LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Zenyatta’s growing popularity outside horse racing led to her odds getting hammered down to 8-5 for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The horse with the 19-0 record was made the early favorite in a field of 12 for Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile Classic.
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia originally had Zenyatta at 5-2 on the morning line.
“Then my wife showed me the latest issue of Oprah magazine with the most influential women of the year, so then I knocked her down to 2-1,” he said. “Then I saw ’60 Minutes,’ so I knocked her down to 8-5. We’re all looking for something special.”
Zenyatta, who is also featured in this month’s issue of fashion magazine W, will break from the No. 8 post against the boys.
“We like that number. It’s one of our favorite numbers,” said Ann Moss, who owns Zenyatta with her husband Jerry. “It’s considered to be a lucky number.”
At 6, Zenyatta is the oldest horse in the Classic, which she came from behind to win last year on Santa Anita’s synthetic surface. This time, she will be running on dirt against a field that includes Preakness and Haskell winner Lookin At Lucky, Whitney winner Blame and Quality Road.
Blame was installed as the 9-2 second choice and will break from post No. 5. Quality Road was the third choice at 5-1 and drew the No. 1 post.
Goldikova, the 6-5 favorite, seeks a third consecutive victory in the $2 million Mile, while J. B.’s Thunder, owned by Coloradan Andrea Pollack, will break from the No. 3 post at 12-1 odds in the 1A/af-mile juvenile.
The 14 races to be run Friday and Saturday are worth $26 million.
