ARCADIA, Calif. — Life got sweeter for Life Is Sweet without her daunting stablemate Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. After fruitlessly chasing the undefeated mare in three previous races, Life Is Sweet found the winner’s circle.
Garrett Gomez guided her from last — more than 17 lengths behind — to a 2 1/2-length victory in Friday’s $2 million race at Santa Anita. Life Is Sweet was one of four longshots to win on the opening day of the 26th annual world championships.
“It was exhilarating,” co-owner Marty Wygod said.
The 4-year-old filly shares the barn of defending champion Zenyatta, who stayed in her stall resting ahead of today’s $5 million Classic against the boys. She will put her 13-0 winning streak on the line in the 1 1/4-mile race, the richest in North America.
Both horses are trained by John Shirreffs for different owners.
“I was glad she was able to get it done today,” Shirreffs said. “She really deserves this. She had been coming into this race really great.”
Life Is Sweet ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.58 and paid $18.20, $8 and $5 at 8-1 odds.
Mushka returned $12.80 and $6.40, while Music Note was another length back in third for the second straight year and paid $3.20 to show. Careless Jewel, the 9-5 wagering favorite, romped to an early nine-length lead before fading to last in the field of eight. Cocoa Beach, second last year, was sixth.
American horses won four of the day’s six races, with jockey Julien Leparoux riding two winners on a day that went off without incident to horses or riders.
Man of Iron opened the card with a thrilling nose victory over 9-year-old gelding Cloudy’s Knight in the $500,000 Marathon, the day’s only race featuring males.
In other races, Midday won the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf, She Be Wild charged along the rail to win the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf was won by Tapitsfly, and Informed Decision won the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint.
