The build-up to the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic revolved around super mare Zenyatta but Claiborne Farm homebred Blame obviously didn’t hear any of the hype.  

Blame didn’t flinch when Zenyatta ranged up and eye-balled him at the furlong pole.  He refused to yield ground and held on to score by a head in the Breeders’ Cup finale.

Blame (4c Arch – Liable by Seeking the Gold) will return to stand at Claiborne next year on the back of a career that also garnered Group 1 victories in the Stephen Foster Hcp and Whitney Invitational.  He retires with a 13: 9-2-2 scorecard and over $4.36 million in prizemoney.

“I had an absolutely beautiful trip,” winning jockey Garrett Gomez said.  “Blame travelled so well.  I followed Lookin at Lucky to the top of the stretch and then he just jumped up into the bridle.  He really had his game face on and I was just trying to hold the wonder horse.

“I really do have mixed emotions,” he added.  “Zenyatta has een an ambassador for racing.  She was going for 20-for-20 and she came up a head short.  For me, this is the best win I’ve ever had but, at the same time, I wish she could have gone out at the expense of somebody else.”

Mike Smith settled Zenyatta at the rear of the field but she began running down the back stretch.  She tried to save ground on the inside but was forced to steady amid heavy traffic on the home turn.  Switched to the outside, the Street Cry mare ranged up to Blame and appeared to have his measure at the furlong.

“When I saw Zenyatta coming, I had a sneaking suspicion that Blame was waiting a little bit like he always does.” winning trainer Al Stall Jr. admitted.  “It got hairy there at the end, but he’s a smart horse.  He knows what his job is and he does it very well.

“I’ve never had one at this level, not many people have,” Stall added.  It’s rarified air.  We’re just glad to be here.”

Blame is by Claiborne Farm’s Kris S. stallion Arch and is out of the stakes-placed Seeking the Gold mare Liable who is a half-sister to globetrotting Group 1 performer Archipenko (Kingmambo).  It’s the family of super sires Nureyev (Northern Dancer) and Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer).

Zenyatta was far from disgraced and there were unconfirmed reports the Street Cry mare will return to racing as a seven year-old in 2011.  “We’re real proud of our girl,” part-owner Jerry Moss said.  “She ran a tremendous race only to get beat by the slimmest of margins.  We congratulate Blame and his connections.  He beat a superstar.”