By Mark Lamport-Stokes

ARCADIA, California (Reuters) - Zenyatta, trained by John Shirreffs and ridden by Mike Smith, became the first female to win the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic with a spectacular late finish at Santa Anita Park on Saturday.

The five-year-old mare maintained her perfect race record, triumphing for the 14th time in 14 starts as she beat Gio Ponti, with Ramon Dominguez on board, into second place.

English raider Twice Over, ridden by Tom Queally, finished third in the field of 12 in the showpiece event at the two-day world championships.

"There are tears coming to my eyes," an emotional Shirreffs told reporters. "I can't believe it.

"She is a great, great filly. She is all heart. The way the crowd took to her was just amazing. They cheered for her, they clapped for her, they love her. What a wonderful relationship."

Zenyatta, who won the all-female Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic last year, trailed the field in the early running and was a distant 11 lengths off the lead with half a mile to go.

She then produced her trademark late kick, sparking frenzied cheers from the packed grandstand as she powered across the finish line from the outside.

The race was delayed by three minutes when Quality Road refused to enter the starting gates, baulking several times and then having to be blindfolded before being scratched.

(Editing by Dave Thompson)