Life is Sweet had the track to herself late in the Ladies' Classic (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com)

Pam and Martin Wygod's LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat) has faced a dynamo named Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in three of her last four starts, with that fourth run coming against the boys. On Friday, the bay lass finally found a race that didn't contain her nemesis, who also happens to be her stablemate, and ran away with the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths to give trainer John Shirreffs his second straight win in the race.

"I'm just so happy for Life is Sweet," Shirreffs said. "She's such a nice filly. She ran so great early in the year. I was glad she was able to get it done today. She really deserves this. She had been coming into this race really great."

Zenyatta was a dominant victress of last year's Ladies' Classic for Shirreffs, and Life is Sweet utilized a similar come-from-behind running style as her stablemate to make her conditioner just the third to earn consecutive runnings of the event.

As 8-5 favorite Careless Jewel (Tapit) drew off to a quick and dominating lead through splits of :23 2/5, :45 3/5 and 1:09 3/5, jockey Garrett Gomez allowed Life is Sweet to settle in the rear of the field. The three-year-old gray Careless Jewel, who was seeking her sixth straight win, began to feel the effects of her swift pace and visibly shortened stride heading into the second turn. Life is Sweet was just gearing up at that point, circling the entire field and sweeping by down the center of the track. The bay miss effortlessly drew off to finish the 1 1/8-mile test in 1:48 2/5, earning her first victory since taking the Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1) in mid-March over the Pro-Ride.

Life is Sweet proudly wearing the Breeders' Cup flowers (Ted Terquinio/Horsephotos.com)

"I actually thought they'd go ahead and start backing up about the three-eighths pole and they kept kicking on and I started getting a little worried. I started making a little run and all of the sudden, about the quarter-pole, they all started coming back really solid and she started finding her stride. I went by the last one and she just stayed on really solid, and I'm glad she picked today to show up."

Life is Sweet didn't get much respect from the wagering public as she was sent off the 8-1 fifth choice in the field of eight-horse field. She rewarded her faithful followers with $18.20, $8 and $5 while keying the $85.80 exacta ($1). Mushka (Empire Maker), winner of the Spinster S. (G1) last out via disqualification, held second by one length over a fast-closing Music Note (A.P. Indy), returning $12.80 and $6.40 at 16-1.

"At the quarter-pole, she felt like a winner," said Kent Desormeaux, who had piloting duties aboard Mushka. "She cornered like she couldn't lose, but the winner came and got me."

Music Note filled out the third spot in the Ladies' Classic for the second straight year, giving back $3.20 as the near 5-2 second pick and ending the $523.60 trifecta ($1). Proviso (GB) (Dansili [GB]), who crossed under the wire first in the Spinster but was placed second for interference, was another 2 3/4 lengths back in fourth, rounding out the 2-3-7-5 superfecta ($1) that totaled $2,533.40.

Music Note (inside) couldn't run down Life is Sweet (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

"She broke well. At the first quarter she was going OK, but then she locked on to the bridle and went as far as she could as fast as she could. That's not her," jockey Robert Landry explained about Careless Jewel. "Normally, she'll just relax. It's disappointing because she is a much better filly than she showed today. That's for sure. She's a great filly. She'll be back and she'll be bigger and stronger."

Life is Sweet began her career under the tutelage of Bill Mott, running fourth in last year's Ashland S. (G1) as well as recording runner-up efforts in the Sands Point S. (G2) and Calder Oaks while racing on turf. Once transferred to Shirreffs, and the synthetics in California, the now four-year-old immediately moved up her game, capturing the El Encino S. (G2), La Canada S. (G1) and aforementioned Santa Margarita. She faced fellow Shirreffs trainee Zenyatta for the first time in the Milady H. (G2), following her home to be second, then took on the boys in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), where she rallied for a third-place finish.

Fourth-place runs resulted in Life is Sweet's past two races, once again behind Zenyatta, in the Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1) and Lady's Secret S. (G1). Returning to the winner's circle following this top-level score, her record now stands at 15-6-3-1 and she's banked $1,770,810 in lifetime earnings.

"She's had some tough races," Gomez said. "Her campaign this summer was very difficult. She had to run against Zenyatta a couple times. She ran against the boys once. When you run some tough races like she did, it will take something out of you. I'm glad they were able to get her confidence back and have her prepared for today. My hat is off to John and Mr. and Mrs. (Pam and Martin) Wygod for a tremendous job."