Could be true. But her connections are much too stupid to run her as they don't realize that she, unlike Curlin, has the speed to be able to control the race. And I don't mean WIDE, NO COVER kind of speed. Anyone with an on-the-pacer that's not drafting on the POLY is a MORON. Cf. 90% of the connections up at WO.

Then again, when a horse dictates race type in EVERY ONE of over 10 starts, I need to see it LOSE before I concede anything to anyone. I need to see RA run FAST early on the lead, on the POLY and continue on to the wire before I take anything away from Z. Jackson is just playing it safe.

Hard to believe that I haven't read anywhere that MTB didn't really like the track last out. How do I know? he looks like a mountain climber in the run to, and through, the 1st turn.

I noticed that too.. Seemed to level out by the back stretch though.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/race/6567868.html
 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...e/6567868.html...

This guy knows how to Advertise....

perhaps instead of engaging in fruitless debate (sounds like dems vs reps in here) everyone should just enjoy each horse for what it has accomplished. each side accusing the other of taking on 'bad' horses....lol zenyatta is attempting to go undefeated, rachel is running an original campaign. knocking one doesn't elevate the other. if they meet, great. if they don't, they don't. doesn't mean either one suddenly isn't as good as originally thought.

You've got that right. He has been on a marketing bonanza since his warehouse burned down in May. Obviously, even if it doesn't work out (and it's 99,999-1 to work out) he will get his name out there a little bit more. His point about SHRP having the best dirt track in America is a bona fide fact. It is the safest surface around.

NT

His proposal has legs, but it needs to be a regular horse race because Zenyatta has zero shot letting Rachel Alexandra walk around on the lead by herself.

Anyone catch the article in tomorrow's form about Zenyatta? Shirreffs says "if they are going to decide HOY, I would hope it could be settled at the Breeders' Cup. If it isn't, and we think we have the opportunity to win it, then we'll have to go travel after the Breeders' Cup."

While it's encouraging to hear that, is it just empty talk? Does anyone believe that they would do that? Would it even make sense to train your horse to peak for the BC and then try to bring them back for another race afterwards? Is it just talk because they know that Rachel's season would likely be over already?

I don't believe it and it became clear on Sunday why they are not doing anything but "business as usual" with her.

LOL ... keep dissing the undefeated champion Street Cry mare at your own peril.



Wouldn't be surprised if RA ends up in Philly ... taking on another assortment of 3yo creampuffs.


Doubt if they want any part of QR ... or ten panels, for that matter, at the Spa.


Would love to see some old slug expose her in the Woodward, tho…

As opposed to older mare creampuffs? :rolleyes:

All of this stupidity could be scaled back if they'd just run Zenyatta in the Pacific Classic...what the hell is wrong with running her there? Are most of you really thinking that Rail Trip is that good? If Zenyatta is who everyone on the west coast wants her to be she should beat Rail Trip rather easily.

Now we have Rachel Alexandra being chastised for not running 10 furlongs?!? I went through the PPs for hours and couldn't find Zenyatta's last 10 furlong effort.

NT

Personally I think it's brilliant when someone points out that Rachel might be making her 8th start on a 7th diffrent track in a year to point out her "weakness".

Zenyatta is a lovely horse, but I don't know how you can argue that she is having a better year than Rachel.

Not a chance.

Would it be too much to ask them to run twice nevermind once, if they could meet once on dirt, once on synthetic. It seems to me that this is the fairest compromise, if RA's connections are worried that RA may not take to synth this will atleast allow her a chance to redeem herself on dirt if she runs badly. We atleast know Zenyatti can run on both. I'd rather her race against RA than race in The Pacific Classic.

Rail Trip would beat Zenyatta on either dirt or cushion track.

Polytrack is like bingo... and pro-ride can be wildly closer favoring.

Pro Ride is the absolute worst surface for RA style wise - and going a 10f distance for Asmussen would make her an extremely exciting bet if you could get action on who will run last.

Exactly, which is why they should run her in the PC. Ron Ellis said on TVG that Rail Trip did not pick up the Poly at Del Mar very well in his first workout but "seemed to be taking a liking to it now." I think she fits very well against him on Poly or Pro-Ride.

NT

From what I understand the owners of the horse are to the point of not wanting to do anything different with their horse, the endless questions and seemingly condemnation over how they are handling their business is creating almost a desire to just let it play out, a kind of it is what it is deal.

Just another excuse.

If it's their prerogative to go the route of Lady's Secret-Ladies' Classic and done for her career that's fine, they just better not b.itch when she doesn't win HOTY.

NT

The complaining is not really coming from them, if you could quote something that shows that I would be interested in reading it.

Of course they can do that, and I agree, no way is she horse of the year even with a BC Classic win. Of course, that isn't even supposed to be on the schedule on this less than ambitious campaign.

its not, trust me

And that is the whole thing that stirs people up. How can you have a horse this good and not be ambitious? What does beating up on the same SoCal horses, then running in the Distaff again prove? It isn't like they need the money, or it will improve her value.

I understand some people are upset Jackson doesn't want to run on synthetics, but if we are handing out blame for these two not meeting, a lot more is going to the Zenyatta camp in my opinion. This would be like Michael Jordan being content to play in the CBA.

You didn't read anything last year after the BC when they wanted HOTY over Curlin?

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/rac...-the-Year.aspx

"It's quite an accomplishment to go all year undefeated, and to step up each time, four of them in Grade 1, like she did," Shirreffs said of the 4-year-old filly, unbeaten in nine starts, seven of them this year. "In the vote, she would have to be seriously considered for that."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...rse&id=3665557

NT

preaching to the choir.

Jackson is not getting any blame really for not running and they are getting bombarded every day about this and I guess have grown tired of it, to the point of screw it, if she aint going to run in racings championship day than we are not going to do anything different as well.

That could change but its pretty much in agreement in the media and here, as you have stated already, the only way to win a HOY is to beat RA so might as well run in the easiest races till after the breeders cup, right?

thats not a complaint, give me a break.

Did you read that all I said was that they better not b.itch if they keep her on the same ridiculous schedule and don't win HOTY? That's a comment that can be made whether they've complained in the past or not.

NT

are you missing what i am saying....they are really past caring anymore, its gotten old to them. they will be happy with retiring unbeaten if they can get there with two BC championships and two eclipse's.

like haskin said, not winning HOY did nothing to tarnish personal ensigns legacy-everyone knows she was a champ, and a perfect one at that.


as for rachel and the travers, i doubt QR, or any 3 yo for that matter, would be a compelling reason for the filly not to run. now, winning the woodward over older, and being the first filly EVER to win it-that would be yet another feather in rachels cap. if jackson thinks he has a shot to win both, he'll give it a try. anyone saying he's running scared with the best 3 yo in training is dreaming and has no concept of reality.

would love to see zenyatta in the pac classic. but i think they'd rather she stay unbeaten-i'd imagine they don't feel terribly confident after her narrow win on sunday as far as taking her out of her comfort zone. and that isn't a knock on her AT ALL.

from what I understand Shirreffs hates the del mar track, I dont think he has run but 3-4 horses on the main this year and no two year olds. She wont run in the pacific classic from what I have been told.

Maybe Shirreffs has visions of Manistique when he decides that he does want to ship Zenyatta outside of California.

Quality Road is her only competition right now, who else can run with her ?

I don't think they are tired of it at all.Wednesday DRF,Shirreffs says"If they are going to decide HOTY,I would hope it would be settled at the Breeders cup.If it isn't,and we think we have the opportunity to win it,then we'll have to go travel after the breeders cup". DRF wed.aug 12,2009,page 3.

they are tired of all the questions, negative articles, trashing of the horse........trust me on this, that is not an opinion.

and if everything goes right they have said they would be willing to run after the breeders cup for the last two months, this is nothing new.

I dont think anyone trashes the horse... just the owner/trainer for being chickens.

you want quotes from this very forum?

well maybe you are right a lil... but even here I think mostly its about poly/afraid to leave cali/afraid to take on the boys.. non of which are the horses fault!

its hard to knock an horse that has never lost.. but its easy to knock the owner/trainer for being chickens and cherry picking spots.

What will happen if she gets beat? Will her stud value go down:confused: