ARCADIA, Calif. - The 15-year anniversary of Zenyatta’s epic win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita is on Nov. 7. “Where did that go?” trainer John Shirreffs said on Sunday morning. “Fast.” Zenyatta’s come-from-behind win remains a unique aspect of Breeders’ Cup history, the first and only mare to win the BC Classic. Shirreffs watched the race from the rail, positioned up the stretch from the finish line. He had a great view of Zenyatta’s rally on the outside under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. “She was making a big move,” he remembered. Zenyatta was on her way to a one-length win over Gio Ponti. With the win came the appreciation, waves of cheers from an announced on-track crowd of more than 58,800. “It was so crowded,” Shirreffs said. “It was so exciting and so much energy everywhere, particularly in the grandstand.” :: Bet Santa Anita with confidence! Get DRF All Access Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and more. Shirreffs, dressed in a sportcoat and wearing a baseball hat that day, celebrated the win with nearby well-wishers. If there was a touchdown dance for trainers, Shirreffs would have displayed one that day. “I wanted to rip my jacket off,” he said. “I took my hat and threw it in the crowd.” Shirreffs, 79, reflected on the milestone on Sunday while attending to a filly in her stall. On Saturday, the stable gained a much-needed boost when the lightly raced 3-year-old Atitlan won his first stakes in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita. Atitlan was the first stakes win for Shirreffs since December 2022. At Del Mar during the summer, Atitlan finished third in the La Jolla Handicap in August and in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in September, encountering trouble in each race. Atitlan, who races for owner and breeder John O’Connor of New York City, had a better trip in the $201,000 Twilight Derby. Ridden by Hector Berrios, Atitlan ($14.60) closed from fourth of seven to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 6-5 favorite Stay Hot. Atitlan has won 2 of 5 starts and earned $213,500. “That was so much fun,” Shirreffs said. “He had a couple of excuses when things happened to him” at Del Mar. Berrios has been Atitlan’s frequent work rider this fall. “Berrios has been working him every week for a month and he was happy with how the horse was prepping for the race,” Shirreffs said. “Things came together. “Berrios had a lot of horse.” Atitlan, by The Factor, is a half-brother to Astronaut, the winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf in 2021 for O’Connor and Shirreffs. O’Connor keeps a small number of horses in training with Shirreffs. “It’s great the way they continue to support California,” Shirreffs said. Atitlan will be pointed to the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, a $300,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Nov. 30. Longer races are likely in 2025. “Distance will be his friend,” Shirreffs said. Zenyatta, who won the first 19 races of her 20-race career, was the 2010 Horse of the Year, the season in which she finished second to Blame in the BC Classic at Churchill Downs in her last start. Zenyatta was retired from breeding in early 2023 and resides at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky. So far, Zenyatta has not had a successful career as a broodmare. Zenyatta had two foals to race in Cozmic One and Ziconic, both winless. Two fillies – Zellda and Zilkha – did not start. Her last foal, a War Front filly, is a yearling. “She had a lot of trouble foaling,” Shirreffs said. “It wasn’t easy for her.” Ann Moss, who campaigned Zenyatta with her former husband, the late Jerry Moss, owns Zenyatta and the foals, Shirreffs said. Shirreffs, who does not have a Breeders’ Cup starter this year, is so closely associated with Zenyatta that some racing fans forget he won the 2005 Kentucky Derby with Giacomo for the Mosses. “Fortunately, I remember it,” he said with a laugh. Shirreffs does not have to go far at Santa Anita for reminders of Zenyatta’s achievements. There is a statue of Zenyatta near the grandstand entrance, next to a path that leads from the stables to the paddock. The statue is a frequent photo backdrop for all ages of racing fans. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.