ARCADIA, Calif. — The US$2 million Ladies' Classic was billed as one of the glamour matchups of this year's Breeders' Cup, pitting the undefeated Zenyatta against Ginger Punch, last year's champion, along with six other quality opponents.
It turned into a one-horse show as Zenyatta roared to victory with a scintillating last-to-first sweep to extend her winning streak to nine.
"This is a star filly they ran behind," said trainer Saeed bin Suroor, whose two fillies, Cocoa Beach and Music Note, finished second and third, respectively. "It's hard to beat a horse like that."
Impossible, as it turned out.
"I was following horses all the way around and I was happy with my spot," said Javier Castellano, Music Note's jockey. "I wanted to get the jump on the field and I did, but then I saw the big filly go by. She just went. She was much the best."
Ginger Punch, who won last year at New Jersey's Monmouth Park when it was called the Distaff, was never a factor, finishing sixth.
Rafael Bejarano felt Ginger Punch was never comfortable on Santa Anita's new synthetic surface.
"She didn't like the track at all," the rider said. "There's nothing wrong with her. She had her head cocked like she wanted to go outside and was just very uncomfortable."
Run, filly, run: no one catches perfect Zenyatta....
