Zenyatta works again
 

No slow breeze here:

Date: January 6, 2010
Track: HOLLYWOOD PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 48:00 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: All Weather Track
Rank: 5/18

I am not surprised. Wonder if Shirreffs will stick to the same story regarding this superstar mare with no racing future continuing to work, despite the risk of injury.

Shirreffs doesn't OWN her though, does he?

Steve -- Do you think Shirreffs or the Mosses is making the decision to work her?

I am sure there will be some information coming out shortly in the press regarding the work.

The Mosses.

It seems that they are having a difficult time 'letting go'. There are some rumblings that they may be considering 'something else' for her.

"Something else" like the DWC?

Bring her back.

I wonder if the results of HOTY voting will have any impact on her future.

Besides facing Rachel, there are a lot of historical things Zenyatta could still accomplish with one more year. She could be 18 for 18 and hold the record for NA winning streak. She could match Tiznow's accomplishment of 2 BC Classics in a row. First horse to win BC Classic on 2 different surfaces? Could be Zenyatta if they give it a chance

6 years old.....could be bad.

Cigar was 6 years old and competed at the highest level throughout 1996

Prior to today:

Date: December 21, 2009
Track: HOLLYWOOD PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 49:40 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: All Weather Track
Rank: 19/35



Date: December 7, 2009
Track: HOLLYWOOD PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 50:40 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: All Weather Track
Rank: 8/17

Each work is faster.

....yeah, just that the only place she can go is down.......

Not really, she could go to Dubai and face Vodka or they could send her to Oaklawn and hope Rachel goes too.

If she wasn't undefeated I'd say keep her racing. Retiring undefeated just has a special ring to it. I really hope they don't race her again.

I'm wondering the same thing.

After rewatching Seabiscuit a few weeks ago, I also wonder why the Mosses never started her in the Santa Anita Handicap. That would have been something to see.

There must be a lot of "edge" on her to wind down from training. :rolleyes:

How many people does Oaklawn get for that race?

I think they would have to put up temporary bleachers and open up the infield. :D

Oaklawn can pack them in and is the most likely winter/spring track for them to have a showdown because of size.

NT

60,000 has been no problem on past Arkansas Derby days.

I hope they keep her going. Honestly, since her works seem to be getting a bit faster, I wonder if they are waiting 'til after the HOY announcement.

What about a showdown in the Louisville Distaff on the Oaks undercard.

I love the idea but doubt the Moss' want any part of RA at 1 1/16 at CD.

NT

CD would likely change the distance if it ensured that both showed up. If CD had a later first post that day, then it could be run as the last race and get primetime coverage.

I'd drive the 10 hours for that in a heartbeat.

I'd give you a ride.

I have no doubt that Rachel is formidable and fast, but anyone who owns a horse that can go under 1:34 in the body of a 10 furlong race ---that being the BCC--and close in the fastest quarter in the history of that race, would not fear ANY part of Rachel Alexandra ...

Respect yes, but want no part of, no ...

On the surface you have a point. However, it is the surface which nullifies it as well...

NT

I was thinking they got close to 80,000 for Smarty's Ark Derby. With the size of the infield, they could pack in a pretty good crowd.

but to quote one of my favorite movie lines "Well, let's not start sucking each other's d*cks quite yet."

The record included ALL surfaces, but I get your point--though I do not agree with it ...

It is only an opinion, but I think Z is at least as good on dirt as her connections have stated, if not better, and if the race were run on turf, dirt, synthetic or cat litter, I would go with her ...

I have a healthy respect for RA and what she has done, but Z is faster than most give her credit for ...

She also runs those telling quarters at the races' end, unlike Rachel who does her fastest earlier, and shows catlike acceleration around the turn for home ...

After 50 years of race watching, I can not say Z is the best I have ever seen, but I can say she is the most unusual and compelling top drawer horse I have ever seen, and one whose bottom depths have not been even remotely navigated ...

Say what you will about the Woodward, but that was a filly bottomed out visibly, and the quality of the opponents which took her to her bottom were modest ... And it was only 9 furlongs ...

Jockeyspeak is usually twaddle to me , but I believe Smith when he says he is afraid of no one ...

And most of Z's wins were at 8.5 furlongs anyway ...

who cares as long as i get in!

i'll buy the first round!

The mile split in the Classic was 1:36.16.

He said in the body.

Prudery is a MARE ...

And I did say in the body of the race--not the split ...

Oh no, does this mean that RA really doesn't want any part of the classic distance of 1 1/4 at equal weights? That's what I saw.

She can go 10 furlongs, but depends who else is going OR coming ...

If we saw a bottom at alllegedly her optimum distance, chances are it will be there longer ...

Isaw it in the Woodward, but not in the Haskell in the slop ...

I don't believe Zenyatta had even made her debut at the time RA was beating males at 9f and longer (I'm talking within their respective 3yo years).

Not that you are right in the slightest anyways, but maybe you should consider that RA may very well likely improve with age, and possibly distance as well.

Yes you did. My apologies. With that kind of performance, perhaps Zenyatta would not fear any other prior Breeders Cup winner at 10 furlongs.