Zenyatta warming up.....

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

He just said natural ability because it's useless information. What matters is the results on the track...and Zenyatta will never match Azeri because she has a trainer that doesn't run his horses on a regular basis.

agree, but at this point she has about the same exact schedule/record as azeri, and at the end of their four year old year they will have run in almost the same exact series of races.

I did say natural ability because azeri had a great mind to accompany the physical ability, and she was a very sound horse. Zenyatta has a ways to go, but the talent is there.

It will be interesting to see how she performs in a race that
lacks speed up front. If I were Zenyatta's connections I would like to see Ginger Punch with a 40 to 1 runoff horse in every race.

Zenyatta has a very long stride late. It is impressive.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by pgardn

It will be interesting to see how she performs in a race that
lacks speed up front. If I were Zenyatta's connections I would like to see Ginger Punch with a 40 to 1 runoff horse in every race.

Zenyatta has a very long stride late. It is impressive.

looking at the pace figures in her races that has already been happening, I want to see it when the pace is quick and contested up front.

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

looking at the pace figures in her races that has already been happening, I want to see it when the pace is quick and contested up front.

Whatever the pace figures are she has be lounging at the rear
quite lazily, when she decides to leave the gate.
And then deals the move on the turn. By the stretch she
is just striding away, big long strides. Then again she is a big
animal.

Very different style than Azeri anyway.

[Halfbridled]

Zenyatta is definitely for real. She beat Ginger Punch but she was not herself that day.
I may be wrong, but didn't Zenyatta flip in the paddock last out? I know she was stressed because of the crowd and that probably took enough out of her to make her really work for the win.

Before the last race I thought she was unbeatable, but at the BC she will have a lot more crowd to deal with, and that could cost her. The problem is that Ginger Punch is not a synthetic horse, so it might not take Zenyatta's best race to win it. Hystericalady will make her work for it though - she's tough on any surface.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

The way Ginger Punch ran in the Oaklawn race - I think there are high priced claimers out there who could have beaten her on that day.

People who followed the sport closely in the 90's have to feel spoiled with all the outstanding fillies and mares that were running. A horse like Sharp Cat never won an eclipse - and she would have just obliterated horses like Zenyatta and Ginger Punch.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

The way Ginger Punch ran in the Oaklawn race - I think there are high priced claimers out there who could have beaten her on that day.

People who followed the sport closely in the 90's have to feel spoiled with all the outstanding fillies and mares that were running. A horse like Sharp Cat never won an eclipse - and she would have just obliterated horses like Zenyatta and Ginger Punch.

Sharp Cat was pretty good, but didnt she get beat by Ajina?

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by Halfbridled

Zenyatta is definitely for real. She beat Ginger Punch but she was not herself that day.
I may be wrong, but didn't Zenyatta flip in the paddock last out? I know she was stressed because of the crowd and that probably took enough out of her to make her really work for the win.

Before the last race I thought she was unbeatable, but at the BC she will have a lot more crowd to deal with, and that could cost her. The problem is that Ginger Punch is not a synthetic horse, so it might not take Zenyatta's best race to win it. Hystericalady will make her work for it though - she's tough on any surface.

Hystericalady is not tough on any surface! Let's see her win on synthetic. She's had several chances to do so.