2011 Breeders' Cup Results: Drosselmeyer Quietly Becoming an All-Time Great

Drosselmeyer and jockey Mike Smith have taken home their second major race of 2011 with a first place finish at the 2011 Breeders Cup.

With this win, Drosselmeyer can now add a first-place finish to a mantle that includes the 2011 Belmont Stakes.

Melissa Hoppert of The New York Times Horse Racing Blog reports on the win:

"

Mike Smith and Drosselmeyer rallied in the homestretch to overtake Chantal Sutherland and Game On Dude to win the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

It was the 15th career Breeders’ Cup win for Smith, a Hall of Famer. Sutherland, looking to become the first female jockey to win the Classic, appeared to be on the verge of history. But in a cruel twist, it was her ex-boyfriend Smith who rode off with the victory.

But for Smith, who finished a heartbreaking second in the Classic last year with the great Zenyatta, the victory was a small measure of redemption.

“Last year hurt, and it still hurts like anything’s ever hurt before in my life,” Smith said. “But for this guy to come back. I’ve only gotten to ride him twice, the Belmont and the Classic, and to win them both, it’s amazing.”

"

Coming into the Classic, Drosselmeyer was getting little to no attention, especially with horses like Uncle Mo and Havre de Grace getting all the spotlight.

Drosselmeyer was even quiet during the race, holding down in the middle of the pack for most of it until coming up huge on the homestretch.

Bringing home a first-place win in just one of the major races of the year is a huge deal, but to win two is excellent.

In fact, it's not just excellent, it's almost borderline dynasty.

Moving forward, if this horse can just bring back one more win or a couple finishes in the money, we could eventually be talking about one of the best horses of all time.

It may to early to tell, but this is certainly a great start.