Jockey Club Gold Cup 2009

[CSC]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Unless, of course, Zenyatta gets moved to the Dutrow barn and pulls off the Ladies Classic/Classic double.

If we get creative, what if Summer Bird beats Macho Again by 10 who RA just outlasted, then wins the Classic beating Zenyatta among others...then Ice sends gift baskets to the voters....alot if's but...

[Gander]

Originally Posted by CSC

If we get creative, what if Summer Bird beats Macho Again by 10 who RA just outlasted, then wins the Classic beating Zenyatta among others...then Ice sends gift baskets to the voters....alot if's but...

I dont think Zenyatta should be the gold standard to be judging HOY. Shes done nothing besides beating the same field over and over again at the same California tracks/surface. I dont think Summer Bird beating Zenyatta would be enough to get him HOY. He would have to either avenge his big loss to Rachel and thats not going to happen, or win the Jockey Club as the field is now and then win the BC Classic (only if it has Sea the Stars and a few others like Gio Ponti and Einstein).

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Gander

I dont think Zenyatta should be the gold standard to be judging HOY. Shes done nothing besides beating the same field over and over again at the same California tracks/surface. I dont think Summer Bird beating Zenyatta would be enough to get him HOY. He would have to either avenge his big loss to Rachel and thats not going to happen, or win the Jockey Club as the field is now and then win the BC Classic (only if it has Sea the Stars and a few others like Gio Ponti and Einstein).

You bring up an interesting point, it is really hard to say who is the horse to beat in the BC Classic? Richard's Kid, Rail Trip, Einstein...You have to say beating Zenyatta sounds better than beating those 3.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by CSC

If we get creative, what if Summer Bird beats Macho Again by 10 who RA just outlasted, then wins the Classic beating Zenyatta among others...then Ice sends gift baskets to the voters....alot if's but...

Will Summer Bird be participating in a suicidal pace up front before winning by 10 and having those who chased him finish last, 2nd last, and 3rd last, or just stalking and then blowing the race wide open?

Dynamics play a big part.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Will Summer Bird be participating in a suicidal pace up front before winning by 10 and having those who chased him finish last, 2nd last, and 3rd last, or just stalking and then blowing the race wide open?

Dynamics play a big part.

What concerns me as no surprise I am a Summer Bird fan, is he was reported to have had a fast work prior to his last work, he does have a new dimension of showing more early speed, but you don't want to run too fast early on in a 1 1/4 race. You have to expect a better race from Quality Road so a duel is possible, his last work was reported as better as he went slower early on and finished in 36, I expect him to run big, so if he does he might open some eyes and get out of the shadow of RA. To be in a position to do what Easy Goer did is a worthy accomplishment any way you look at it.