Blame ends career on a high note
Blame's winning race in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic was his last. The horse shattered Zenyatta’s winning streak in the $5 million headlining race at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old son of Arch will now be retired to his stand at his owner’s Claiborne
Stud, according to trainer Al Stall.
"He has run his last race," said Stall. "With his pedigree he'd already made himself and this is just a little bit more."
Blame won the historic 100th edition of the race ahead of evens-favourite Zenyatta while racing at 26-5 odds. The next-best-odds, Lookin At Lucky, finished fourth behind Fly Down. It was the horses ninth win in a short, 13-race career with a total
$4.3 million worth in prizes. Blame is owned by and was bred at Claiborne.
“It’s just something special,” said Claiborne president Seth Hancock. “The farm has been what it’s been for 100 years. It hasn’t changed. A lot of great clients have horses there and there are a lot of great men and women that work there. I really can’t
put it into words. I’ve been running the farm for 38 years and been around some great horses, but we’ve never owned a horse of the year, and that’s what I think we own now.”
This season, Blame won the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs and the Whitney at Saratoga, both while being ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez. Before the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday, the horse finished second to Haynesfield in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont,
his only loss in his last seven starts. Gomez rode Blame again in the Breeders’ Cup.
“He was just absolutely marvellous,” said the jockey. “Probably the best race he’s ever run for me. This horse has made my year – it’s just Claiborne Farm, unbelievable. I’m glad he gets to go home to his birthplace.”
Saturday’s race was not so happy for local favourite Zenyatta and her fans. The Breeders’ Cup was the John Shirreff-trained horse's first career loss after twenty starts and as many victories. Jockey Mike Smith was emotional after the race and took full
responsibility for the defeat.
"It's my fault - she should have won," said the jockey. "I truly believe I was on the best horse today. If I had to blame anyone I would blame me. It hurts more than I can explain, just because it was my fault."
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