Zenyatta couldnt beat Sea the stars with a 1/16th of a mile head start

At this point you'd have better sport wagering on how close to unanimous the voting will be. I could see Gio Ponti and Sea the Stars maybe, maybe getting a vote or two, but that's about it. In the words of the immortal Bill Paxton in Aliens, "Game over man! Game over."

I AGREE.

How can Gio Ponti get anything? He is no better then Einstein over the synthetics. If they go that route, I would take Zenyatta over him. I guess if all the top Euros go to the classic and he wins the turf, then maybe, but I highly doubt he has much of a chance.

Belmont-Travers-JCGC-BCC winner, it would be hard to keep HOY from him?

Gio Pionti could win a Group2 in Euro nevermind a G1

Rail Trip - 3rd by 3/4 @ 1 1/4mi in a 12 horse field -- not bad. Is there anyone here that doesn't think the first 4 finishers in the PC doesn't win the Woodward by daylight????????

Are you joking right now? Einstein is clearly best on synthetics... Its not even a question anymore, not dirt, not even turf, he is best on synthetics. Rail Trip is ok at best, and has NEVER BEEN ON DIRT. The winner is probablly a joke. I think he would have been last in the Woodward and the Shug horse cant run a step on dirt.
Drugs needs to get you on the poll right now.

Wow.

NT

Double Wow.

I don't want to be seen to be joining the debate late, even though I am, or joining it from a Euro-centric point of view, even though I am, but I have seen all of Rachel Alexandra's races and she's performed to a certain level, a high-class level admittedly, but not a level which marks her out as an all-time great. She also surely didn't need to improve to win at the weekend in face of what was an horrendously strong ride - one which bans are surely designed for - suggesting that she's reached, or may well have passed her peak.

I only say this because there are two higher-rated horses in Europe who, were they to come to America and win a BC race, would surely be more deserving of a Horse of The Year accolade, namely Sea The Stars and Goldikova. The former is, admittedly, none to likely to venture across the Atlantic, but the latter will, and there are plenty who would suggest that she is a significantly better mare than that one who was beaten the shyte out of to win the Woodward!

i don't.

Sea the Stars looks like a great horse and Goldikova is supposedly better than she was last year so I'm sure they'll both have great chances in the BC. However, there's no reason for the American Horse of the Year to go to a horse who's made one start in this country. There are surely honors to be given to these great horses on your side of the pond.

As far as Borel getting a suspension for his ride, that's not going to happen. That's American racing for you, like it or not.

NT

:rolleyes: :zz: :rolleyes:

I think if Sea the Stars comes here and wins the Classic, he will be HOY. If he comes for the turf, it wont matter.

What state are you in?

No way in hell.

I was playing Devil's Advocate a little bit and tend to agree with what you say.

With regards Borel (and jockeyship in general), I believe a horse needs to be given a chance to respond to the whip. When my cash is down I like a strong ride as much as the next man, and God knows we've just seen the strongest of them all return in Kieren Fallon, but Borel was nothing other than brutal at the weekend. When the wider audience sees it, it's one of those things that turns so many away from our sport.

I don't.

NT

Im not saying its a lock, but if she does not run again. He comes over and wins the Classic for run, vs Z and the Birds. I think he will get it.

That means he would also have to win the eclipse for best 3yr old..

Top 3yr old and Horse of the Year off of one race? The chances of it happening are zero...