talisfiney984 lol...every rider says that
How on earth can you give away 10 lengths in a Breeders cup classic and expect to win , I believe this was Zenyatta's best ever performance to get within a head of pulling it off , I know this is the way she raced but the jockey should have been a lot closer to the back runners giving Zenyatta a lot less to do up that straight ,she'd have won this by two lengths if it wasn't for the jockeys major blunder
I agree 100%
Blame gave away a ton of lengths too, too bad Lookin' at Lucky flattened out
I suppose Seth Hancock looked so long-faced during the presentation because everyone was bemoaning Zenyatta's loss in her last race instead of being happy for Blame. Blame got lucky...even Garrett Gomez said so and that Blame ran the best race of his life...that plus a perfect trip. He even said he wouldn't want a rematch because of how lucky he knew he was. Yeh, lucky indeed.
First of all people the reason zenyatta lost was mike smith. He thought he could save ground like the year before and got stuck behind a exhausted quality road then had to check her and go wide which costed her momentum and a few strides and that's what cost her perfection.
No Dimitri..it was John Shirreffs error for not giving Z even one workout over the Churchill track...which when the dirt started hitting her...well she never was so far back..he fucked up bad
Everyones an expert
@@frankcaroleif9402 No Frank...just an opinion...never claimed to be an expert
Got to love Mike the stiff Smith.lol
I still cry watching this race. She just ran out of track! She was so far back. And, to be that close and lose- heartbreaking. She’s an amazing race horse!
Zenyatta (Beauty n Grace she would dance before each race / respect one day would come /her jockey always knew right from the start ,at the end of each race she would stop your heart ,race after race her fame had grown ,no other horse wanted to face her. The Greatest Lady Racer. Zenyatta
I find it creepy that the first three trainers interviewed were (1) the trainer of the horse that beat her at the wire and (2) the trainer whose horse stalled her in the turn and cost her the race and (3) the trainer that said the horse that beats her will have to run the race of his life and that's exactly what Garrett Gomez said Blame did.
Nah, they do the same stuff all the time when a huge favorite loses a big race
I've now lived to see a Triple Crown winner and I was here at Churchill Downs for this race and I can now say - she was the best I ever saw, what heart she showed. Every time I watch this race I still think she's going to catch him
+Brittany McGinnis She didn't and didn't even sniff him on the Gallop out. Blame was all horse that day, and was never to be denied.
+Brittany Hostetter you ain`t seen many then Brittany!
Blame was in the same race.
As soon as Blame got her in his vision she was never getting by him. He should have been HOY. Flat out beat her. Reality!
@@signoresantinoburnett1169 You cannot compare Zenyattas run in that race vs Blame. Blame had a clean inside path, experience on dirt, and was not held up by another horse in the race. Luck is what won that race for Blame. Zenyatta had bad luck and that is what racing boils down to in many cases. Luck not just skill. Zenyatta almost pulled up to a stop after breaking the gate due to dirt in her face. She had no experience breaking last into a hail of wet mud. She ended up much further back in the back stretch due to that and Mike Smith not judging better and getting her closer till too late. Last bit of bad luck Quality Road, always a trouble horse, blocked her at the final turn forcing her to stall and then have to drive to the outside down the stretch. In effect Zenyatta ran a much longer race than Blame against terrible luck and still almost caught him. Gomez even said later that Blame was lucky to beat her that day.
Zenyatta was ready, the jocky was not. He lost focus.
He rode her terribly that day, he had her way too far back and got to the outside way too late. She would've won if he hadn't fucked up.
Well Zenyatta had the last laugh by being Horse of the Year anyway. A title she deserved the year before when she won her first Breeders Cup Classic.
+cheryl Maclean Zenyatta never deserved HOY in ANY year. Curlin, Rachel Alexandra and Blame all had better overall campaigns than she did in their respective years. One race does not make a HOY. Zenyatta's 2009 campaign for HOY depended exclusively on her Classic victory, while Rachel Alexandra's consisted of the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Haskell and Woodward Stakes. Zenyatta had one good race. Rachel Alexandra had the better overall campaign. She fully deserved to be Horse of the Year. Zenyatta was shot in the foot two years in a row by her connections who campaigned her so conservatively.
I guess those in the industry and doing the voting disagreed.
cheryl Maclean Female sentimentality won out over logic. Many females don't care about facts, they just think based on emotion. Zenyatta winning HOY had no logical basis, just the feelings of emotional women.
Well alrighty then. I guess I know where you stand.
+cheryl Maclean She got the HOTY as more of a lifetime achievement award. She wasn't the best horse in 2010, nor was she in 2009.
I have been a beloved fan of zenyatta and actually it was her who really got me into horse racing and me to pursue this industry as a business. I always believed she was one of the best of all time to do it. Than I watched Rachel and personal ensign and Winx begin to wonder how good was Zenyatta. When back and watched all 20 races can confirm she is the best mare of all time and its not even close.
she beat all the others!!! what heart...love to you Zenyatta !!! and hey look how awesome secretariet was and how he still is thought of as being the greatest horse ever and he was beat more times than zenyatta..... Zenyatta is the greatest horse i have ever seen run males or females how many could come from way back everytime???like she did and go 19-0 NOT many thats for sure !! koodos and kisses zenyatta !!!!
Jockey error. Too much confidence because she never lost. Until then. Heartbreaking she deserved a perfect record.
Nope..trainer error..no works over the track !! Bad mistake
Well, you know them California trainers don't have to deal with this type of track except at Delmar... it's like Bob baffert with Congaree and point given both get a guttural pouch infection from Kentucky and can't finish the damn race at Churchill Downs.... they don't have that problem in California
Zenyatta did not loose this race, Mike Smith did it. You can not let the leader to get so far in the front of you. In this case Blame had some fuel left to compete in the last 40 meter and it was enough to win.
I get the worst adrenaline rush every time I watch this race. All the love to Zenyatta who introduced me to horse racing, my life hasn't been the same since!
She's the most exciting horse of the last 30 years. Easily.
if you could only of seen all her races she was so beautiful to watch especially her first four
still waiting for the movie, they take so long.
Zeniatta deserve a movie
still waiting for the movie, they take so long.
Zeniatta deserve a movie
Agnes Carlson Same here, my life changed, 2 bankruptcies later still here.
It was unfair of Bill Nack to say she didn't run against a single female that had won a G1 race. For pete's sake, Z ran 5 G1's in 2010 and won them all. Who was there to run against that had won one??
+kwgrid Bill Nack has always been a Ruffian fan as well as a Secretariat fan. He has a bias and always has.
Zenyatta should have won this race. I have no idea what Mike Smith was doing taking her inside through all that traffic then finally going to the outside where Zenyatta owned the track. I'll never understand it, and I believe Smith knows he made a mistake. He had the best horse, and he knew it. It didn't matter what track she was running on or who her competition was, Zenyatta had more heart and talent than the whole field put together.
The question is Zenyatta the best filly/mare of all time you can debate that, to me she is but there’s one thing you can not debate is Zenyatta is the most precious horse that has ever set foot on the planet!!!
We love you Z!!! Girl power!!!
I can only stand to watch this by thinking of all the great horses she DID beat in this race and only lost by a nose after a bad trip. She was the best horse on the field!! ♥
More than any other, this race proved her greatness. She did about as well as Blushing John or Forty Niner, and that's not bad. Personal Ensign would not likely have gotten as close had she tried the boys instead of ending her career in the Distaff.
Tengo más de 40 años viendo carrera de caballo y nunca vi una yegua cómo zenyatta la mejor de todos los tiempos. Todavía veo este video y lloro que animal tan honesto y sensible ❤❤❤ eso fue zenyatta
I just loved watching her race and actually enjoyed watching her in the paddock and post parade with her signature gallop and prance in place. Phenomenal racehorse and gorgeous too.
What is there left to say about beauty in motion! Kenyatta was all that and more. Those of us who had honor and privilege of seeing Kenyatta perform,truly saw beauty in motion. I'm sure there is no doubt in anyone's opinion a bout it, she is in to this day everyone is in agreement on that point, she reigns even today,as the best ever !!!. Elaine Acosta
I have mis-spelled Zenyatta's name twice in what I had written in what I wrote,and could not fix it when I re-read it. These new fangled contraptions have me and at 86 years of age,I guess I'll never get it right.Hoping everyone will forgive my error.
it was just positioning. Zenyatta clearly the superior horse
I believe firmly that this race was her best one
How many horses could go from dead last at the top of the stretch, and only loose that race by a nose
She proved how good she was!!
For those who may question "why" Zenyatta didn't do this, didn't face that, etc., etc., here are some Fun Facts about the great mare: db.tt/NKXHQcvv
Zenyatta lost because of a Pat Day ride by Mike Smith, Blame was not the better horse, Rachel Alexandra would have lost, Even Quality Road without his Abcess issue would have still lost..Zenyatta was clearly the better horse she spotted everyone 20 lenghts and that was Mike Smiths error, if pushed earlier she would have won, Blame would never match her stride, never.
Spooting those 20 lengths meant also she ran slower early and saved more energy. If she was closer early she'd have finished slower too. REALITY! Blame beat her fair and square. She had him caught with 50 yards to go and as soon as he got her in his vision he held her off.
Garrett gomez won the race
ghostzapper2006 check out the 'gallop out'...Blame re-breaks past the finish line and puts 3 lengths on her in two seconds....this mare is very good, but anyone who tries to put her in the company with Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed and now American Pharoah is only playing the politically correct game....its cool to be on the side with the female beating the male because it happens rarely here in the United States....but good try, Zenyatta, just not good enough
+Iwastherein1969 Mike was no longer pushing her. A few more seconds of her raking stride and he would have been put away. The wire came too soon.
+Iwastherein1969 why would Zenyatta need to beat Blame after the finish line. Clearly Mike pulled her up. She ran her race and was defeated (probably due to MS) so why make her run on.Is she Secretariat-no. Is she American Pharoah-again no. But in her own time she was an awesome horse that almost pulled off an incredible feat and only lost by a nose.
There's the oldest horse in the race, a female, should already be retired, twenty-plus lengths behind all by her sorry self, trying to catch the best male champion horses in the land in their primes, she having to journey thousands of miles to run in a track she was not used to. There she is trying to chase Blame, a resident of this racetrack, who had won many times on this track. There are the connections of Blame instead of screaming "come on come on come on!" were whispering "oh sh*t oh sh*t oh sh*t".
Well if that race would of been 1 foot longer we know what the result would have been. And if that race tarnished her legacy then you don't know jack about anything. Maybe she's not Secretariat but she is one of the greatest horses and definitely the most exciting horse in history. Male or female
The time of that race was 2:02.4. That’s not a great time. Secretariat ran the derby in 159.4.Both races 1 1/4. So you see there is no comparisons.
No works over the Churchill dirt...and she drops further behind than ever before...not used to dirt in her face ? Why not work her behind horses to get her used to...almost all her races were on synthetic...John Shirrefs got her beat...best horse in the race !!
i keep rewinding to the last 30 seconds of the race, watching zenyatta flying down and closing in and thinking lol even hoping that zenyatta would pass blame already knowing the result... but i keep rewinding
After all these years I can count on one hand how many times I've watched this race replay. Still shatters my heart every time.
1:41 Indeed. Cigar would've made a far better VP than Jack Kemp anyway!
This is like watching Smarty Jone's Belmont run. Still like NOOOO!!
If that race had a re run, im certain that zen would win
Zenyatta is one of the best ever, but I'd like to respect Blame. Posts say Z lost because: Smith held her too far back (I agree); Blame was lucky; Blame was in his prime (he was) and Zenyatta was past hers (huh?); you can't spot Blame 25 lengths (she didn't -- even entering the first turn the announcer says, "Blame is being taken to the rear" and for about 9/10 of the race Blame was 6-7 lengths in front); Blame was on his home track (he did win on many others) etc. Blame is a winner, too.
Yeah, you're "pissing in the wind" but not for the reason you think. Listen Einstein, I know what an open class race is, just like anyone who has been watching racing for 40 years would. Get over yourself. Gee, let's think about this. Numerous trainers, racing sports writers, Sports Illustrated and even GOD help me, Andy Beyer think she is the best mare in modern history. But you don't. Guess who I agree with? The only one who trumps her is Kincsem from the 19th century.
can never watch this enough blame and gg my favorite horse and jockey of all time thanks gg please come back soon racing not the same without u
She was a beauty
She is a awesome fillie!!! Really fun to watch but for the people who are saying she is the greatest of all time she is no where near that. I think horse racing nation has her listed as the greatest fillie right above Ruffian but like number 50 all time. Still that’s pretty awesome for a fillie
RachelAlexandra79, I heard the same crap about Rachel Alexandra: that she didn't beat anyone of note in all her races. Of course that is what it was: crap. As is your comment about Zenyatta not beating anyone. Go to Wikipedia and google "Zenyatta" and read the statistics. If that doesn't convince you, nothing ever will and you have a bias. In my opinion, both Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra were absolutely brilliant horses but their achievements were different. I don't have to disrespect one, to elevate the other. This is something you might want to emulate. As for Blame, his clean trip had alot to do with his victory. It was not so much about being on his home track. He was a very, very good horse. He was very gutsy and hung on to win. But one final word: listen to both the commentators and here what they say "She is the greatest female horse of all time." If you want to say that Rachel Alexandra or Ruffian were equally as great, I would not argue with you. There is an argument to be made for all 3. I just feel lucky to have been alive to see them all.
Paula, Rachel broke records in every start, so competition is irrelevant. She ran faster than almost every thoroughbred to ever attempt those races amidst a campaign Zenyatta could never handle, or at least never PROVED she could handle. The same cannot be said about Zenyatta. Also, the majority of statistics you reference for WIKIPEDIA (a stupid source by the way) for Zenyatta come from one race, not all her races. You make is sound like she beat Classic fields in 19 starts and she didn't. Looking at it in a skewed way isn't accurate. Volponi beat a ton of GI winners in his Classic victory, but so what, it's one race? Tiznow won the Classic twice! So does that make him better than Zenyatta? Furthermore, Paula, the grand champion should be facing GI competition during the year. I don't think this person was tearing down Zenyatta just because they pointed out facts. The commentator stated opinion, IN THE MOMENT, and did not state fact. Who cares about their opinion? I personally have tons of knowledge about racing, and I think it's important to factor in Zenyatta's weak campaign schedule, she never wheeled back in 2 weeks like Rachel, never ran on slop, never ran hard during the year, etc. TRUE Champions do this...try reading up on Busher and Twilight Tear. They make Zenyatta look like a claimer. People tear down Rachel all the time, and that is why her fans respond with factual evidence to support her, not to tear down an innocent animal. Zenyatta was great, but not the greatest based on 19 wins against mostly weak females. Beating males MULTIPLE times while starting 17 times as a 3-year old, however, DOES prove greatness. You have trouble handling the truth because your love for Zenyatta blinds you. Go ahead, love her. I don't care, but her record was nowhere near as impressive when you look at it in its totality and look at it compared to horses who REALLY campaigned hard, like champions.
BigRed73Forever Which is more impressive: a filly that has a sparkling short career or a filly that has a consistently winning long career? It's really not fair of anyone to compare Zenyatta and RA. As one commenter on another clip said, "Zenyatta breathed different air." Her greatness is a different category, a different quality. RA is great in her own right. So is Zenyatta.
+BigRed73Forever I have never torn down Rachel Alexandra. Unlike yourself, I can appreciate both of them. I never wanted them to meet because I never wanted one of them to lose to the other. BTW, the same rubbish you are accusing Zenyatta of (weak fields) I heard about Rachel on the blogs. It is all garbage and not true about either one of them. They ran against whoever showed up. Their owners/trainers planned different campaigns for specific goals. Jess Jackson planned a stellar 3 year old campaign and accomplished it. Rachel had the greatest 3 year old year of any filly. Jerry Moss planned a longer career with BCC's at the end of the year. Not to mention the distaff in 2008. Zenyatta had 19 wins and a BCC win against the males and a win in the BC distaff. Then 2nd in 2010 with a half a head loss to Blame. How you consider that anything less than jaw dropping is mind boggling. Both should be appreciated for what they accomplished and not torn down by armchair critics like yourself. It is really unfortunate that you cannot appreciate the greatness of Zenyatta and respect her accomplishments. It is really your loss.
totally Mike's fault she was beat .... he had her Wayyyyy to far out of it , and still only got beat a NOSE !! not her fault with a clean break she destroys Blame !!........................SO sorry her she ran her Heart out ! came up a nose short ! her Name will live Forever in Horse-racing History for what she did for the Game !!
I agree 100%, Mike is a great jockey but he fucked up at this race.
Blame but I never beat her if Mike Smith would get her out in time
2006 was the first Kentucky Derby I remember watching. I had always loved horses and horse racing sparked an interest and I watched the derby every year. It was in early 2009 when Animal Planet released a tv series called 'Jockeys' and they featured Zenyatta. I immediately fell in love with her and truly fell in love with horse racing. In October of 2009, I watched her win the Lady's Secret and then a month later her win the Classic. Zenyatta truly made me love thoroughbred horse racing, every race, especially this race, she demonstrated every characteristic a race horse has. I still can't watch this race, as it still feels like yesterday this happened. But Zenyatta truly saved horse racing and sparked a new generation of lovers.
Zenyatta rimain a fenomenal horse for ever.
she never knew she lost,
Defeated or not. Zenyatta is still the Queen and she always will be,she gave her Fans her all even though it wasnt enough but even now as she is retired and expected her next foal,Zenyatta still treated like a Queen and passing on her Royal Genes to her Offspring so they too someday continue on what she left off. Blame was a Great horse even though he Beaten the Queen but Zenyatta is still loved by her fans. she still gave her fans one Final Dance as she left
Zenyatta have the longest stride both male and female,the only horse that could beat zenyatta is Secretariat and only because his heart was two times bigger than any horse
Not really as she was beaten by Blame
Secretariat was beaten five times yet he is an amzing horse and will always be regarded as one.
I had only heard about Zenyatta until this evening bit I watched her races posted on here and I have to say that she was indeed a great champion racehorse. This was what i call a "fortune" race. If you have good fortune, and you are great, you will win it. She did not have good fortune this night. In her case, it did not matter what her competition was, she was capable of winning every race. I still consider Ruffian to be the best of her gender, but Zenyatta is right there.
Hank was spot on... RIP legend.
Blame is one of my favorite horse's if you go to claborne make sure you bring him a peppermint
Zenyatta had personality. She was powerful. I always thought she ran somewhat like Secretariat, something about that stride and form. 17.2 hands, 27 ft stride. She was beautiful.
Run them in enough places...enough times...you're gonna get 'em beat !!!
I was there It was an awesome race. What a great time that was for horse racing with Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. They were both must see TV.
I watched all the races of zenyatta many times.
Never get tired of watching her. Too bad she had to loose this one. She's still the greatest !
Still it was incredible what she did that day. I will only remember her as a winner. And everybody who knows about racing and athletes can only agree.
Sublime upload, thanks.
Longer trace , she woulda won
Blame
(May 2, 2006 - )
* Sire: Arch
* Grandsire: Kris S.
* Dam: Liable
* Damsire: Seeking the Gold
* Sex: Stallion
* Breeders & Owners: Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider
* Trainer: Albert Stall Jr.
* Jockeys: Lindey Wade (0 for 1)
Jamie Theriot (5 for 6)
Garrett Gomez (R.I.P. / 5 for 6)
* 13 Starts
* 9 Wins
* 2 Seconds
* 2 Thirds
* $ 4,368,214 earned (Current $ 5,268,865)
* 2010 American Champion Older Male Horse
* 2010 "NTRA Moment of the Year"
* Greetings from Venezuela.
Blame
(2 de Mayo 2006 - )
* Padre: Arch
* Abuelo paterno: Kris S.
* Madre: Liable
* Abuelo materno: Seeking the Gold
* Sexo: Semental
* Criadores & Propietarios: Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider
* Entrenador: Albert Stall Jr.
* Jinetes: Lindey Wade (De 1-0)
Jamie Theriot (De 6-5)
Garrett Gomez (QEPD / De 6-5)
* 13 Salidas
* 9 Primeros
* 2 Segundos
* 2 Terceros
* $ 4,368,214 producidos ($ 5,268,865 actuales)
* Caballo Campeón Maduro en Estados Unidos 2010
* "Momento del Año NTRA" 2010
* Saludos desde Venezuela.
just goes to show her winning the 09 bc classic. was no. fluke in my eyes she did itagain
I Blame Mike Smith for this lost. He went for the dramatics
It's hard to say, i agree tho he should have had her way farther up, i get she didn't like the surface of the track, real dirt, but i think he could have gotten her way farther up from the start and just blew em away.
I watch her races all the time 👍can't get enough.
I was just happy she didn't get injured and that she beat all the other Greats behind her, left em in the dust, Always Zen ♥️♥️ the Queen
He defeated Haynesfield in 2 out of 3 starts in 2010, the only loss coming when Haynesfield enjoyed an uncontested lead. I suspect if Zenyatta had run on dirt against males in the top Graded events in the country, not just Cali against fillies and mares, that she, too, would have encountered similar scenarios in which a loose speed horse was uncatchable. Blame deserves a lot of credit, and if you think Zenyatta was ten times better, then how did he beat her? Just admit he was better that day!
Obviously she did not run against Haynesfield that day or else she would have been beat by a dozen lengths
He ran a big one, sometimes you just have to give the horse his due.
It doesn't happen often, but every great once and awhile you learn as much about a horse's intelligence, heart, and determination in a loss where everything they have gets left on the racetrack in defeat as you would with another win. This race without question was one of those "every great once and awhile's."
I still feel bad for Mike Smith. He's probably feeling regretful and guilty to this day. He was only a microsecond too late prompting Zenyatta and that's all it came down to...
This was a weaker classic... Awesome Again, Tiz Now, Ghostzapper, Invasor... those past winners would have romped
Ghostzapper would have destroyed Zenyatta by 5+. Zenyatta never beat anything of consequence. Evene her 09 BCC win was against a bunch of soso polyturfers on a polytrack surface. Nice mare, way overhyped and overated though. As soon as Blame got her in his vision with 50 yards to go he held her at bay. She was never going to get by him, REALITY!
ghostzapper2006 Really cause there were horses in '09 classic that ran and were winners on both syntheic and dirt and grass so no
ghostzapper2006
But
American
Pharoah gets Zapper by
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Alf a
Length
+oo ee Not a fucking chance my friend :)
no other horse would have romped the queen would have one.
So here are the stats: Rachel Alexandra: 19 starts, 13 wins, 5 places, total earnings of $3,506,730. Zenyatta: 20 starts, 19 wins, 1 place, total earnings of $7,304,580. If you owned a racehorse, would you rather win consistently, earn the big bucks and keep your horse sound or would you rather set records, overrun the horse, and risk injury? I'll take the former.
The gallop out says it all...10 yds past the finish line Blame rebroke and put 3 lengths on Zenyatta. Check out 45.18 to 45.22..She was through, he could have run around yet another lap around Churchill Downs and not have caught Blame. Sorry, you Z lovers, just keeping it 100%.
Blame is a nice horse.... But I can't watch this. Blame - "The horse that silenced the whole statium. ".... BLAME - The WORST name other than Violence. Who named that poor horse?
"Marlys Freedom" dumped that horrible name but those colts got stuck with it.
Pretty horse or colt ... but I just refuse to watch this actual race.
The Great BEHOLDER vs Songbird amazing race ! ... than there's Arrogate...
I was ahead $2500 from friday.i bet $1000 exacta zenyatta over blame straight,then $1250 exacta box zenyatta with blame.was mad when she got beat,but not a bad return.remember will pay was around $25 for $2 exacta zenyatta over blame.blame over zenyatta paid around $37.still wanted to see her race against Rachel alexander.the styles were polar opposites of each other regarding pace however.mike smith love him,or hate him.
The jockey messed up
blames wins every time
Fun facts about Zenyatta. Who did she beat? How far did she travel? Etc., etc. BTW, two of her best margins of victory were at Oaklawn twice in the Apple Blossom, on the dirt. db.tt/NKXHQcvv
HOLLYWOOD OR ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD SHOULD MAKE A MOVIE ABT ZENYATTA AND USING THE REAL ZENYATTA & THE PPLE SURROUNDING HER, WHILE ALL OF THEM ARE STILL ALIVE!!!!! LET THE WORLD KNOWS THIS GREAT GREAT MARE IN HISTORY.
JERRY MORSE & MIKE SMITH CAN FORK OUT SOME MONEY TO COPRODUCE THIS FILM & MAKE LOTS OF MONEY BUT REMEMBER TO GET A GOOD SCRIPTOR AND DIRECTOR.
Perhaps....too much blame was placed on Mike Smith. I have watched this race a hundred times & it could've gone one way or another. Getting caught behind a bunch of horse's, dying right in front of him...."Blame" gets 'late' those last few strides ???
I just cry anytime I watch this race.. poor ride by Sir Mike Smith.
It looked like when Mike Smith wanted her to run she wouldn't get in gear right away. She veered out a little in the stretch and that cost her the race. I've never seen a horse like Zenyatta, such speed and power. I think she's the best ever. In my mind I don't think she lost this last race, she just ran out of track. This horse is special.
Churchill Downs in the fall is not made fast like they make it for the Derby it's riverbottom sand...
they don't dare make it fast in the fall If it freezes they would never get inside out for the races AND most big striding horses can't handle it because it cups out with them especially in the fall when they don't tighten it up or DARE to put much water on it
Remember it well.i didn't bet zenyatta but was pulling for her..blames owner was a classless jerk... poor mike.. the way the race shaped out he wanted to get over to the rail to save ground and it was nowhere to be had....she truly was something special...
Now how they says she's the best she couldn't run like Secretariat she run a time of 2002-3 when Secretariat doing is morning work out he doing 158 easy she couldn't have any chance against him smh
Have to wonder about zenyatta,and Rachel how each ones babies never were outstanding.alot of hearsay about both of them being pumped with roids which led to complications with there foaling.insides were destroyed.just hearsay don't know for certain,but game has been tainted so badly wouldn't shock me if it was true.
Does anyone have the full broadcast of the 2010 Kentucky derby? I’m looking for footage of bob costas doing post race interviews. Please help
Such thrilling finishes for Zenyatta... but... just started her run just a few few strides too late... I know it's her style... but sometimes you just want to know what she would have done if she'd been closer to the front in the race.
The jock's timing was just a fraction of a second too late atop Zenyatta. Yes, Blame crossed the finish line first "by a nose" over Zenyatta, but t'was Zenyatta's race, not Blame's.
So happy for ole Seth Hancock and his connection to "The Greatest Horse" ever..Secretariat
I still get goosebumps and tears in my eyes. Even after all of the times I have seen this I still expect her to beat him to the wire.
What bothers me the most is Zen was Sooooo far back, to be able to come in like she does was way way way better than what Blame or any other horse could have ever done, Blame never would have won that far back ,never ever so Raspberries to anyone who says anything to up Blame.
Her effort was never to be seen ever again by any race horse ever.
And yes i feel bad for Garrett bcz he has passed but ya should never try to doop the Queen, Karma is a real bitch😬sry not sry