The greatest respect one can pay an athlete or horse is to acknowledge that there are no great champions without great opposition.
The Classic was an example. Two truly great horses competing. I believe neither horse lost champions status. In fact the true winner of the race was horse racing.
Zenyatta's heart stopping stretch drive was spectacular. Blames' determination in the final 50 yards was incredible because of who was coming after him.
Hats off to both, to horse racing, and to the popularity generated fron this incredible mare.
In closing, if they evere ran against each other again the result would be the same....horse racing would win by a block!!