Girl Beats Boys: This Time on the Track

Watching from some 10 lengths behind, Zenyatta let the boys strut their stuff until three quarters of the way she decided enough was enough and she clipped them all at the wire to win the $5 million dollar Breeders’ Cup Classic Saturday in Arcadia, California in front of a frenzied, 58,000-strong crowd.

Although the race start favorite, Zenyatta started slow in an apparent demonstration that she knew the boys would shoot their efforts early.

"She's dead last, she's dead last," called the track announcer repeadedly.

Until she decided to change her mind.

Paying $7.60, the supermare weaved her way through the boys and is now unbeaten in her 14 runs and continues to outshine the so-called stronger stallions.

Gio Ponti finished 1 1/4 lengths behind the mare and in front of third-place Twice Over, with Summer Bird fourth.

Zenyatta’s trainer, John Shirreffs, teared up as she crossed the line.

"I can't believe it. She is a great, great filly," he said. "She is all heart. The way the crowd took to her was just amazing. They cheered for her, they clapped for her. They love her. What a wonderful relationship," Shirreffs sobbed to the press corp.

Zenyatta sprinted the 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.62.

Mike Smith jockey the filly. He said Zenyatta started awkwardly and was on her left lead early, but then switched over.

Smith, Shirreffs, and owners Jerry and Ann Moss lobbied for Horse of the Year honors after the stunning spectacle.

"This is a championship series of races," Shirreffs said, talking about the Breeders' Cup.

"She's our Horse of the Year," Jerry Moss said after the race in an interview that was broadcast over the public address system. "And she's the Horse of the Year of these people here, I think."

The crowd exploded again.