More than 70 years after Seabiscuit took America's attention away from the Great Depression and the prospect of war, another hero has emerged to distract the nation as it copes with recession and the aftertaste of a bitterly divisive election.

Zenyatta, a six-year-old thoroughbred mare, is unbeaten in 19 races, trouncing mares, fillies, colts and geldings. On Saturday she is bidding to make history by recording her 20th win in one of the US's greatest horse races, the Breeders' Cup.

What's more, she is the only female racing  in an all-male field.

"Usually the fillies can't keep up with the boys,"  said one horse-racing enthusiast.

Additionally, she is unfamiliar with dirt tracks only having run on them twice. This, her 20th race, will be the last of her career. (Read the story in the Guardian)

UPDATE: Watch her last-to-first victory from October 2, 2010, in the TVG's Lady's Secret Stakes at Oak Tree Hollywood Park, the mare's 19th win in a row, undefeated in her career.

Here is her unbelievable come from behind (down by ten lengths) in last year's Breeders Cup to become the first female ever to win the season ending race.