Asmussen: No Rachel for Blossom

[Indian Charlie]

This thread woulda been 21 pages long if KG was still around.

Oyy.

[letswastemoney]

Zardana ducks Zenyatta!

If Zenyatta was truly the best, why is Shirreffs afraid of running Zardana?

Oh well, it's a conflict of interest probably. If Zardana was kept in the race, Shirreffs could have very well undertrained Zardana somehow because his heart is set on Zenyatta winning.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...ory?id=5032043

"The Apple Blossom field will not include Zardana or Rachel Alexandra, one-two finishers in the New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds on March 13. Shirreffs and owner Arnold Zetcher said Friday that Zardana will skip the Apple Blossom on April 9 and point instead for the Grade 2 La Troienne Stakes on April 30 at Churchill Downs. Zardana "could use a little time off," Zetcher said. He and Shirreffs also believe the 1 1/16-mile distance of the La Troienne suits Zardana more than the 1 1/8-mile Apple Blossom. "

[PeteMugg]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

Zardana ducks Zenyatta!

If Zenyatta was truly the best, why is Shirreffs afraid of running Zardana?

Oh well, it's a conflict of interest probably. If Zardana was kept in the race, Shirreffs could have very well undertrained Zardana somehow because his heart is set on Zenyatta winning.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...ory?id=5032043

"The Apple Blossom field will not include Zardana or Rachel Alexandra, one-two finishers in the New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds on March 13. Shirreffs and owner Arnold Zetcher said Friday that Zardana will skip the Apple Blossom on April 9 and point instead for the Grade 2 La Troienne Stakes on April 30 at Churchill Downs. Zardana "could use a little time off," Zetcher said. He and Shirreffs also believe the 1 1/16-mile distance of the La Troienne suits Zardana more than the 1 1/8-mile Apple Blossom. "

Zardana should be just as sharp as Rachel. I guess neither are quite ready for the Apple Blossom.

[the_fat_man]

Exactly right. The 3rd stringer in the barn beats the reigning horse of the year, pretty much GUTS her

BUT here (and on other forums)

it's really all about how the connections want to PROTECT a horse that's 15 for 15 ; in this case by not running her caddy against her.

Nothing like emulating Mike the Eunuch.

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Exactly right. The 3rd stringer in the barn beats the reigning horse of the year, pretty much GUTS her

BUT here (and on other forums)

it's really all about how the connections want to PROTECT a horse that's 15 for 15 ; in this case by not running her caddy against her.

Nothing like emulating Mike the Eunuch.

There clearly are ducking Zenyatta to protect Zenyatta's record

Zetcher has been quoted as wanting "to be in the big races" for the past month.

And now all of a sudden he changes his mind and decides a race with a lesser purse at Churchill is more important?

It's more likely Shirreffs had a talk with him or that Zetcher realized it would be a conflict of interest

[alysheba4]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

There clearly are ducking Zenyatta to protect Zenyatta's record

Zetcher has been quoted as wanting "to be in the big races" for the past month.

And now all of a sudden he changes his mind and decides a race with a lesser purse at Churchill is more important?

It's more likely Shirreffs had a talk with him or that Zetcher realized it would be a conflict of interest

...wow

[10 pnt move up]

Do people really think Zardana is a good horse, or is it she caught a great horse on a bad day and setup?

[prudery]

The concept of Zardana ducking Zenyatta or visa-versa is just silly ...

Life Is Sweet ran against Zenyatta unsucessfully several times and won the BC Ladies Classic . She also hit the board against males--and all this on Zenyatta's alleged favorite surface ...

It is unreasonable to think that this is going on, when another Shireffs filly --and probably a better one---has already done this multiply ...

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Do people really think Zardana is a good horse, or is it she caught a great horse on a bad day and setup?

Rachel clearly didn't run as well as she did in '09, but I don't think that should diminish the race Zardana ran. She ran a good race and appears to be a fairly quality runner on dirt. All of her dirt races have been good.
On non-dirt surfaces she appears to struggle.

[Theatrical]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

Zardana ducks Zenyatta!

If Zenyatta was truly the best, why is Shirreffs afraid of running Zardana?

Oh well, it's a conflict of interest probably. If Zardana was kept in the race, Shirreffs could have very well undertrained Zardana somehow because his heart is set on Zenyatta winning.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...ory?id=5032043

"The Apple Blossom field will not include Zardana or Rachel Alexandra, one-two finishers in the New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds on March 13. Shirreffs and owner Arnold Zetcher said Friday that Zardana will skip the Apple Blossom on April 9 and point instead for the Grade 2 La Troienne Stakes on April 30 at Churchill Downs. Zardana "could use a little time off," Zetcher said. He and Shirreffs also believe the 1 1/16-mile distance of the La Troienne suits Zardana more than the 1 1/8-mile Apple Blossom. "

You may be right. Mr. Shirreffs is so set on keeping Zenyatta undefeated he put her in the BCC to face males and run 1 1/4 miles for her first time at both.

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by Theatrical

You may be right. Mr. Shirreffs is so set on keeping Zenyatta undefeated he put her in the BCC to face males and run 1 1/4 miles for her first time at both.

He waited all year, never doing anything different in So Cal, until he ran her in that one interesting race.

Half the field didn't have a chance in that race because they were dirt horses.

Put her in a decent campaign in a wider variety of places against quality horses, and see what happens. She would have great wins, but she wouldn't be invincible.

[Theatrical]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

He waited all year, never doing anything different in So Cal, until he ran her in that one interesting race.

Half the field didn't have a chance in that race because they were dirt horses.

Put her in a decent campaign in a wider variety of places against quality horses, and see what happens. She would have great wins, but she wouldn't be invincible.

Do you have an 800 number I can call to have you tell me my future?