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It was 10 years ago today, on Nov. 7, that the mighty Zenyatta put on the show of shows. I am reprinting my recap of that special event in order to relive all the magic and excitement. On Jan. 13, 2008, John Shirreffs watched his 4-year-old filly Zenyatta win the El Encino Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita for her third career victory in as many ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman It's shaping up to be a quiet weekend for racing in North America, not surprising after the all-out excitement of the November 1-2 Breeders' Cup World Championships. And since final entries and post positions have yet to be drawn for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) in Japan, you can ...

Usually the air around the Breeders’ Cup is tinged with the anticipation of who is going to emerge victorious over the two-day stand. There certainly was a level of anticipation to this year’s model, run at Santa Anita Park, but it was more cautionary than anything else. The industry collectively held its breath leading up to the Nov. 1-2 World ...

Sometimes, the true spirit of horse racing is not what happens on the racetrack, but what happens in one’s heart off the racetrack. Was the enduring memory of Zenyatta’s Breeders’ Cup Classic victory her dramatic run from last to first or the frenzy of emotion and flowing tears in the grandstand? Was the memory of Rachel Alexandra’s ...

FILLY AND MARE SPRINT - This race is full of talented fillies, but the obvious showdown is between Covfefe and Come Dancing. As brilliant as Covfefe is, I am again going to lean toward the older horse, and Come Dancing has been a powerhouse all year, with her only defeat coming at 1 1/16 miles to Midnight Bisou. But at 6 1/2 furlongs, seven ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman It's an exciting time for racing fans! The 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held on November 1-2 at Santa Anita, with talented horses from around the globe vying for victory in fourteen rich races. Dirt and grass, sprints and routes, fillies and mares, colts and ...

JUVENILE TURF SPRINT – Although one might think this race is a vehicle for longshots, that doesn’t seem to be the case this year. Wesley Ward is holding a strong hand with the undefeated Futurity winner Four Wheel Drive and the filly Kimari, who has won stakes at Saratoga and Keeneland, on the front end and rallying from ninth, and was ...

CLASSIC – Regardless of how many horses I feel have a shot to win, I am going to stick with VINO ROSSO. It doesn’t make sense to turn back now after a year and a half of supporting this horse, first as my top ranked Kentucky Derby horse and now as my BC Classic horse. He looks like he finally is peaking, and at the right time, especially ...

There’s a lot on the line as the Thoroughbred industry approaches the 36th running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, held this year for the 14th time in Southern California and for the 10th time at Santa Anita Park. There was a lot on the line, too, in 1984 when the first Breeders’ Cup was held at a refurbished Hollywood Park. It’s ...