Why retire her?
 

Zenyatta seems to be at the top of her game, or at least still capable of beating the best (and by "best" I mean all that we have in America). I think if you re-run the Classic 10 times, she wins it just as many times as Blame, if not more. So why not keep her in training and point for the Dubai World Cup and then the 2011 Classic? Retiring her makes little sense to me.

She's 6 years old! Might turn to dust out there as a 7 year old!!

She's gave her all for a 19 of 20 record. She needs to get herself a stall near the road where all of her fans can get a good look at her.

Why bring her back? So they can lie about showcasing her to the country/world, keep her sheltered all year and then try to intimidate voters into finally gifting her HOY? If we have any decent handicap horses next year (probably a big if), she'd get drowned in the Classic. Bring back Goldikova instead.

A) That's partly my point. It's an enormous "if".

B) What are you basing this on?

I'm not sure about the whole retirement deal, but she doesn't get by Blame yesterday if you run the race w/same or similar trips 10x. She didn't have a bad trip and even if she gets clear a few strides earlier... he dug-in when he heard her coming, and galloped-out past her as well. I don't think she ever had a nose down in front. The close-up ESPN kept replaying shows how Blame dug-in and didn't let her by.

Basically, she finally met someone who could finish their run to the wire... she ran hers, but it was a nose short. No shame.

Are you serious? I'm a big Blame fan, but he would get drowned in most years too. It was a horrendous year for the handicap division.

Becasue his Beyer Speed Figures aren't that high?

x2 I said this also.When Go Go Gomez saw her coming he moved Blame out (slowed him a little) so Blame could see her coming. Once Blame got n eye full of her he rebroke. Z didn't pass him in the cool out either. They both were in full stride at least 50 yds after the wire with Blame still ahead. The only way she wins this race is Blame gets a worse trip IMO.

If they brought her back next year she would probably still be a very good horse who could rack up some G1 and G2 wins. Of course, the same was true of Rachel Alexandra and she was retired too.
Most owners, including Zenyatta's, are probably too concerned with their horse's legacy to actually risk losing more races.
It is really too bad. If they actually did that and tried to win the DWC with her, I'd probably be cheering for her for the first time ever.

I agree, really with the record not being perfect anymore you would think that the decision would be easier to keep her on the track.
The only thing is that, after her performance yesterday it would be hard to stay in California and continue to race against some of the talent that she's been beating (on the poly) on a consistent basis. She would need to leave the state a few time for it to be worth while.

:rolleyes: yes, pastor, that's part of it. You honestly think those two would've had a prayer in '04, '06 or '07? Child please.

It sure looked like she would get there but credit to Blame.

Zenyatta has to be retired. She already signed a contract for Dancing With the Stars for next year. Too late to get out of it now.

Probably not. But you said he would "get drowned in most years." You just listed three BCs where he would not have finished 1st. By your logic, only Ghostzapper and Curlin are worthy BCC winners.

Invasor won in '06.

I skipped the two synthetic BCCs because they're completely nonsensical. Forget finishing first. They wouldn't have been better than 4th in '06, might have been a distant third and fourth in '07 and couldn't have finished in the top half of the field in '04. Pleasantly Perfect would've destroyed them too. Maybe they could've competed in '02. How far do you want to go back? They're extremely inferior handicap horses historically. I can't even believe you're arguing this.

Now that she's lost, if the Mosses really were sporting, we'd finally see her run on freaking turf. Anybody think she couldn't have won the F/M turf race on Friday?

:tro: First laugh of the day. Thanks!

I really don't want this to turn into another epic DT argument-where-there-doesn't-need-to-be-one, but what exactly do you think I am arguing? I think Blame is 2010's version of St. Liam, Mineshaft (yes, I realize he didn't run in the Classic), and Pleasantly Perfect. I don't think he's on par with Ghostzapper, Curlin, or Invasor. Well, maybe Invasor. But so what? Blame is a very good horse. And Zenyatta proving she is every bit as good as him tells me that she can still compete with and likely beat whomever the Handicap Division throws her way next year. So she shouldn't be retired.

For what it's worth, Blame would probably dominate the HD too next year.

Not according to this post interview at 1:00 when the reporter said she infact passed Blame just past the wire, he sounded pretty matter of fact. The camera coverage will not show it, and I guess we will never know for sure as the camera stays on the wire for awhile and then picks up with the run out well past the wire.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...2-D7871AACD9AB

I truly have absolutely no idea what could make you think he's as good as these horses. They're in another stratosphere from him.

You know it seems like lately, every year stinks. Whether it's the 3 year old crop, handicap division and so on. What makes you think that there will ever be another (what some percieve as) "STRONG" division/class ever again? Between injuries, less foals every year, early retirements and the so called weakening of the breed this is what we are going to be looking at for a long long time.

This is probably somewhat true with the older horses. The three-year-olds will still have strong years though. Last year's crop was terrific, as was the '07 bunch.

More and more, it's becoming clear that if you want to have a horse who competes at the *highest levels of the sport, you can't point him/her toward the Triple Crown.

*anything not part of the TC

I have a feeling this poorly-worded post is about to get pounced on.

Yeah, the HOYs the last three years didn't go near the TC. And yesterday's 3-4-5 finishers were in the barn in May and June too.

That reporter is an idiot.

The replay using the blimp view ( right before the winner's circle interview ) clearly shows the entire gallop-out and she never once got in front of Blame.

i agree, the last few years have been sorry.
i would love to see them bring her back if they'd actually challenge her. same old same old would be a disgrace, and more annoying then enthralling.

Oh come on. The run-up to the TC and the TC itself ruins horses. You know it. God knows how many horses like Blame and Zenyatta we have been deprived of becasue they were rushed to get graded earning for the Derby and were never the same. What's the winning percentage of Derby winners in their post-Derby races? It's gotta be lower than low.

I didn't see the blimp view so I cannot comment on this, I do know if I were a reporter I wouldn't go up to a world wide press conference and make up something fictitious, I simply don't know and I am just qouting a reporter at face value given that the TVG coverage rightfully focused on the wire to view the entire finish of the field before panning out to the run out pass the wire.

I think that they should bring her back. Absolutely.

I was there yesterday. The electricity was like very few classics that I have seen. It was worth the wait.

How can any racing fan want to see her retired? She is sound, she looks like she loves what she does and she is still pretty darn good.

This is complete, unfounded nonsense. Do you ever post something that isn't pulled out of your ass?

i'd love to see her try dubai.

Be honest...you didn't watch her every time she ran this year or at least most of the time? Whether she is challenged or not (and i am totally with you that i hope they challenge her especially on dirt), isn't it still somewhat of a spectacle every time she runs?

What other horse in the last 20 years has drawn the crowds that she does in non-classic or BC events? The longer she runs, the better it could be for racing.

The reporter is wrong. Blame never let her by after the wire. Not for a second. These "one more stride and she wins" arguments are bs.

I agree. She had a chance to pass Blame and could not get by. Blame was a better horse on that track on that day and is a deserving winner and HOY. Gomez rode a flawless race and proved once again that there is no one better in the lane.

I can't believe a reporter would be wrong. lol

The Triple Crown should be called the Bermuda Triangle. Not every plane or boat that enters disappears, but there's something going on.

Hey, I love it. Love the Derby. Love it all.

How about there might be other factors besides the rigors of the preps and racing those races in 5 weeks?

Chuck brought up a great point in another thread. How many potentially great horses are in the Todd Pletcher barn? He didn't single out Pletcher, but the point is that too many horses are being handled by the same few guys. How many of those horses might have been better off if managed by different guys with different skill sets, programs, etc?

This really has nothing to do with the topic though so sorry for going off course.