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ZENYATTA PROVES STRONG; CURLIN DISAPPOINTS HIS FANS
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Starting three days ago were the Breeders' Cup World Championship races. First Friday, then Saturday.

On Friday, the Filly and Mare Sprint went to Ventura.

Forever Together won the Filly and Mare Turf.

Stardom Bound won the Juvenile Fillies.

Maram won the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

In the last race, Zenyatta surprised everyone when she won the Ladies Classic from last place. We knew she could do it, yet we didn't have enough belief that she really could.

She was the favorite breaking from post number one. She broke slowly, and jockey Mike Smith slowed her even more to last place as they went around the first turn in a little over 23 seconds. Ginger Punch, who was supposedly Zenyatta's biggest rival, was fourth.

The half mile was slow, in just over 58 seconds (generally half miles are run in 47 or under).

Coming around the far turn, it looked as if Zenyatta wouldn't do it. But she was not about to let everyone down. She gave all she had, passing horses and going five wide around the turn. Going so wide took away a lot of time, and by the time she was around the far turn, the other fillies and mares were about four or five lengths ahead. It looked as if this would be the first loss for the undefeated four-year-old.

But Zenyatta still had more.

After about two suggestive whips from her jockey, she reached into herself and pulled out a little bit more speed. With her ears pricked forward, looking for more competition, the speed she had given was enough to move her in front and past the finish pole.

Zenyatta had done it again.

On Saturday, Muhannak captured the Breeders' Cup Marathon.

Donativum captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Conduit won the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Albertus Maximus won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Goldikova, a filly, won the Breeders' Cup Mile in a surprising race.

Midshipman won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Midnight Lute captured the Breeders' Cup Sprint for a second time (he won it last year).

Desert Code captured the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

And, as many of you know, Curlin disappointed everyone (except me) when he was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

He was in the nine starting position. Right from the start, he wasn't the same Curlin. He broke slowly, and he was rather far back for most of the race. When the last turn came, jockey Robby Albarado pushed Curlin to his top speed. Curlin came somewhat wide, in a race much like that of Zenyatta; he was leading halfway down the stretch, and then Raven's Pass, Henrythenavigator and Tiago began to gain on him. It looked as if Henrythenavigator would win, but Raven's Pass gave an extra effort at the end and won the race. This was jockey Frank Detorri's second win today.

Most say that the synthetic surface of the racetrack, which Curlin had never raced on, was what had happened. Some say he was pushed to early. But I personally think that yes, the synthetic was the problem, and also his jockey was probably under a lot of pressure, so was more likely to make a mistake, like he did in pushing Curlin too early. I also think Big Brown could've won it. He's raced and won on turf, which is almost exactly like synthetic. Curlin never has.

The leading jockey of the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships was Garret "Go-go" Gomez. He won four Breeders' Cup races.

Now for the Kentucky Derby!! ~Equine Lover