HORSE RACING

• Zenyatta hits right note in Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic

  
  

  Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Leading female thoroughbred Zenyatta came from the back of the pack to capture Friday's $2 million Ladies' Classic at Santa Anita to conclude the first day of the 25th Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

  Jockey Mike Smith notched his second Breeders' Cup win on the day.

  Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss, Zenyatta was sent off as the 1-2 favorite in the eight-horse field of fillies and mares. She was 10 lengths off the leaders in the 1 1/8-mile race when Smith set her down for the rally.

  Running on the outside, Zenyatta caught the leaders with 200 yards to go and went on to post a 1 1/2-length victory over Cocoa Beach. Three-year-old Music Note finished third with Carriage Trail and last year's Distaff runner-up Hystericalady in a dead-heat for fourth.

  The time for the Ladies' Classic was 1:46.85 on the synthetic surface.

  Zenyatta, trained by John Shirreffs, is perfect in nine career starts and seven races in 2008.

  She adds $1 million to her bankroll, which totals a little more than $2 million.

  Smith, who earlier won the Juvenile Fillies, has been aboard the filly the last six starts. During that time Zenyatta has won Lady's Secret, Clement Hirsch, Vanity, Milady and Apple Blossom.

  Formerly known as the Breeders' Cup Distaff, Smith won the race in 1995 with Inside Information, with Ajina in 1997 and in 2002 with Azeri.

  Zenyatta paid $3.00, $2.60 and $2.10.

  Cocoa Beach returned $4.60 and $3.80, and Music Note paid $3.80 to show.

  10/24 18:47:26 ET