Zenyatta v. Rail Trip??

parsixfarms · #1 05-10-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Under no circumstances would I consider a horse sitting behind an overmatched foe in very slow time then flying home late impressive. This is especially true when said horse has never shown the ability to do this from farther back than second in his entire career.

Again, I'm not knocking the horse, it was a workout, nothing more. I would think he will have trouble being ready for the HGC off this effort alone.

I believe he will be running in the Californian next, then the Gold Cup. This was good first step off a nine-month layoff.

CSC · #2 05-10-2010, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

I believe he will be running in the Californian next, then the Gold Cup. This was good first step off a nine-month layoff.

My experience with Ellis is he is far better off an extended layoffs than the perverbial second off the layoff as for most Trainer's. I would be leary if one is expecting big improvement from him in his next. Depending on the field I will gladly bet against him at his projected underlay but hey that's just me.

cmorioles · #3 05-10-2010, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

I believe he will be running in the Californian next, then the Gold Cup. This was good first step off a nine-month layoff.

I agree, I'm just not ready to crown him some big horse yet.

smuthg · #4 05-10-2010, 04:06 PM

I haven't read all the way through all 8 pages of this post, but does a start in the Vanity preclude a start in the Gold Cup? The plan was to take on Rachel in the Apple Blossom off 3 to 4 week layoff. Why not get to 17 with a Vanity win and then worry about the Gold Cup. It seems pretty clear that they don't want to run at DelMar, thus they could make a trip to the east coast and still have a chance to get one last prep at Santa Anita prior to the Breeders' Cup.

parsixfarms · #5 05-10-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smuthg

I haven't read all the way through all 8 pages of this post, but does a start in the Vanity preclude a start in the Gold Cup? The plan was to take on Rachel in the Apple Blossom off 3 to 4 week layoff. Why not get to 17 with a Vanity win and then worry about the Gold Cup. It seems pretty clear that they don't want to run at DelMar, thus they could make a trip to the east coast and still have a chance to get one last prep at Santa Anita prior to the Breeders' Cup.

You're right, it doesn't have to, but apparently, it does: http://www.drf.com/news/article/112840.html. If Shirreffs perceives the Hollywood Gold Cup as the "highest mountain possible," then we now why Zenyatta's connections seem to place her in "mole hills" of races.

smuthg · #6 05-10-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

You're right, it doesn't have to, but apparently, it does: http://www.drf.com/news/article/112840.html. If Shirreffs perceives the Hollywood Gold Cup as the "highest mountain possible," then we now why Zenyatta's connections seem to place her in "mole hills" of races.

I hadn't seen that, thanks for posting...

cmorioles · #7 05-10-2010, 04:24 PM

That is just sad. Rail Trip is the highest mountain possible? What a clown.

NTamm1215 · #8 05-10-2010, 04:26 PM

John Shirreffs is a terrific trainer and seemingly a nice guy but he has now provided us with two incredibly stupid statements in the last month regarding where Zenyatta will run.

NT

cmorioles · #9 05-10-2010, 04:28 PM

Rail Trip and the Rockies, boxing equivalents to Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali, and both apparently mountains too tough to climb.

slotdirt · #10 05-10-2010, 04:31 PM

Waiting for the Jay Hovdey defense of all things Zenyatta at drf.com in 3, 2, 1...

the_fat_man · #11 05-10-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

John Shirreffs is a terrific trainer and seemingly a nice guy but he has now provided us with two incredibly stupid statements in the last month regarding where Zenyatta will run.

NT

I don't look to trainers (or jocks or owners) for intellectual stimulation. Shirreffs has this mare 17 for 17. That and showing up in the BC is enough for me. When ANYTHING that has run to this point in time this year does something NOVEL, something Horse of the Year novel, someone wake me up.

CSC · #12 05-10-2010, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

John Shirreffs is a terrific trainer and seemingly a nice guy but he has now provided us with two incredibly stupid statements in the last month regarding where Zenyatta will run.

NT

Unfortunately, this one is dumber.

"All options are open," Asmussen said. Under the heading "Next Start Undecided".