ZENYATTA & MIKE SMITH: 'UNBELIEVABLE' BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC

Champion jockeys ‘Big Money’ Mike Smith and Ramon Domínguez have claimed some of the biggest prizes in thoroughbred horse racing.

Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith boasts the record for Breeders’ Cup wins, and is synonymous with races such as the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup, partnering with trainer Bob Baffert to shape the careers of superstar racehorses such as Arrogate and Triple Crown winner Justify.

Eclipse award winner Ramon Domínguez announced his retirement when sustaining a head injury in 2013. Union Rags, Little Mike, Better Talk Now, Invasor and Hansen are all among his extensive list of Grade 1 winners.

The ‘unbelievable’ Breeders’ Cup Classic run at Santa Anita Park in 2009 saw Mike Smith finish first, with wonder-mare ZENYATTA taking on the males for the first time. She swept past the field in the stretch to record a historic victory ahead of Ramon Dominguez aboard Gio Ponti.

Smith and Dominguez reflect on the build up and aftermath of the race, their careers as well as America’s greatest mare and horse racing’s dancing queen, Zenyatta.

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ZENYATTA RACE RECORD:
Nov 22, 2007 1st Maiden at Hollywood Park
Dec 15, 2007 1st Allowance at Hollywood Park
Jan 13, 2008 1st El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Apr 5, 2008 1st Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park
May 31, 2008 1st Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park
Jul 5, 2008 1st Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park
Aug 2, 2008 1st Clement L. Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar Race Track
Sep 27, 2008 1st Lady's Secret Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Oct 24, 2008 1st Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at Santa Anita Park
May 23, 2009 1st Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park
Jun 27, 2009 1st Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park
Aug 9, 2009 1st Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar Race Track
Oct 10, 2009 1st Lady's Secret Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Nov 7, 2009 1st Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park
Mar 13, 2010 1st Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita Park
Apr 9, 2010 1st Apple Blossom Invitational Handicap at Oaklawn Park
Jun 13, 2010 1st Vanity Invitational Handicap at Hollywood Park
Aug 7, 2010 1st Clement L. Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar Race Track
Oct 2, 2010 1st Lady's Secret Stakes at Hollywood Park
Nov 6, 2010 2nd Breeders' Cup Classic 2010 at Churchill Downs (1st Blame)

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ZENYATTA FACTS:
- Zenyatta ‘Queen Z’ was born April 1 2004 in Kentucky, USA. She was bred by Maverick Productions.
- Zenyatta was purchased as a yearling at the low price of $60,000 USD, because she suffered from a form of ringworm.
- She did not begin racing until she was three years old, making a winning debut in November of 2007 at Hollywood Park.
- Zenyatta stands at 17.2 hands high, taller than other notably large thoroughbreds like Man 'O War (16.2 hands), Forego (17 hands), and Secretariat (16.2 hands).
- Zenyatta was sired by Street Cry, who also sired in the same season multi-champion Australian race mare Winx.
- Her favourite treats are sweet potatoes, pears, peppermints and GUINNESS. She prefers stout and knows the difference!
- Zenyatta's same connections, owner Jerry Moss, trainer John Sherrifs, and jockey Mike Smith won the Kentucky Derby with Giacomo in 2005, tying Mine That Bird as the second biggest long-shot to win the Derby.
- She was featured in O and W magazines and profiled on 60 Minutes in 2010 prior to her historic attempt at 20 consecutive victories in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
- She finished second in the voting for AP Female Athlete of the Year in both 2009 and 2010. She was runner-up to tennis star Serena Williams (2009) and skier Lindsey Vonn (2010).
- She was chosen to promote The Dodgers in 2010 and had her very own billboard in Los Angeles.

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