LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Get ready, Zenyatta. The Breeders' Cup Classic has another impressive prima donna.

Jockey Garrett Gomez says blossoming 4-year-old Blame is in prime shape to end Zenyatta's streak of 19 straight victories without a defeat.

The bay colt has won five of his last six races, including the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June. Blame breezed four furlongs in 49.8 seconds on Monday, his last significant move before Saturday's Classic.

``Over the last six months he's turned into a true movie star, he really enjoys the cameras,'' Gomez said.

Blame certainly looked it during the early morning chill. He bucked a little when Gomez pulled him up following the gallop out and toyed with his lead pony on his way back to the barn.

If he's nervous about taking on racing's reigning queen in the 1 1/4-mile Classic, it didn't show.

``I like to call him a war horse,'' Gomez said. ``He gets in the trenches and eyeballs other horses the whole way around. He just fights it out.''

He'll have to if he wants to end his career with a victory.

Blame is becoming the face of resurgent Claiborne Farms. The historic farm - which served as home to greats such as Secretariat, Mr. Prospector and Easy Goer during their stallion careers - is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

He has done it in style, too. He struggled finding his form as a 3-year-old before breaking through with wins in the Fayette Stakes at Keeneland and the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs last fall.

The wins were so impressive trainer Albert Stall Jr. started pointing toward this year's Classic, figuring his horse had the twin spires figured out. Blame hasn't let him down, romping in the Donald Schaefer Stakes on Preakness Day in May then backing it up with victories in the Foster and Whitney Handicap.

The only misstep came in a loss at the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont three weeks ago, when he couldn't chase down Haynesfield.

Blame could pose a stiff test for Zenyatta. Though not a dead closer like the massive 6-year-old mare - who spends the majority of the race jogging before hitting the jets in the stretch - Blame is likely to sit in the middle of the 14-horse field before Gomez turns him loose at the quarter pole.

``He actually came around faster than I anticipated him doing,'' said Gomez, who took over for Jamie Theriot this year. ``By the end of last year he came around and he's continued to do what I've asked him to. He's turned into a really good racehorse. Now we hope he turns into a great one.''

Blame and Zenyatta both are riding off to retirement after the Classic. Stall thinks Blame has the stuff to spoil Zenyatta's going-away party.

``I'm glad were considered one of the top horses,'' Stall said. ``It's a tough race but I feel like we belong.''

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PROVISO ON POINT: Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott isn't one to back down from a challenge.

Sure, Mott could have skipped the Breeders' Cup Mile and put surging mare Proviso into the Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park instead.

His horse, however, didn't give him a choice.

The 5-year-old bay has ripped off four straight wins, including a victory in the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 9.

``She's beaten the boys in California, she's definitely a horse that's earned her way into the Breeders' Cup,'' Mott said. ``We could run in the Matriarch, but I don't think we're going to gain much more than we've already done. I think the big prize is on Breeders' Cup day.''

Though Mott allows the competition in the Mile - which includes two-time defending champion Goldikova, Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney's Candy and Irish-star Paco Boy - could be among the toughest on the two-day, 14-race card, he's optimistic his girl is up for it.

``I think it's the deepest water and the toughest race that we're going to be in, but she deserves her chance,'' Mott said. ``I think she's ready for the challenge and we're ready for her to watch her take them on.''

Proviso breezed four furlongs Monday in a relatively leisurely 51.6 seconds under jockey Kent Desormeaux.

Mott took over as Proviso's trainer after Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel passed away last year. Proviso, owned by Juddmonte Farm, has flourished under his care.

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MINE THAT BIRD'S LAST STAND: Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is hoping to recapture the magic at the track that made him famous.

The 4-year-old gelding, who stunned the field in the 2009 Run for the Roses as a 50-1 long shot, will try to resurrect his career in the Dirt Mile on Saturday.

It's been a bumpy 18 months since Mine That Bird donned the garland of roses. He finished second to Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness and came in third to Summer Bird in the Belmont, the start of a steady decline in which he's failed to hit the board in his last five races.

He ended a grueling 3-year-old campaign with a ninth-place finish in the Classic at Santa Anita, but has done no better than fifth in three starts since being moved to D. Wayne Lukas' barn.

Though Lukas says Mine That Bird ``has never looked better,'' he's concerned about the horse's mental toughness.

``I hope I've got him right mentally,'' Lukas said. ``I'm not worried about the physical part at all.''

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KEEPING TABS: Some jockeys like to boast they have a clock in their head that tells them how hard their horse is working.

Kent Desormeaux prefers the one on his wrist instead. Desormeaux times each of his works with a digital wristwatch. When asked how Ladies Classic entrant Unrivaled Belle worked on Monday, Desormeaux didn't refer to the clockers but his left wrist.

``I just roll my thumb over the start button and the split button is easy to press,'' he said with a laugh.