Horse of the Year?

[CSC]

None of Curlin's or Zenyatta's performances this year impressed me as much as Goldikova's at the Breeders Cup.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by CSC

None of Curlin's or Zenyatta's performances this year impressed me as much as Goldikova's at the Breeders Cup.

It's hard to not be impressed with her turn of foot, and I certainly was impressed with her ability and think she's the real deal...but it's also certainly impossible to overlook that she got what was probably the most beautiful trip of any Breeders' Cup winner at this year's event. But yes, her quarter mile of running was something to behold.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

It's hard to not be impressed with her turn of foot, and I certainly was impressed with her ability and think she's the real deal...but it's also certainly impossible to overlook that she got what was probably the most beautiful trip of any Breeders' Cup winner at this year's event. But yes, her quarter mile of running was something to behold.

Yes, She got a great trip, I look at it as a strength rather than being lucky...the pace was quick, she has a high crusing speed, despite being close to the pace she booted clear in a split second and it was over. That was impressive if you ask me, more than what Curlin showed in his last 3 races.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by CSC

Yes, She got a great trip, I look at it as a strength rather than being lucky...the pace was quick, she has a high crusing speed, despite being close to the pace she booted clear in a split second and it was over. That was impressive if you ask me, more than what Curlin showed in his last 3 races.

And don't get me wrong...there were lots of "wow"s falling out of my mouth at Santa Anita after that race, I just think in retrospect it wasn't quite as amazing as it looked after sitting just off of the almost-certain-to-collapse-speed of Thorn Song and Daytona, and though it was a quicker pace, she got kind of exactly the trip that played to her style...cruising along with the rest and then seeing which runner can sprint the fastest for a quarter mile.

I give her plenty of credit where credit is due, but I don't think that the actual merit of the performance stacks up at all to the breathtaking visual of the performance...which is not imply that it wasn't a huge run, just maybe not as huge as it seems.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

And don't get me wrong...there were lots of "wow"s falling out of my mouth at Santa Anita after that race, I just think in retrospect it wasn't quite as amazing as it looked after sitting just off of the almost-certain-to-collapse-speed of Thorn Song and Daytona, and though it was a quicker pace, she got kind of exactly the trip that played to her style...cruising along with the rest and then seeing which runner can sprint the fastest for a quarter mile.

I give her plenty of credit where credit is due, but I don't think that the actual merit of the performance stacks up at all to the breathtaking visual of the performance...which is not imply that it wasn't a huge run, just maybe not as huge as it seems.

I didn't mean to imply you were not giving her credit, I know where you were coming from. The 2nd and 3rd place horses coming out of the race didn't distinguish themselves in their next starts, though one raced in HK which is never easy. Her form in Europe certainly suggests her BC race was not a fluke, rather it is the type of performance we expected. To me it was more impressive than any of Ouiji Board's BC's and that one is held to a very high standard over here.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by CSC

I didn't mean to imply you were not giving her credit, I know where you were coming from. The 2nd and 3rd place horses coming out of the race didn't distinguish themselves in their next starts, though one raced in HK which is never easy. Her form in Europe certainly suggests her BC race was not a fluke, rather it is the type of performance we expected. To me it was more impressive than any of Ouiji Board's BC's and that one is held to a very high standard over here.

Oh wow, you really do love Goldikova...I won't even touch that one

[CSC]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Oh wow, you really do love Goldikova...I won't even touch that one

Obviously Ouija Board was a great filly I have no argument with anyone there, really I cited her BC races to be accurate and not her entire career. She beat Film Maker twice in her own division in the BC, whereas Goldikova beat males and given how she did it with an explosive turn of foot. In my opinion I was more impressed by Goldikova's race than any of the 2 BC wins Ouija Board ran.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by CSC

I didn't mean to imply you were not giving her credit, I know where you were coming from. The 2nd and 3rd place horses coming out of the race didn't distinguish themselves in their next starts, though one raced in HK which is never easy. Her form in Europe certainly suggests her BC race was not a fluke, rather it is the type of performance we expected. To me it was more impressive than any of Ouiji Board's BC's and that one is held to a very high standard over here.

i'm trying to keep in mind that you're comparing bc races, not the horses...because ouija board was a special horse. i'd also think that everyone expected both of these gals to win due to ability in the one(OB), and the competition, or lack thereof, facing the other.

[cakes44]

Give it to Curlin in a very weak year. Hystericalady would have beaten Zenyatta on the dirt this year IMO.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i'm trying to keep in mind that you're comparing bc races, not the horses...because ouija board was a special horse. i'd also think that everyone expected both of these gals to win due to ability in the one(OB), and the competition, or lack thereof, facing the other.

Contrary Danzig, I do have a great deal of respect for Ouija Board, she danced alot dances and more times than not she always showed up and accounted herself well. Her connections definitely took chances with her and I think she is well respected for that and deservedly so!