Not far from Santa Anita Park in the Los Angeles foothills is the world-famous Hollywood sign. Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic had all the makings of a really gripping screenplay.

Entering from center stage was Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), who came into the $5-million event perfect in her 13 career starts and was clearly the day's marquee attraction. The plot would be thickened by a supporting cast featuring an accomplished group of male opponents, including leading three-year-olds Summer Bird (Birdstone) and Mine That Bird (Birdstone); the rock-solid handicapper Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck); and Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat), a Grade III winner on the Pro-Ride in late 2008 and four-time Grade I winner on the turf in 2009.

As the players made their way onto the stage, otherwise known as the Pro-Ride, tension and anticipation filled the air as the 57,000 spectators knew that they could be minutes away from history. After all, no leading lady had ever won the Classic; in fact, only four had ever tried, and of those, Jolypha's third place finish in 1992 was by far the best. There was additional drama at the gate, when Quality Road (Elusive Quality) came undone when blindfolded. He was scratched and minutes later, the main act began.

Quality Road's antics delayed the start of the Classic by several minutes, and, although the field was backed out of the gate while the Ned Evans runner was assessed, Zenyatta--who baulked a bit when loading up the first time--did not seem to handle the wait all that well. At long last, the field of 12 was reassembled and the curtain was raised. Regal Ransom (Distorted Humor), as expected, showed the way out of the chute and galloped along easily on the front end. Colonel John (Tiznow), Einstein and the slow-starting Rip Van Winkle (Galileo {Ire}) and Girolamo (A.P. Indy) were also prominent, as Summer Bird settled in midfield.

Zenyatta was typically void of early speed and brought up the rear with Mine That Bird as the field raced past the audience for the first time. Regal Ransom continued to show the way up the backstretch and there was largely little change in the plot after six furlongs in 1:11.88, though Mike Smith allowed Zenyatta to creep forward to be at the tail end of the peloton. Things began to get a bit interesting as they raced into and around the final turn. Regal Ransom still led, but was getting weary, and the stormers were launching their rallies from behind. Gio Ponti had a perfect inside trip, saving every inch of ground beneath Ramon Dominguez, and, when he punched through two off the fence, it looked like the four-year-old was on his way.

But, unbeknownst to Dominguez, Zenyatta was picking off horses one by one, first towards the rail before shifting out in upper stretch. Mike Smith, who rode with supreme confidence, first spied a gap between Summer Bird and Twice Over, but when that did not materialize, he angled his mare diagonally outside of the Belmont winner and inside of Awesome Gem (Awesome Again). Dominguez, who'd gone for home on Gio Ponti, must have thought he had the race won. But, glancing nearly helplessly to his right and flagging his mount right-handed, he could do little in the final 70 yards but watch the freight train that is Zenyatta motor on by in front of her adoring fans. Twice Over came on for third. "I still never got to the bottom of her," said Smith.

"She's incredible. I was able to cut the corner with her off the turn, and that made the difference right there. When we loaded the second time, she sure stood there when the gates opened. 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."

A Tip of the Cap from the Vanquished... Lose a race of this caliber and it's easy to understand that there would be some disappointment or frustration. Yet Zenyatta seems to have won everyone over. "What a thrill seeing history being made by Zenyatta," said trainer Bob Baffert, whose Richard's Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) was sixth. "It was the only time in horse racing that I didn't mind getting beat in a big race. If they don't reward her with Horse of the Year, it would be a travesty. And the way she won! I've never seen a crowd so captivated. It felt like a horse winning the third leg of the Triple Crown." Added Helen Pitts, "That filly is unreal. Those are hard to come by." A virtuoso performance indeed.