1) Breeders’ Cup Classic - As if there was any doubt. The Epic
race played out by Blame and Zenyatta was an instant classic. Despite
the fact that the far more popular Zenyatta lost the photo by a short
head to her male competitor, the 2010 edition of the BC Classic was the
race of the year, and one of the greatest races I have ever seen.
2) Travers Stakes - If not for the unforgettable drama in the
Classic, this year’s Travers would have made for a worthy race of the
year. In Saratoga’s most important race, two proud colts hooked up late
and battled nose to nose to the wire leaving the rest of the field far
behind. Afleet Express would win the photo and the Travers, but Fly Down
ran huge and only lost by an eyelash.
3) Fleur de Lis Handicap - It was a tough season for my favorite
horse, Rachel Alexandra, but not on this day. Looking like the same
filly who had the greatest season of any three-year-old filly in history
the year before, Rachel’s performance in the Fleur de Lis allowed this
admiring onlooker one last thrilling moment with the filly I loved.
4) Whitney Handicap - It became the changing of the guard when
the leader of the handicap division, Quality Road was challenged by the
up and coming Blame. It was a challenge that Quality Road could not
handle, as Blame took his place as the best male horse in the nation
with a thrilling stretch drive in the Whitney.
5) Breeders’ Cup Mile - Goldikova and Gio Ponti. The all-time
great French mare against the excellent American challenger. It was set
to be a showdown, but it turned into a coronation. Goldikova is an
incredible mare, and she was never finer than in this year’s BC Mile. In
the process, she became the first horse ever to win three Breeders’ Cup
races.
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