Zenyatta stuns males to win Cup Classic

• Late kick earns Zenyatta stunning win at Santa Anita

• Mare comes from last to first to land $5 million prize

• Unbeaten in 14 races

(Adds quotes, detail)

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

ARCADIA, California, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Zenyatta, trained by John Shirreffs and ridden by Mike Smith, became the first female to win the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic with a spectacular late finish at Santa Anita Park on Saturday.

The five-year-old mare maintained her perfect race record, triumphing for the 14th time in 14 starts as she beat Gio Ponti, with Ramon Dominguez on board, into second place by a length.

English raider Twice Over, ridden by Tom Queally, finished third in the field of 12 in the showpiece event at the two-day world championships.

"There are tears coming to my eyes," an emotional Shirreffs told reporters after his mare produced one of the greatest displays ever at the Breeders' Cup which dates back to 1984.

"I can't believe it. She is a great, great filly. She is all heart. The way the crowd took to her was just amazing. They cheered for her, they clapped for her, they love her."

Zenyatta, who won the all-female Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic last year, trailed the field in the early running and was 11 lengths off the lead with half a mile to go.

She then produced her trademark late kick, sparking frenzied cheers from the packed grandstand as she powered across the finish line from the outside.

"I still never got to the bottom of her," Smith said of Zenyatta's finish. "That's the amazing thing. She still had a run left. She's incredible. She's sent from heaven."

SCREAMING CROWD

He added: "I was able to cut the corner with her off the turn, and that made the difference right there. She started to get to them in the stretch and the crowd started screaming.

"Then she started looking at the crowd so I had to get after her a little bit, but she still won within herself."

The race was delayed by three minutes when Quality Road refused to enter the starting stalls, baulking several times and then having to be blindfolded before being scratched.

That had an effect on some of the other 12 runners, most notably with Zenyatta who began poorly.

"When we loaded the second time, she sure stood there when the gates opened," Smith said. "I needed to help her out of there but once I got out of there, she settled into stride really well."

Twice Over's jockey Queally paid tribute to Zenyatta's stunning performance over the 1-1/4 mile circuit.

"We ran a cracker," he said. "My horse probably didn't handle the home turn too cute but I don't think we would have beaten Zenyatta in a million years. Hats off to her. She's an exceptional, exceptional filly."

Fancied Irish raider Rip Van Winkle, ridden by Johnny Murtagh and among the pre-race favourites, moved into second place early on before falling back into 10th.

"He sat off them just fine but when I got to the three-eighths pole he emptied out pretty quick," Murtagh said.

"The big delay at the start might not have helped him but really no excuse today. After having a long season in Europe, maybe this race was just one race too many."

(Editing by Dave Thompson. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)