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Blame’s Historic Upset Over Zenyatta in 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic
- Updated: May 30, 2025
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In the annals of horse racing, few stories grip the heart like Zenyatta’s quest for perfection, a 19-race win streak that captivated the world and culminated in a gut-wrenching clash at the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic. The towering mare, a 17.2-hand daughter of Street Cry, had danced through her career undefeated, her late-charging heroics leaving fans breathless from California to Arkansas. Named after The Police’s album Zenyatta Mondatta by owners Jerry and Ann Moss, she was more than a horse—she was a phenomenon, drawing crowds who’d never bet a dime on racing before. Her 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic win at Santa Anita, where she roared past males like Gio Ponti to become the first mare to claim that crown, cemented her as a legend. By November 6, 2010, at Churchill Downs, the stage was set for her to retire 20-0, a feat not seen in American sports since Rocky Marciano hung up his gloves. But fate, and a colt aptly named Blame, had other plans.
Zenyatta’s streak was a tapestry of drama. She’d conquered 13 Grade I races, including the 2008 Ladies’ Classic and back-to-back Apple Blossom Handicaps on dirt at Oaklawn Park. Her style was pure theater: lagging at the rear, sometimes 20 lengths back, before unleashing a monstrous closing kick that left rivals in her dust. At Churchill, facing a field stacked with talent—Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky, Woodward Stakes victor Quality Road, and Jockey Club Gold Cup champion Haynesfield—she was the even-money favorite. Yet, whispers of doubt lingered. She’d raced on dirt only twice before, and Churchill’s surface was Blame’s domain, where he’d won the Stephen Foster and Clark Handicaps. The stage was set for a showdown that would echo through racing history.
As the gates flew open, Zenyatta’s trademark slow start saw her trail by 14 lengths, her stride uneven on the unfamiliar dirt, dirt kicking back in her face. Jockey Mike Smith, her partner in all but three of her triumphs, urged her forward, but she lingered last through six furlongs. Blame, under Garrett Gomez, sat comfortably midpack, poised like a predator. As the field hit the far turn, Zenyatta began her move, weaving inside, briefly steadied behind a fading Quality Road. Smith swung her wide, and the crowd of 72,739 erupted, sensing her signature surge. She devoured ground, passing Musket Man, Paddy O’Prado, and Lookin At Lucky, her long legs a blur. But Blame, splitting horses with surgical precision, seized the lead. Gomez glanced back, saw Zenyatta’s shadow looming, and asked Blame for everything. In a photo finish that froze hearts, Blame held on by a head, clocking 2:02.28 for the 1¼ miles. The silence that followed was deafening.
Embedded replay courtesy of the Breeders’ Cup Channel on YouTube
The irony of Blame’s name hung heavy. The colt, bred by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, became the only horse to tarnish Zenyatta’s record, his name a cruel twist for a mare who’d inspired millions. Smith, tears streaming, blamed himself, lamenting a slow start and a mistimed run. “She’s my everything,” he said, voice breaking. “I left her too much to do.” Gomez, too, felt the weight, admitting mixed emotions: “She’s been an ambassador for racing… I’m glad I gave her the defeat, but I wish it was at someone else’s expense.” Zenyatta’s connections—Shirreffs, the Mosses—stood stunned, yet proud. “She lost to a really good horse,” Jerry Moss said. “She’s the greatest.” Despite the loss, Zenyatta claimed 2010 Horse of the Year honors, her 19-1 record and gallant effort outweighing Blame’s Eclipse Award as champion older male. She retired to Lane’s End Farm, her legacy untarnished, inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2016.
Tragically, Garrett Gomez, the jockey who masterminded Blame’s victory, would not live to see the race’s enduring legacy. A gifted rider whose career included three Breeders’ Cup wins that day, Gomez battled addiction and personal demons, passing away in 2016 at age 44. His ride on Blame remains a career pinnacle, a moment of brilliance that outshone even Zenyatta’s star.
Fifteen years later, the 2025 Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs, set for May 31, carries the weight of that historic upset. Named in honor of Blame’s 2010 triumph, the Grade III race at 1⅛ miles draws horses aiming to channel his grit. This year’s field, though not yet finalized, is expected to feature rising stars and seasoned contenders, with early buzz around horses like Sovereignty, a 2025 Triple Crown prospect whose late-running style echoes Zenyatta’s. Handicappers note the race’s $300,000 purse and Churchill’s dirt surface favor tactical speed, much like Blame’s stalking trip in 2010. Posts on X highlight the event as a fan favorite, with some calling it a “tribute to the day Blame stole Zenyatta’s crown.” The stakes serve as a reminder: in racing, even the greatest can fall, but their stories—like Zenyatta’s, like Blame’s, like Gomez’s—endure.
