2009 Breeders' Cup

The 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships were the 26th edition of thoroughbred racing's season ending premier event, and took place on November 6 and 7 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event was telecast by ESPN. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December.

2009 Breeders' Cup
Championship Event Series race
LocationSanta Anita Racetrack
Race typeThoroughbred
Websitewww.breederscup.com
Race information
DistanceSee individual races
SurfaceTurf, synthetic dirt
TrackLeft-handed
PurseVaries by race; Between $1,000,000 – $5 million

The highlight of the weekend was Zenyatta's victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, marking the first time a female horse had won the race. Horses from Europe and California won the majority of races.

Highlights

Zenyatta (turquoise cap) saves ground around the far turn

The Breeders' Cup Classic was the most anticipated race of the 2009 event, especially because of the decision by the connections of mare Zenyatta to enter her against male horses in the race instead of attempting to defend her title in the Ladies Classic (aka the Distaff). Zenyatta would face eight grade/group I-winning males, including horses who had won the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes (in both 2008 and 2009), Jockey Club Gold Cup, Santa Anita Handicap, Pacific Classic, Arlington Million, Man o’ War, Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Sussex Stakes, and Manhattan Handicap.[1] Zenyatta ran in last for most of the race then starting making up ground on the far turn, racing on the inside to save ground. When her path along the rail was blocked, she angled sharply to switch paths to the outside, then started closing again, eventually defeating Gio Ponti by a length. She became the first female to win the Classic in its 26-year history.[2] "I was able to cut the corner with her off the turn, and that made the difference," said jockey Mike Smith. "She started to get to them in the stretch, and the crowd started screaming. Then she started looking at the crowd, so I had to get after her a little bit, but she still won within herself."[3]

European horses enjoyed success with two wins on Friday (Midday in the Filly & Mare Turf and Man of Iron in the Marathon),[4] followed by four wins on Saturday (Pounced in the Juvenile Turf, Vale of York in the Juvenile, Goldikova in the Mile, Conduit in the Turf).[5][6] California-based horses won several of the remaining races, including Zenyatta in the Classic, her stablemate Life Is Sweet in the Ladies Classic, California Flag in the Turf Sprint and Dancing in Silks in the Sprint. The relatively poor showing by horses from the East Coast was attributed by some to the synthetic dirt surface of the main track, with which horses from the East Coast had little experience. Noted turf writer Andrew Beyer wrote, "If the Breeders' Cup is a championship race, it's the championship of California, Britain and a few scattered tracks that have installed synthetic surfaces. But it is not a championship event in the way its creators intended."[4]

The total handle (amount bet) at the Breeders' Cup exceeded $150 million for the first time, up by over 4% from 2008. In addition, an estimated $24.75 million was wagered through Betfair. There was one winning Pick-6 ticket on the Saturday card, which paid $1,838,305.[7] The television ratings on ESPN were also up, particularly for the segment covering the Classic, which increased from a 1.1 rating in 2008 to a 3.1 in 2009.[8]

Friday

The Friday attendance was 37,651.[9]

Race name Sponsor Distance/Surface Conditions Purse Winner
Marathon 1¾ miles synthetic dirt 3 yrs+ $500,000 Man of Iron
Juvenile Fillies Turf 1 mile turf 2-year-old fillies $1 million Tapitsfly
Juvenile Fillies Grey Goose 1 1/16 miles synthetic dirt 2-year-old fillies $2 million She Be Wild
Filly & Mare Turf Emirates Airline 1¼ miles turf Females $2 million Midday
Filly & Mare Sprint Sentient Jet 7 furlongs turf Females $1 million Informed Decision
Ladies' Classic 1⅛ miles synthetic dirt Females 3 yrs+ $2 million Life Is Sweet

Saturday

The Saturday attendance was 58,825.[1]

Race name Sponsor Distance/Surface Conditions Purse Winner
Juvenile Turf 1 mile turf 2-year-old males $1 million Pounced
Turf Sprint ab. 6½ furlongs turf 3 yrs+ $1 million California Flag
Sprint Sentient Jet 6 furlongs synthetic dirt 3 yrs+ $2 million Dancing in Silks
Juvenile Grey Goose 1 1/16 miles synthetic dirt 2-year-old males $2 million Vale of York
Mile TVG Network 1 mile turf 3 yrs+ $2 million Goldikova
Dirt Mile 1 mile synthetic dirt 3 yrs+ $1 million Furthest Land
Turf Emirates Airline 1½ miles turf 3 yrs+ $3 million Conduit
Classic 1¼ miles synthetic dirt 3 yrs+ $5 million Zenyatta

References

  1. Haskin, Steve. "Haskin's BC Wrapup: Z One and Only". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  2. Drape, Joe (7 November 2009). "Zenyatta Beats the Boys in the Breeders' Cup Classic". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  3. "2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships Results". www.horse-races.net. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  4. Beyer, Andrew (7 November 2009). "Andrew Beyer: A very Euro-friendly Breeders' Cup". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  5. "2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships Results". www.horse-races.net. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  6. "Zenyatta takes Breeders' Cup win". BBC Sport. 2009-11-08. Archived from the original on 8 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  7. "Breeders' Cup Handle $150 Million and Rising". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  8. "Breeders' Cup Television Ratings Up From 2009". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  9. Law, Tom (November 4, 2011). "Breeders' Cup reports Friday attendance of 40,677". Thoroughbred Times. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
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