Zenyatta rallies to capture Breeders’ Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Zenyatta beat the boys in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic today, running her record to 14-0 in the most impressive effort of her career. The 5-year-old mare rallied from last in the early going and fought off Gio Ponti in the stretch to win by a length at Santa Anita, beating a loaded field of 11 males.

Quality Road was scratched at the starting gate after he acted up and scraped his hind leg, delaying the start by several minutes. That may have explained Zenyatta's poor start as she broke from the gate on the wrong foot and trailed the field for much of the early going.

Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Zenyatta still ran 1¼ miles in 2:00.62 and paid $7.60, $5.60 and $3.80 as the 5-2 wagering favorite of the 58,845 fans.

Gio Ponti returned $9.20 and $6.60, while Britain-bred Twice Over paid $7 to show.