Dancing In Silks at 25-1 caused a major upset in a thrilling blanket finish to the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Saturday.
All the talk pre-race surrounded Zensational and Godolphin's Gayego but both were out of the money, despite the latter finishing a couple of heads away in fourth.
Zensational missed the break and could not get to the front as Cost Of Freedom took them along early.
He still held every chance a furlong out as the closers emerged.
Gayego met traffic problems as he tried to sneak up the rails but Dancing In Silks and Crown Of Thorns (14-1) hit the line together and it was Joel Rosario's mount, trained by Carla Gains, that got the verdict. Cost Of Freedon at 20-1 was third.
Winning owner Ken Kinakin said: "This horse twinkled when I saw him and bought him as a baby. I knew he had a free spirit and a big heart.
"I want to thank Carla and everybody at the barn and when the reality trumps the dream, you know its a very special moment."
Gayego's jockey Garret Gomez said: "I saw the grey horse (Zensational) was in trouble and I had plenty of horse under me and if the hole hadn't been so tight, I think I would have won."
Frankie Dettori, who rode Jeremy Noseda's unplaced Fleeting Spirit, added: "All the action was on the inside and my draw was a handicap. I was losing ground around the turn.
"She did run respectably, but this week it's vital to be on the inside."