well put... like I said, the best filly/mare of the decade.

There is something to be said for Longevity, for me personally there is no set formula, however if I had a choice I would go Zarkava, Makybe Diva, and Ouija Board in that order. All 3 were very good fillies.

Seriously?

She was a very good racehorse, but the best horse in the world for three years? She definitely wasn't the best in the world in '05, I think Ghostzapper was better than her in '04, so that leaves '06 as a possibility..

The real freak.
The term has been overused I guess.
But not with Ghostzapper.

Lost In The Fog as well.

LITF was fast, but he was far from a GZ. GZ's brilliance wasn't just his speed, but his tractability and ability to be equally fast at seemingly any distance. LITF, as fast as he was, never did anything past seven furlongs.

She wasn't the best horse in the world any year.

What he did at 6f was incredible.
But if the definition of a freak is all distances, you would have to be correct.
And with a tumor... I wonder how many races
it actually played a role. The last most likely.

It's not the definition of a freak, but running 110+ Beyers at 6 1/2 furlongs, 7 furlongs, a mile, 1 1/8 miles and 1 1/4 miles is way more impressive than doing it a few times at 6 and 7 furlongs. Not to mention that GZ did it on the lead, stalking, and as a dead closer.

All of his races were just unbelievable, but this will always be my favorite. :tro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyQvNu-XQoQ

OB was a hard knocker, a filly/mare very easy to like and respect. I can understand why she is so liked, of the fillies NA's are probably familiar with she was better than Bank's Hill, closer to Pride than Zarkava in talent. It's a similar argument when you discuss Personal Ensign, Winning Colors, Lady's Secret...

His '03 Vosburgh win was my favorite. His turn of foot was :eek::eek::eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxoPR7THZvM

Consider that he went wire-to-wire a year later in winning the BC Classic.

He was incredible, it would have been even more incredible if Frankel wasn't winning everything back then...

Yeah, that one was pretty darn impressive.

While they are no where in the same league as Ghostzapper, it's kinda funny how Castellano lucks into some of the biggest horses in the past few years like Bernardini and Bellamy Road in the Wood.

No need to compare, contrast and wonder if she could be this filly or that filly of yesteryear. Regardless, a 20 length win by a filly who looked like she was out for an afternoon gallop is pretty awesome.

If Beyer numbers are what we go by,
then Ghostzapper has to be the best of all
time. How many Beyers numbers at or over 120 did he get?
Got a bit far-fetched (the measuring stick went wacky)
Has any horse ever received that many Beyers at or over 120?
Has any horse had, what, about 40% of his Beyers at or over 120?

Wacked out.

Like I said, it's not just his speed, it's how many different ways he did what he did.

He had four 120+ Beyers. 128 in the Iselin, 124 in the BC Classic, 123 in the Met Mile and 120 in the Tom Fool. I'm pretty positive he's not the only horse with multiple 120+ numbers. Groovy ran 133 and 132 in back-to-back six-furlong races.

lol AWESOME

A long telephoto lens makes the horses behind her appear much closer than they really are.

altho i like rachel alexandra, comparing her to ouija board is an exercise in futility. i don't agree that OB was the 'best horse over three years'-but she did take on top competition throughout her career-something RA has yet to do. and ouija did that and won. too soon to say what rachel alexandra will accomplish. she has talent and ability; i'm very impressed with what she's done thus far.
the connections have big plans for her the rest of the year, including taking on older females in the delaware handicap. they plan to end the year in the bc-but no plans according to them to take on the opposite sex.
enjoy her and her efforts, but let's not get too silly about it just yet.

IEAH?

B. C. on poly proves nothing in my book.

yep

so, they've bought into three horses, paying out oodles of money. that's gotten them no oaks runner, and now, no derby starters either.
they need to re-think their strategic plan.

RA was flattered today by Afleet Deceit (who RA defeated soundly on several occasions at OP).
Today Afleet Deceit won the Double Delta at AP by two, finishing over 5 lengths in front of Ashland winner Hooh Why.

.... would have whipped some a$$ in the Derby.

On the tgraph rotw Oaks/Derby seminar Dr. Brown said he was asked to identify a filly for purchase last year . It was Rachel Alexandra and the party did buy 50 % but failed to pay Brown his commission, he claims . He hopes that is settled in the Ky. courts.

They might be called to testify in that case .

His 3yo return race might have been my favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSo-M...eature=related

When he broke with the field and starting dropping out of it I remember saying "damn.. he's ruined."

His debut race as a 2yo was great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWklJ...eature=related

Do I really have to give you an answer for you to understand? You really want me to...Okay then, think of Roger Clemons before the steroids scandal, and now think of him after the scandal. Notice any difference of your thoughts towards him?

Are you trying to say that Ghostzapper's career has something to do with Frankel's usage of drugs on his horses? If so, I think you're absolutely dead wrong.

NT

GZ would probably been a very good racehorse regardless if he was on anything or not, just as Roger was a very good pitcher before he his physique began noticably changing. Then he became even better, wonder why... I hate to generalize but back in those days Frankel horses would win with bad trips, good trips, peculiar trips, I know I bet him quite often to some success. I'm not sure why you think I am dead wrong, if so I am interested why you think so.

I wasn't comparing it to SECRETARIAT. I was asking if it could be the female version of his race. Regardless of what was behind her I can't remember a race won by a filly or mare by that margin and ease.

First of all, you're equating two things that are incredibly different. Roger Clemens' alleged HGH usage and you accusing Frankel of using steroids (i think) are pretty different.

Frankel had a great run in the early part of this decade because he had excellent horses. Having Edmund Gann's business was strong, he was getting good horses from Juddmonte left and right and Stronach basically gave him everything that could run.

He has since fallen on hard(er) times but to try to soil a horse like Ghostzapper's record because you suppose Frankel was using steroids on him is unfair. It takes away from a horse who despite a wealth of physical problems, accomplished many incredible feats and brought his best every time he ran.

Most of all, I think you're wrong because of your complete generalization. You seem to remember Frankel horses winning with all kinds of trips, and now you don't, so I guess he was using. Those just aren't steps I have in my way of thinking.

NT

It does for me, You don't think he has talented horses in his stable right now? We saw 2 just yesterday in Visit and Zambezi Sun. You'll probably say it is a generalization but there was a time when Frankel entered in a stakes race, regardless of trip, class jump, layoff you would most likely find him in the winner's circle.