ARCADIA, Calif. - The presence of Zenyatta in today’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic will make for a dramatic conclusion to the two-day, 14-race World Championships at Santa Anita Park, where attendance is expected to be boosted by the undefeated hometown star’s run for history.

“She has so many fans on the West Coast; I think she’s going to have a lot of fan appeal. When you’re around a horse like Zenyatta who has so much fan appeal, it’s always very exciting and special,” said trainer John Shirreffs, who’ll saddle the 5-year-old mare for a clash against 12 international male stars in her search for a 14th straight victory without defeat.

Having equaled 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Personal Ensign’s career record of 13-0 while capturing the Grade 1 Lady’s Secret over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface, Zenyatta will attempt to become the only female to win the 1-mile Classic.

As exciting as her first meeting against males may be for the Breeders’ Cup and the industry, it’s even more of a thrill for Shirreffs, who recalled the spine-tingling fan reaction to Zenyatta at Del Mar for her victory in the Clement Hirsch Stakes.

“To see that much enthusiasm over a horse at the races is just very exciting for everybody involved with that horse,” Shirreffs said, “because that’s your pride and joy going out there, and everybody is yelling and clapping and really appreciating her.”

Zenyatta has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Classic. The Santa Anita linemaker took into account the stretch-running mare’s undefeated record and the legion of racing fans that swelled following her breathtaking triumph in last year’s Ladies’ Classic, arguably the most brilliant performance of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup card at Santa Anita. A return trip to the Ladies’ Classic would have been a slam-dunk move to extend Zenyatta’s record to 14-0, but a victory against males today would make the daughter of Street Cry a serious contender for Horse of the Year, which is widely considered locked up by super 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra.

“It’s not about any titles,” owner Jerry Moss said about his decision to run the Classic. “It’s about giving this horse, who is perhaps one of the greatest gifts we’ve ever been given, her chance to really show how great she can be. That’s what horse racing is all about. We believe this is in her reach.”

Zenyatta, who has been outclassing fillies and mares, will need to step up her game in the Classic, which has drawn a deep international field that includes Rip Van Winkle, a multiple Group 1 stakes winner in England; Summer Bird, the winner of the Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup; Mine That Bird, the Kentucky Derby winner; Einstein, the Santa Anita Handicap winner earlier in the year; and brilliant stakes winner Quality Road.

“It’s by far the toughest group of horses that have gotten together the whole year,” said jockey Mike Smith, who has ridden Zenyatta for all of her victories. “We’re going to go in there with our heads held up high and hopefully she gets the opportunity to run like she can. If she does, I think you’ll see something incredible.”

Zenyatta will be the fourth female to run in the Classic, joining Azeri (fifth in 2004), Jolypha (third, ’92) and Triptych (sixth, ’86).

This year’s Cup attracted a strong European contingent in response to their success at Santa Anita last year, including Raven’s Pass’ upset triumph in the Classic. Goldikova, the winner of the Mile, and Conduit, the Turf champion, have returned to defend their respective titles.

Mastercraftsman, the multiple Grade 1 stakes-winning 3-year-old who prepped for the Breeders’ Cup with an authoritative triumph in a stakes over a Polytrack surface, will be odds-on to capture the Dirt Mile.

Trainer Bob Baffert will be seeking a repeat victory in the Juvenile when he saddles morning-line favorite Looking At Lucky for an attempt at running his record to 5-0. The Hall of Fame trainer, who has saddled five Breeders’ Cup winners, will also be represented by morning-line favorite Zensational in the Sprint.