I'm not sure that they don't respect the Mosses or the Shirreffs. I mean of the connections out there, I think people would like there to be more of their character in the sport. It's not all about the dollar and using horses as a commodity. It's just that their decisions are irksome to me right now. I understand them, I just don't like them.

If Zenyatta had won 2009 HOY, the odds of her being back this year plummet. What we're getting is horsemanship + pride + this conservative protectionism. That doesn't result in a truly glorious campaign because nothing's really on the line. It bores me. Sorry. (Not her exactly, the repetitiveness and ease of competition I mean) I can put an old race of hers on a loop and get the same effect. It's not like I'm getting to see her live, and most of America doesn't get to see her on tv. I'm happy for the folks in CA and at Oaklawn, but what good does it do anybody else? I guess they figure if they play their cards right she gets HOY, the N.A. earnings record, the undefeated streak record, and maybe beats RA for icing on the cake. Don't blame them, but it's not as much fun for me.

I think that Moss/Shirreffs had three goals for this year. I think their first goal was to beat RA. I think their second goal was to win the BC Classic again. I think their 3rd goal was to win HOY. I think those were their three big goals.

They tried to face RA but things didn't work out. At this point, I think their goals are the BC Classic and winning HOY.

I don't think that they think they have anything to prove. At this point, they will probably just look for the path of least resistance to the BC Classic. If they win the BC Classic, I think she is HOY regardless of how easy her schedule is leading up to the race.

As I said, I don't think they feel that they have anything to prove and even if there was something to prove, it would be proven in this year's BC Classic at Churchill. Nobody will be able to knock the horse if she wins the BC Classic again this year.

He snuck this one past you when you weren't looking.

http://hovdeyblog.drf.com/hovdeyblog/

Considering how difficult it is to do back to back, she'll definitely get a ton of credit in terms of her overall legend, but Tiznow did it and his 2nd didn't get him HOY because the rest of the campaign didn't bear him out in comparison to Point Given's year. PG didn't even have to show up for the BCC to get it. I don't know why everybody acts like not going ought to DQ you or something--it's but one factor to consider. We need to see what everybody else does. Some 3yos could pull what Tiznow did his 3yo season and show up later. We're already missing some recovering from Derby prep injuries or just now coming along. I've said it before, Zenyatta's magic, but I'm just not a fan of conceding a season to one horse before it's happened. I hope she's covered up with challengers by the end of this. It's better for racing. If she is and still kicks some tail, bravo for her.

I'd just love to see her at Belmont or Saratoga. Can someone explain to them that Zenyatta doesn't understand the words "ladies and gentlemen, if you'll look out the window of the cabin, you'll notice that we are currently crossing over the Rocky Mountains" ?

let me say, it's not respect for them-but respect for the campaign they've chosen for their stable star. i think practically everyone feels there is a lot more to zenyatta, and that perhaps she's getting cheated a bit by not taking on all comers. she's been in one unrestricted race her entire career. they wish for her to be considered an all-time great; it would help their cause immensely if they raced her as such.

:rolleyes: everyone had their own issues. including you. and including me and everyone else.

i sure dont carry anybody's water.

Suddenly, this thread has gone to all time greatest status, I may have to stick around here longer to see it's conclusion. It's got everything from horseracing to Rachel to classic Narcissism...Whatelse can one want?

What is with this dude? Seriously, everything he posts on his "blog" ends up being a slam on Jackson and his horse or blatantly unwarranted praise for all things Moss and Zenyatta. I'd wager that there is a far larger percentage of horse racing fans who question Zenyatta's creds than there were George Bush defenders circa 2007 or so.

Don't expect Zenyatta to challenge Rail Trip
 

DRF|Don't expect Zenyatta to challenge Rail Trip

ETA: Sorry, didn't see this link was already posted.

Shirreffs knows what he has … a monster win-machine router which is gunna love going from synthetic to that CD dirt.

Heard she was "eating up" the stuff the short time she was there last year before the scratch.

Just get that win record (a simply remarkable accomplishment given her running style) … and get her to the big race fit and fresh as a spring daisy, John.

If she catches a break with that miserable KY weather … she'll run down all the 10f pretenders in the lane … and make history again…

We both know that the haters will hate, no matter what. I'm sure some will cite the cupcake competition, race dynamics, etc. if she somehow re-claims the BC Classic title. Nature of the beast.

For starters I have been a RA fan since day one before Jackson & co...having the ability to be on the Oklahoma training track last year and seeing her up close and the training she did in the mornings was incredible. Her campaign last year was a throw back to all who loved the old style war horses of days gone by were thrilled when RA gave us that type of year....but having said that and being at the Woodward I looked right at my 81 year old father that day after she held off Macho and said she will NEVER be the same again. She bottomed out and that is that...

Z has over time caught my attention and the BC pre race..pawing her front legs into the dirt told me all I needed to know about this classy filly...she is truly a war horse of old and can not fault her for one minute after bashing her most of last year. She dances the dance as we say! I only hope she comes North this year and allows all of us to witness her brilliance up close. We should all be honored to be able to even write/blog/twitter/bitch/honor about these two marvelous horses and what they have done for OUR sport.

Scat OUT

Just because people have realistic reservations about Zenyatta doesn't make them " haters. "

Frankly, if she were to win this year's BC Classic, especially over Quality Road, it would make her shockingly cautious 2010 campaign even more disappointing. Even if one has reservations, who would deny how great it would be to see her strutting her stuff against some of the best competition she can find ( much like some other horse, whose name escapes me, did last year ) throughout the year? Even if these horses aren't all-time greats, taking on the best available talent would go a long ways to silencing her critics, and causing, perhaps, some well deserved excitement.

Someone check the sky to see if it's falling, I actually agree with the Booth Operataaaaa...

From the iggy bin to agreement in the fell swoop of a ten day period. Nevermind, get to your storm shelters people, the end is here.


Sincerely,

Andy's most devoted kool aid drinker, intravenously.

What if Zenyatta loses the BC Classic on a dry track?

What will her obsessed fans say then?

that she was ok, but nothing special

If Quality Road had his head on straight that day, and Z blows his doors off like she did the rest of the competition, would you have a different take on her? I'm not being combative in my questioning, just curious if you'd feel the same way towards her if QR didnt scratch from the race and ran his usual good one only to lose.

I, for one, didn't think she'd crack the exacta in last years BC race. We (no, im not in BBB's camp :D) bet against her that day hand over fist, and was still THRILLED with the end result. I went from being a fan of the horse, (one that was on the fence in the Z/RA debate) to a supporter that clearly has his fandom in the corner of Zenyatta.

Beating horses on a surface they don't relish doesn't prove a heck of a lot to me. Since her supporters universally say Zenyatta is better on dirt than synth, I'll judge her by how she performs against the best available talent on their preferred surface.

Has she proved anything to you?