Fighting tears, jockey Mike Smith shared his thoughts after the popular superstar mare Zenyatta placed second in a photo finish in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, November 6.
Zenyatta’s connections (owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Sherriffs), as well as countless adoring fans, had hoped the undefeated bay mare would retire after the Breeders’ Cup Classic with a record-breaking unblemished 20-win career.
But it was not to be. Although Zenyatta rocketed from last place to a near-win, Garrett Gomez’ mount, Blame, crossed the line in 2:02.28 for the win – just ahead of Zenyatta. A single bob of the head made the difference.
“I blame myself,” jockey Mike Smith candidly shared, immediately after the race. “She’s the best ever, a gift from God, my everything … It’s my fault. She should have won, and it hurts. I let her down.”
Of course, no one but Mike Smith blamed Mike Smith for Zenyatta’s super-close second-place finish.
Winning jockey Garrett Gomez tried to reassure Mike Smith, saying “She ran her heart out.”
A day later, the self-effacing jockey’s thoughts are likely racing, replaying Zenyatta’s last race in his mind and pondering what might have been. What unshared thoughts are likely circling the tracks of Mike Smith’s mind?
Here are 20 possibilities – thoughts jockey Mike Smith might be thinking, just about now:
- If only Zenyatta could have shown her fancy footwork in the Winner’s Circle.
- If only I had not stayed up so late at that Toby Keith concert on Thursday night.
- If only [Zenyatta owner] Jerry Moss had talked Sting into flying across the Big Pond to sing the National Anthem.
- If only Julien Leparoux had not had his Fly Down right behind me.
- If only I had stopped at Disneyland for a little pixie dust before leaving California.
- If only I had worn my jockey shorts inside out for the race.
- If only John Shirreffs [Zenyatta’s trainer] had sprung for the tall cans of Guinness this week.
- If only those armed guards had not held those scary guns. Zenyatta hates guns!
- If only I hadn’t had to wear the pretty pink bow tie to race Zenyatta against all the boys.
- If only those burly and handsome Clydesdales had been in the infield, as they were for the Kentucky Derby – that would’ve started Zenyatta’s engine earlier.
- If only I hadn’t been distracted by those short skirts on those cute Zenyatta girls.
- If only I hadn’t eaten that extra cookie the night before the race.
- If only [Zenyatta owner] Ann Moss had not spilled her guts about #8 being the lucky number.
- If only Calvin Borel had been in the Classic to punch Garrett Gomez’ sore shoulder.
- If only they had allowed flash photos to jazz Zenyatta.
- If only Mario [Zenyatta’s handler] had taken those cotton balls out of her ears, so she could hear the crowd calling her name.
- If only I had waited to set my watch back for daylight savings time until after the race.
- If only there was a stud good enough for Zenyatta, my everything.
- If only I had told her I loved her one more time.
- If only there could be a #20.
Blame the winner, not the jockey who piloted the prancing princess to remarkable records.
Note: Obviously, this is all in fun. Looking back, we can only hope that star jockey Mike Smith will carry no lifelong regrets for taking us all on such a wild and wonderful ride. It can be lonely at the line, and Zenyatta reigns as the First Lady of Thoroughbred Racing. Whatever happens with 2010 Horse of the Year, Zenyatta the Primo Prancing Princess remains a superstar and the Horse of the Heart.
Comments
She had every opportunity to go by the winner in the last 50 yards. She couldn't or wouldn't do it. Maybe the winner, Blame, should be given some credit for refusing to yield. It was a great story, and there should be no regrets. Her running style led to this inevitable conclusion.
Her closing from the back style of running eventually became Smith's undoing. Whatever strategic benefit it provided, whether it avoided her getting boxed in or other would eventually be nullified when she can't get through the field in the stretch. It worked for 19 races, to bad it didn't work for the 20th. Zenyatta was the best horse in the race for sure, two more jumps she wins. The only thing that beat her was human error and not just Smith's. The claim that she is the best horse ever. No way! The time for the running of this race 2:02 and change. The track record at this distance 159.4. Secretariat beats both these horses by 10 lengths. See ya!
I believe that any one present at the Breeder's Cup and any true horse lover has to have a great deal of respect for this horse. She displays both an outstanding atheletic ability and charismatic personality. She has won the hearts of countless fans and has done nothing but add to the sport of thoroughbred racing by her "presence". Any tongue in cheek comments should stay right there.It takes nothing away from Blame or any of the horses that ran this race to give this mare the credit she surely deserves! She should have been 2009 Horse of The Year...maybe she will get this chance this year. As for Mike Smith...I love him he is a great jockey! Even great jockeys can make an error in judgement. He simply held her back too long! I was there...I saw it!
Well said!! I agree this your comment!!!!
I watched the race live and then on video at least 15 times, every time sure that she would catch up and pass just in time. The rest of the field ran an average of 26 second quarters. Zenyatta finished her last quarter in 21 or 22 seconds. One more jump and she would have been first. The arrogance of thinking Blame was a better horse in 2:02+ for a mile and a quarter, and that he "Beat" Zenyatta, to me was mind bending. She was closing like a Train and it was a head bob difference, one more stride and it would have been all over. But she was clearly the best horse, like Mike Smith said, and I sure feel for him. The horse is fine, but Mike is hurting, and I hope he feels better soon. Go Mike!!!!!
What a race! Zenyatta is a credit to her profession, you cant get any closer to perfection. Different day, different jockey, and she would have achieved perfection, as Personal Ensign did.
I hope she wins next time.do you want her to win to.
yes!
Zenyatta's stretch drive is like no other horse ever. I had to put the tape in slow motion to see. She was still coming and not until the finish line was over did Mike Smith let up on her. She had caught Blame but ran out of time. She needed to be outside the pack on the turn and history would have been made. It is such a shame for racing now. Because the message boards are full of arguments about the race and horse of the year. Please jockey Garret Gomez give you the honest truth if it doesn't cost him his job. He knows who the best horse was that day and it takes a real man to stand up and say it. He won that is what matters but honesty in what he experienced would mean a lot to all the fans. I know you have to protect your horse. But be realistic about what every one saw. The last ten feet from the finish tells the story. Even Trevor Denman thought she was going to make it. Because he had saw her do it so many times before. Wow!!! What race was Dell Hancock watching? Here is his quote "said Dell Hancock, whose family owns Claiborne. "I don't think she ever passed Blame -- not even in the gallop-out. I think he needs to talk with Garret Gomez who said he thought he had it all the way and there she was. One loss stride for perfection. Please read my article. Everybody who knows horse racing knows what this could have meant. I would love to hear from Gomez Blame's jockey if she had one more stride. The far turn and the sideways move was to much even for Zenyatta. I had to go through history to see if there was ever a stretch run like that ever. That was history.
Perfection Lost But Greatness Gained
Today we lost that sports moment in time we all cherish. That thing in sports we all crave for. Something to always remember. Something unforgettable. That thing you talk about as sports fans with friends and other fans that says we will always remember that, and wasn't that great. Then the comparisons start about who was the best of all time, or what was the greatest moment. Today America had a chance to have that moment. Everything all week led up to that moment. America got a chance to catch on late with the help of magazines and Television. It was a story made from Hollywood almost Heaven sent in a time of need. A feel good story in a year of uncertain economy turmoil and tabloid gossip. The cheers, the fan fare, the dancing was all there right up to the starting gate. But when the gate opened our hearts hit our stomach's. As the first half of the race was completed we all knew it was going to have to be a real miracle for our hearts not to be broken. Yes, this was her style but not this far back and not on this track and up against this field. You could feel the race being lost coming around the turn for home. No where to go and valuable time lost. Then a small opening to the outside that will lose more time but it's the only chance we have. She breaks free and can run, but looking at the field in front of her there is no way no chance against the best horses out there. But then you see that stride. That familiar move we have all seen before that has greatness written all over it. One by One they all fall behind like a train just went by them. Our hearts lift out of our stomach's because our heads say to us we have saw this before. That phenomenal stretch drive like the other horses are standing still. Unbelievable can this be the same horse that was at least 20 lengths back. The same horse that was tied up starting around the turn. One horse left but time is running short each stride a little closer. She has caught the other horse and needs just one more stride. But this time the great Zenyatta stride is too late. She passes the other horse but the finish line photo finish shows she lost by a nose. She fought the travel, the media frenzy, the dirt track, the bad start, the 20 lengths down and still only lost by a nose. The other horse had the perfect race. No problems just had to hold on and not get tracked down. One lost stride for perfection. The other horse's owner says we had it all the way. But the film shows different. It was just a matter of time that came a stride to late. Anything can happen in horse racing that's what made this 19-0 run so remarkable. Any given day like today to many odds are against you. While the other side had everything go completely perfect. What we learned today is not about our hearts being broken but about the heart of a Champion we grew to love. Who had no chance at all and just about pulled it off. Her critics who said she couldn't run on dirt saw that she did the same thing she always had done. Even with the worst of odds this time. Again one lost stride for perfection. This race will never be about how Blame won. It will always be about how Zenyatta lost. When your perfect in sports everybody remembers and never forgets. Who remembers the New England Patriots win streak because they ended up losing it in the Super Bowl a few years ago. But they all remember the 1972 Miami Dolphins. If Zenyatta would have won I can only imagine how the media frenzy would have been. You could feel the let down from Churchill downs, the TV announcers, across America at that moment in time. The winners circle seemed like a mortuary and Gomez the jockey almost apologetic. We all knew who was the best horse out there that day. Mike Smith the jockey can replay it over and over again. If we just would have done this or that because he knew already what we all know now. She is the best thing to come along in horse racing for a long time and probably the greatest filly who ever lived and he wanted her to have this sports moment so no one would ever forget. Hopefully unlike the New England Patriots we wont forget. Tonight Andrew Beyers and Jess Jackson breath a sign of relief her biggest critics. What were they thinking when Zenyatta made her charge? Again one lost stride for perfection. What excuses will they come up with now. It took all odds against her and a perfect race to beat her. Don't you hate it when someone lucks out and doesn't have to answer for being wrong. Today in this sports moment we lost perfection but we gained greatness. It's about what we call in sports of having the heart to overcome impossible odds and not so much about winning but to give it your all and giving it your best. We should all remember this day for Zenyatta never giving up and giving it all she had. Again one lost stride for perfection. But the heart that made her the Greatest Filly of all Time.
Written by Dominic Campisi 11/6/10
To the writer of the top 20 Mike Smith thoughts - Well Done! Very funny!!!
Bull, alot of people, myself included blame Mike Smith. He had her WAY too far back in the pack & he turned her loose too late. Anyone can see that he screwed up. He cheated her out of the chance to make history. I hope he's happy with himself.
what apowerful horse. look where she came from last two a few inches from winning.
I disagree with the main point of this article. As I see it, it was Mike Smith's fault that Zenyatta did not win.
Continued from last comment.
The strategy of coming from behind was still OK, despite tougher competition for this race as compared to previous races. However, staying closer to the lead was an obvious exercise of caution that was expected in this kind of race. It was expected that coming from way far behind would not work against Blame or the leader at the end of the stretch. Also, trying to come from behind in a race with more horses than usual, posed the risk of getting jammed behind horses and losing valuable time. Both of these situations took place and Zenyatta ran out of track to catch up with and pass Blame. What a shame that the best horse in the field finished second due to a poor strategy for this race!
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