I believe he will be running in the Californian next, then the Gold Cup. This was good first step off a nine-month layoff.

My experience with Ellis is he is far better off an extended layoffs than the perverbial second off the layoff as for most Trainer's. I would be leary if one is expecting big improvement from him in his next. Depending on the field I will gladly bet against him at his projected underlay but hey that's just me.

It's time to heed the advice of others....and where better to start than SCUDS.

Am I excited? Not really.
But he is an older male horse who actually ran a pretty good route race. Given how infrequently that happens these days, a potential matchup between he and Zenyatta is (sadly) more interesting than most potential races out there right now.

I believe that there is one other older horse besides Quality Road, who, if he stays healthy, could be a real threat at these longer distances. That horse is Battle Plan, also trained by Pletcher. Anyone know what race he is pointing to next?

I agree, I'm just not ready to crown him some big horse yet.

I haven't read all the way through all 8 pages of this post, but does a start in the Vanity preclude a start in the Gold Cup? The plan was to take on Rachel in the Apple Blossom off 3 to 4 week layoff. Why not get to 17 with a Vanity win and then worry about the Gold Cup. It seems pretty clear that they don't want to run at DelMar, thus they could make a trip to the east coast and still have a chance to get one last prep at Santa Anita prior to the Breeders' Cup.

You're right, it doesn't have to, but apparently, it does: http://www.drf.com/news/article/112840.html. If Shirreffs perceives the Hollywood Gold Cup as the "highest mountain possible," then we now why Zenyatta's connections seem to place her in "mole hills" of races.

I hadn't seen that, thanks for posting...

That is just sad. Rail Trip is the highest mountain possible? What a clown.

John Shirreffs is a terrific trainer and seemingly a nice guy but he has now provided us with two incredibly stupid statements in the last month regarding where Zenyatta will run.

NT

Rail Trip and the Rockies, boxing equivalents to Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali, and both apparently mountains too tough to climb.

Waiting for the Jay Hovdey defense of all things Zenyatta at drf.com in 3, 2, 1...

How can it be possible the winner of the BC Classic is now afraid to tackle the mighty Rail Trip? This has to be a bad dream. I'm sure Mr. Krone will lend some support.

I'm very disappointed to hear this.

It appears as though he's thinking that when you're holding a pair of aces don't risk them against a possible 456 flop until you get to Churchill.

I hope he has a pair of aces because he certainly doesnt have a pair of ballz

I wouldn't say "embarrassed" but I'm disappointed... If you believe in the "goal" (the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill) then I think they get a bit of a pass, but the passes are running short...

Recently? This has been going on a lot longer than since her supposed retirement.