It was Zenyatta’s day, but not her year

By GARY WEST

gwest@star-telegram.com

Now that I’ve applauded until my hands ache the sensational performance of Zenyatta in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, I have just one thing to say: Rachel Alexandra is still Horse of the Year.

The debate began just moments after Zenyatta ran down Gio Ponti in the final sixteenth of a mile to win America’s richest horse race by a length. No filly or mare ever had won the Classic before the Amazonian took possession of the winner’s circle Saturday, and so the victory was historic. Even more, it was the capstone of a remarkable career, 14 victories without a loss.

Zenyatta trailed early. Her jockey, Mike Smith, did a masterful job saving ground in the second turn, then swinging her to the outside at the top of the stretch and then a little farther outside in midstretch to avoid traffic. When clear, she simply lengthened stride and charged.

In her first try at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, she ran the final quarter-mile in about 23 seconds, or a full second faster than the early leader, Regal Ransom, ran the opening quarter-mile.

It was scintillating. And with the image of Zenyatta surging by Gio Ponti still vivid, many people will no doubt insist she’s the Horse of the Year. But Jerry Moss, who owns Zenyatta in partnership with his wife, Ann, jumped onto the high road when asked about Horse of the Year.

That decision isn’t his, he said. Horse of the Year will be for the voters to decide.

And the decision for many will be difficult. Also unbeaten this year, Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks by more than 20 lengths, and she defeated colts in the Preakness and again in the Haskell. And then, facing older horses, she became the first filly ever to win the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga. Hers was an unprecedented campaign.

Contacted in New Orleans, Steve Asmussen, Rachel Alexandra’s trainer, kept to the high road, too.

"A very deserving horse is going to win it," he said about horse racing’s highest honor. "Rachel Alexandra is incredible, and she did everything asked of her. Zenyatta is incredible, and she did everything asked of her."

Before the Classic, Rick Mettee, speaking to The Daily Racing Form, said that if Zenyatta won the Classic, then Horse of the Year would be like Major League Baseball’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1941. Ted Williams hit .406 that year, with 120 RBI and 37 home runs. Joe DiMaggio hit .357 with 125 RBI and 30 home runs, but he also strung together the incomparable 56-game hitting streak. DiMaggio, who, of course, played for the Yankees, was named the MVP.

But how could Williams, who played for Boston, not be the MVP? Was there a New York bias, or were voters mesmerized by the streak? And how can Rachel Alexandra not be Horse of the Year?

Some voters will probably penalize her because she was absent from this Breeders’ Cup. Her principal owner, Jess Jackson, decided against running her at Santa Anita because of its synthetic Pro-Ride surface, which he disparagingly called "plastic."

But in retrospect, that decision seems more prudent than ever. Last year at Santa Anita, no horse made a winning transition from dirt to Pro-Ride in a Breeders’ Cup race. This year, it was the same. Every winner on Pro-Ride, Friday and Saturday, had prepped either on turf or a synthetic surface.

That tendency was evident in the Classic. Gio Ponti is a turf horse. Twice Over, who ran third, is, too. Summer Bird, who entered the Classic after winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Travers on traditional dirt tracks, ran well to finish fourth. But that performance was about five lengths inferior to his best efforts on genuine dirt. And, in truth, despite what some have said, this was not a strong Classic field.

While Zenyatta raced exclusively in California this year, Rachel Alexandra traveled from Arkansas to Louisiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York and New Jersey. While Zenyatta won five stakes, including four Grade I events, Rachel Alexandra won eight stakes, including five Grade I events. And, by the way, while Zenyatta defeated Summer Bird by three lengths, Rachel Alexandra beat him by six. On dirt.

How can she not be Horse of the Year?

Gary West, 817-390-7760

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