Now I Have Zero Respect Left for Shirreffs

blackthroatedwind · #1 10-28-2008, 03:16 PM

How did he campaign through the media? Someone asked him a question...what is he supposed to say...." she doesn't deserve to be considered for HOY? "

They raced Zenyatta frequently this year. They shipped her to Arkansas. They ran her in a race for $2 Million where she was 3:5. I have a hard time seeing how they didn't make the right choice for themselves, the horse, and, quite frankly, for the fans.

King Glorious · #2 10-28-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

How did he campaign through the media? Someone asked him a question...what is he supposed to say...." she doesn't deserve to be considered for HOY? "

They raced Zenyatta frequently this year. They shipped her to Arkansas. They ran her in a race for $2 Million where she was 3:5. I have a hard time seeing how they didn't make the right choice for themselves, the horse, and, quite frankly, for the fans.

I have no doubt it was the right choice for themselves. The horse though? I don't know about that. She's not some little filly that would get bounced around and intimidated by some bigger males. Hell, she's bigger than the boys are. She might have intimidated them. And I completely disagree with you that this was the right choice for the fans. I think by an overwhelming majority, the fans would have rather seen her in the Classic than in the Distaff.

Getting back to your earlier question, I don't just want to see her race any males. I wanted to see her take on the best. A lot of people make a big deal out of Personal Ensign beating the boys. I don't. I mean, it was Gulch and King's Swan. I respect Gulch but beating him at 9f at that stage of his career wasn't an overwhelming accomplishment. And it was a three horse field. If I could have known in advance that for sure they'd bring Zenyatta back next year and they'd try her against the males and the males are Mast Track and Two Step Salsa and some of those other second rate horses out here in Cali, don't bother.

RollerDoc · #3 10-28-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I think by an overwhelming majority, the fans would have rather seen her in the Classic than in the Distaff.

Yes and nobody more than ESPN would have preferred this too.

King Glorious · #4 10-28-2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollerDoc

Yes and nobody more than ESPN would have preferred this too.

The network execs were happier with her running Friday. She was the key horse to their Ladies Day thing. The racing people at ESPN (Bailey, Moss, etc), they probably would have rather her be in the Classic.

blackthroatedwind · #5 10-28-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I have no doubt it was the right choice for themselves. The horse though? I don't know about that. She's not some little filly that would get bounced around and intimidated by some bigger males. Hell, she's bigger than the boys are. She might have intimidated them. And I completely disagree with you that this was the right choice for the fans. I think by an overwhelming majority, the fans would have rather seen her in the Classic than in the Distaff.

Getting back to your earlier question, I don't just want to see her race any males. I wanted to see her take on the best. A lot of people make a big deal out of Personal Ensign beating the boys. I don't. I mean, it was Gulch and King's Swan. I respect Gulch but beating him at 9f at that stage of his career wasn't an overwhelming accomplishment. And it was a three horse field. If I could have known in advance that for sure they'd bring Zenyatta back next year and they'd try her against the males and the males are Mast Track and Two Step Salsa and some of those other second rate horses out here in Cali, don't bother.

So you think the horse is in her stall stomping around since she didn't get a shot at the Classic? She was absolutely placed in the race she belonged in the most. She beat Cocoa Beach by around a length. That seems to be forgotten around here.

I think you need to brush up on the merits of Gulch and King's Swan....and compare them to the mediocrities mascarading as Grade 1 horses these days. In any way comparing them to Two Step Salsa and Mast Track is grossly unfair.

Now, I'm going to get back to stomping around MY stall.

King Glorious · #6 10-28-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

So you think the horse is in her stall stomping around since she didn't get a shot at the Classic? She was absolutely placed in the race she belonged in the most. She beat Cocoa Beach by around a length. That seems to be forgotten around here.

I think you need to brush up on the merits of Gulch and King's Swan....and compare them to the mediocrities mascarading as Grade 1 horses these days. In any way comparing them to Two Step Salsa and Mast Track is grossly unfair.

Now, I'm going to get back to stomping around MY stall.

No I don't think she's stomping around in her stall angry at all. Not anymore than you think she's in her stall wiping sweat from her brow in relief of not having to face the boys in the Classic.

I wasn't comparing the merits of Gulch and King's Swan at all. I know what those horses did and what they were. What I was simply saying was that they weren't considered the upper echelon of the male runners in their year just like Two Step and Mast Track would be facing males but nowhere near the upper echelon's of the male horses.

blackthroatedwind · #7 10-28-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

No I don't think she's stomping around in her stall angry at all. Not anymore than you think she's in her stall wiping sweat from her brow in relief of not having to face the boys in the Classic.

I wasn't comparing the merits of Gulch and King's Swan at all. I know what those horses did and what they were. What I was simply saying was that they weren't considered the upper echelon of the male runners in their year just like Two Step and Mast Track would be facing males but nowhere near the upper echelon's of the male horses.

Gulch was definitely considered in the upper echelon of male runners that year and King's Swan was close....and only considered below the top because we actually had good horses running then.

As one of the Rastas so eloquently put it, one cold winter day at Aqueduct, as King Swan was repulsing a challenge while carrying 130ish pounds....." and NOOOOOOOOBODY passes the Swan! "

Danzig · #8 10-28-2008, 04:34 PM

wasn't gulch an eclipse award winner that year? to compare him to mast track is a bit much, isn't it?

King Glorious · #9 10-28-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

wasn't gulch an eclipse award winner that year? to compare him to mast track is a bit much, isn't it?

Come on people. I'm not comparing them in ability. I'm comparing them in relation to the best runners of their year. That's not the same. In 1988, Gulch was the champion sprinter. He won the Met Mile too. But Personal Ensign beat him at 9f. That was beyond the distance that he was trained to specialize at that year. So don't tell me about how he won the Wood the year before. In 1988, Gulch's wins were the Sprint, Met Mile, Carter, and the Portero Grande. King's Swan was the epitome of a tough veteran the had to always be respected. In terms of ability, he and Gulch are like night and day compared to Two Step Salsa and Mast Track. Hell, in today's game, Gulch and King's Swan might be able to win Eclipse awards as champion older male and champion sprinter. That's not the comparison I was making though. As a router in 1988, Gulch was behind the likes of Alysheba, Bet Twice, Lost Code, Cryptoclearance, Cutlass Reality, Forty Niner, Waquoit, Ferdinand.....he was not a top level router.