I hate to resurrect this thread, but I just watched the replay again and Rachel is racing in a figure-8 noseband (they're used, among other things, to reduce pulling by a horse) and was in the New Orleans as well. Not sure why Asmussen would make this significant of a change, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

This is Smooth Operator being consoled after the Eclipse Awards...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee925OTFBCA

I've been wondering about the possible effects of the figure-eight myself. Could it be backing her off too much? :confused:

I hate to give a serious answer, however if you look at the races she was most vulnerable in last year and not the white washes, but more in particular the Preakness and Woodward, they obviously noticed a vulnerability in her style. They tried to improve her by getting her to run more kindly early on and it hasn't worked. Now it is up to each person to decide if she is really the horse as she displayed in the Preakness or Woodward or the horse she was in the Haskell. I think what should be more a concern for her fans is the lack of good cruising speed she has thus far shown this year, if she doesn't have that she will have a hard time beating Zenyatta if that is even on the radar anymore, nevermind even winning a gr. 1 race this year.

I think it is. Would like to see it removed and return to a standard bridle.

I'm guessing you're correct on why he put it on, but it was probably the wrong move, because like I said if it ain't broke don't fix it.

By the way, why do you "hate to give a serious answer?"

Trainers are always in the process of tweaking things, I'm sure they are considering going back to what worked last year. Who knows maybe a jockey change is also in store, which in my opinion would be a bad move.

And Kobe Bryant has spent the bulk of this year's playoffs bitching about his bad finger. And Lebron James is bitching about his bad elbow. Ditto Deron Williams. Oh wait, these guys are too good to let 'little' things serve as excuses for them. They just go out there and get it done. I wonder why the same isn't true for the reigning Horse of the Year.:rolleyes:

And you can say that, unlike Zenyatta, they aren't facing former CBA teams in exhibition games.

If only Rachel could talk. I wonder what she'd bitch about?

Rachel plays basketball?

AND SHE CAN TALK?!??!?

The ****in' love child of Dr. J, Rebecca Lobo, and Mr. Ed!

I'll take Crosby.

Screw Ovie..

Just quoting so TFM can read this.

Between NP and RA you never cease to amaze me. Let me repeat one more time, since you clearly don't get it:

RA DID NOT show up for the BC
RA DID NOT show up for the AB

So, basically, since YOUR team didn't show up, doesn't matter who the other team beat, as YOUR TEAM CONCEDED before the game.

Once YOUR TEAM shows up, feel free to do the same. In the meantime, you might be better served to follow the lead of the connections of RA, who have STFU. At least, this is what someone who is not 'special' would do.

BTW, did you graduate high school?

It's like the Los Angeles Lakers playing all of their games at the Staples Center and counting the away games against the Clippers.

The hilarity that you compare horses to basketball players and call people retards, special, etc. in the process is too golden. You have zero self-awareness.

I admire loyalty, but guys & gals it's time to face the truth, she is done. She might win a race or 2 the remainder of the year but I would be very surprised if Asmussen can bring her all the back to the heights of the Haskell again or even the Woodward for that matter.

It's just not that easy to keep a horse in top form year in, year out. I would hope people will begin to appreciate Zenyatta a little more after seeing how Rachel has raced thus far this year. She's done it and continues to produce without any excuses.

The question is, if Super Saver continues to improve who will Calvin ride????

I imagine Asmussen would be relieved to have Borel make that decision for him.

he's not getting it done with Rachel for whatever reason, so there is no need to keep him there, and Pletcher can go to his regular riders on Super Saver and not miss a beat. I guess I'm saying maybe we don't see Borel riding either horse anymore.

Forget about this RA filly … Z is WAY beyond that now.


Time to start comparing her to horses like, say, Citation and Cigar



17 – 0


Legend :cool:

You really think Pletcher is going to take Borel off of Super Saver at some point? The guy just put an absolutely perfect ride on the horse not in a N1X, in the Kentucky Derby. It's one thing for Borel to opt to ride a different horse but the chances of TAP taking him off Super Saver are virtually non-existent in my opinion.

NT