Day two of the 27th Breeders' Cup World Championships took place Saturday at Churchill Downs before a crowd of 72,739 enjoying partly sunny skies and temperatures in the 40's. Total attendance for the two days increased from 96,496 to 114,353. Again the main track was fast and the turf course was firm.
Undefeated mare Zenyatta, winner of 2008 Ladies' Classic and the Classic last year, was sent off as the even-money favorite in the field of 12 in her attempt to extend her career to an unprecedented 20 straight wins. In to challenge her included 9-2 second choice Lookin at Lucky, winner of the Preakness, Haskell, and Indiana Derby, and 5-1 third choice Blame, winner of the Stephen Foster and the Whitney but 2nd in the Jockey Club Gold Cup last out.
37-1 First Dude set an early pace of 23.24, 47.14, and 1:11.01 over the fast track while being stalked by 6-1 fourth choice Quality Road. At the top of the stretch, 30-1 Espoir City took a brief lead through 1 mile in 1:37.12, was soon passed by Blame and Lookin at Lucky. Zenyatta, who was last as many as 15 lengths off the pace for the first 7 furlongs, closed ground on the outside, but Blame held her off in the final strides by a head in 2:02.28. It was a long 3 1/2 lengths back to 26-1 Fly Down third.
Results chart
On to Part 2 with the Mile, Dirt Mile, Juvenile Turf, and Turf Sprint
Friday races: Ladies' Classic, F/M Sprint, F/M Turf, Juvenile Fillies, Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Marathon
