CLASSIC CONNECTIONS

ANNE M. EBERHARDT

Knicks Go won the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic after taking the Breeders’ Cup Mile the year before. The Horse of the Year retired to stud at Taylor Made Stallions.

PHOTO ALBUM

Many Breeders’ Cup Classic winners have retired to prestigious Central Kentucky farms, where they perpetuate the breed and welcome fans

Few accomplishments in racing equal winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Te late-season contest brings together the world’s best middle-distance dirt runners, many of whom already have won a Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup, or other prestigious grade 1 race.

Some of the sport’s most indelible moments have played out during the mile-and-a-quarter Classic. Tiznow, for example, not only defeated a stubborn European rival in Giant’s Causeway in 2000 but he did it again in 2001 when he turned back Sahkee. Now retired as a stallion, Tiznow is the only horse to win two runnings of the Classic.

Te great mare Zenyatta nearly won the race twice, but an unyielding Blame denied her the repeat in 2010. In 2015, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah thrilled fans at Keeneland when he toured the stretch in isolated glory. And in 2021, Knicks Go ran away with the Classic, having won the Breeders’ Cup Mile the year before.

SKIP DICKSTEIN

Authentic won the 2020 Classic after winning the Kentucky Derby earlier in the year. He stands at his owner’s Spendthrift Farm.

Te exploits of Classic winners live on in memory, but a number of these Breeders’ Cup champions continue to make their presence felt on farms in Central Kentucky. Retirement has brought second careers as stallions to an impressive list of winners. From Curlin to the recently retired Knicks Go, these talented Toroughbreds perpetuate the breed while boosting tourism by drawing fans to area farms.

Following is an impressive lineup of contemporary Breeders’ Cup Classic winners now adding further cachet to the Bluegrass. KM

AUTRY GRAHAM/SPENDTHRIFT

AUTHENT I C

ANNE M. EBERHARDT PHOTOS

Vino Rosso won the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic. His other victories include the Gold Cup at Santa Anita and the Wood Memorial.

Gun Runner’s command performance in the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic marked his fourth grade 1 victory of the season. He retired to Three Chimneys Farm after his fnal race, the 2018 Pegasus World Cup.

ECLIPSE SPORTSWIRE

Vino Rosso’s pedigree and race record earned him a berth in the stallion barn at Spendthrift Farm.

Accelerate’s sensational 2018 season included the Breeders’ Cup Classic and four other grade 1 races. He retired to Lane’s End Farm.

Caption ANNE M. EBERHARDT MATT WOOLEY/EQUISPORT PHOTOS Gun Runner sired the 2021 2-year-old flly champion Echo Zulu in his frst crop.

ANNE M. EBERHARDT

ANNE M. EBERHARDT

American Pharoah ended a 37-year drought of Triple Crown winners when he won the series in 2015. He capped his season with his emphatic Breeders’ Cup Classic victory at Keeneland. He retired afterward to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud, where he remains a fan favorite.

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Florida-bred Mucho Macho Man won the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic after successfully prepping in the Awesome Again Stakes, his frst grade 1 victory. He stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms.

Blame ended Zenyatta’s unbroken win streak in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic. In all, Blame won nine of 13 races and never fnished worse than third. Blame has had a successful stallion career at Claiborne Farm, which bred the champion in partnership with Adele Dilschneider.

SKIP DICKSTEIN

ANNE M. EBERHARDT

ANNE M. EBERHARDT PHOTOS

Z ENYATTA

Zenyatta became the frst and only female winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic when she won the 2009 edition at Santa Anita Park.

Curlin’s impressive resume as a racehorse includes victories in the 2007 Preakness Stakes, that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, and the 2008 Dubai World Cup. At one time he was the world’s leading earner. A highly successful stallion, Curlin stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms.

SKIP DICKSTEIN

PHOTOS BY Z

SANTA ANITA PARK

Zenyatta today is a broodmare at Lane’s End Farm. A bronze statue at Santa Anita pays tribute to the popular champion.

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