Nicolas and I went down to the saddling paddock to watch the horses receive their final primping before entering the post parade. Zenyatta put on quite a show. She pawed her way down the tunnel into the paddock. She wore her dress sheet like a boxer wears a robe, which only made her jigging more like that of a prize fighter. The monster mare Zenyatta knew it was time to work.
Despite her awesome presence, I just could not completely discount some ofthe other horses in the field. Reasonable arguments for Paddy O'Prado, Quality Road, Blame were made. I even had an emotional desire for Cool Coalman to at least show. Zenyatta faced other actual graded stakes winners. All year she'd only run against a handful of mares and fillies and in the Ladies Secret, Switch made Zenyatta work for her win. What a great race!
Nicholas and I bet $10 on Zenyatta to show and quickly cloimbed the stairs to our poached seats. We could see the final turn and finish line well. The sun began sinking below the horizon and the track lights lit up the dirt, transforming Churchill's main track into center stage for the most anticipated race of the year.
It was magnificent watching Zenyatta follow her formula: hang back then start picking off horses as she comes around the final turn. The crowd, all of us cheered her on, past each horse, and we all believed she would even pass Blame. But she didn't. His head crossed moments before hers and we all fell quiet after a collective gasp.
Photo from ESPN Sports
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