LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It was the ghost of boyfriend past.

Chantal Sutherland’s mount, Game On Dude, was within yards of making her the first female jockey to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic. But Sutherland’s ex-fiancé, Mike Smith, who was aboard Drosselmeyer, surged past her on the outside Saturday to win the $4.545 million race before 65,143 at Churchill Downs.

“I looked up, saw white and said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me, it’s Mike Smith,’ ” Sutherland said.

For Hall of Famer Smith, who was aboard favored mare Zenyatta last year in a heartbreaking Classic loss to Blame, the redemptive victory tied him with retired Jerry Bailey for most Breeders’ Cup triumphs by a jockey (15) in the event’s 28-year history.

“Last year, I sat here just devastated, thinking my life was over,” Smith said.

Drosselmeyer, the 2010 Belmont Stakes winner, and Game On Dude each were at 14-1 in the wagering. Third-place Ruler On Ice, this year’s Belmont winner, was a 17-1 shot.

Of the nine Breeders’ Cup races, eight were won by horses returning more than $15 on a $2 win bet — including Court Vision ($131.60) in the Mile and Afleet Again ($85.20) in the Marathon.

Sutherland, a part-time model and actress, broke up with Smith about 1 ½ years ago.

“I’m very proud of my horse, very proud of myself,” Sutherland said after the Classic. “I had an amazing time. And I’m happy for Mike. But really? Really? Of all people.”

Drosselmeyer, trained by Bill Mott, ran 1 ¼ miles in 2 minutes, 4.27 seconds and paid $31.60 to win. The colt had one victory — in an ungraded stakes race — in six starts between the Belmont and the Classic.

“He was mowing them down the last eighth of a mile,” Mott said.

Notes

• Smith won the Sprint on Amazombie ($17.80).

• Goldikova, a 6-year-old mare who won the Mile each of the past three years, was third in her final start; her career earnings exceed $7.17 million.

“I think the mileage and the years have taken their toll,” trainer Freddie Head said.

• Trainer Aidan O’Brien sent out two winners, Wrote ($25.20) in the Juvenile Turf and St Nicholas Abbey ($15.60) in the Turf.

Aidan’s son, 18-year-old Joseph, rode St Nicholas Abbey. He is the youngest jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race.

• Caleb’s Posse ($15.60) took the Dirt Mile. Jersey Town, second to Noosa Beach in last year’s Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in Auburn, was sixth in the field of nine at 9-1.

• Hansen ($16.20) edged 11-10 favorite Union Rags by a head in the Juvenile.

• Regally Ready ($6.60 in the Turf Sprint) was the lone winning favorite.

Breeders’ Cup World Championships Recap of Saturday’s winners at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Race Horse Trainer Jockey Payoff Marathon Afleet Again Robert Reid Jr. Cornelio Velasquez $85.20 Juvenile Turf Wrote Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore $25.20 Sprint Amazombie Bill Spawr Mike Smith $17.80 Turf Sprint Regally Ready Steve Asmussen Corey Nakatani $6.60 Dirt Mile Caleb’s Posse Donnie Von Hemel Rajiv Maragh $15.60 Turf St Nicholas Abbey Aidan O’Brien Joseph O’Brien $15.60 Juvenile Hansen Mike Maker Ramon Dominguez $16.20 Mile Court Vision Dale Romans Robby Albarado $131.60 Classic Drosselmeyer Bill Mott Mike Smith $31.60