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  #1  
Old 06-11-2010, 05:34 PM
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Originally Posted by ateamstupid View Post
She had a remarkable year, and a far more impressive one than Zenyatta did. Nothing that happens this year changes that. I don't understand why you seem to think that Rachel's two narrow missteps this year invalidate what happened last season. You're either disingenuous or not very smart if that's your contention.

Her Woodward was outstanding, and anybody who watches racing at Saratoga will attest to that. Stop, for a second, worrying about what was behind her, and instead realize the kind of pace she was forced through before having to hold off a perfect-trip older male who was clearly better in '09 than he is this year.
I don't want to get into the she will improve at age 4 bravado that was evident prior to her 1st start this year, and now it is convenient to say let's not compare last year to this year. Horses are judged on their career, I never like to look at one race, one year, and say this horse is the greatest thing since sliced bread when the most notable race she won was what she faced in the Woodward, if she had gone on and run in the JCGC or BC, I may feel differently. So my question to you is what absolves her from criticism of not running in one of those races and why is it alright to criticize another?
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  #2  
Old 06-11-2010, 05:37 PM
alysheba4 alysheba4 is offline
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god who gives a fck anymore.
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  #3  
Old 06-11-2010, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by CSC View Post
I don't want to get into the she will improve at age 4 bravado that was evident prior to her 1st start this year, and now it is convenient to say let's not compare last year to this year. Horses are judged on their career, I never like to look at one race, one year, and say this horse is the greatest thing since sliced bread when the most notable race she won was what she faced in the Woodward, if she had gone on and run in the JCGC or BC, I may feel differently. So my question to you is what absolves her from criticism of not running in one of those races and why is it alright to criticize another?
She had a taxing campaign, taking on the boys and older horses multiple times, shipping to multiple states and no one with a good dirt horse is too keen on running on a crap surface in a race that people like you wrongly determine the be-all end-all. I wouldn't have run her in the BC either. She'd already had a remarkable campaign, dancing every dance, while Zenyatta had a complete yawner of a year before deciding to take a slight step up at the very end. The HOY vote reflected the respective ambition and accomplishment of their campaigns.

Zenyatta has done everything she's slated to do this year. Multiple times. The only notable thing she could possibly accomplish is winning the Classic at Churchill, and even then, it'll be disappointing that they didn't showcase her on dirt or against top competition or out of her backyard more often. They're being chickenshit and boring with this campaign. Again. Rachel isn't facing monsters this year either, but at least they have the excuse of losing two races this year. Zenyatta is coming off of 17 straight wins and they still aren't even willing to face the top male in their state. It's embarrassing.
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  #4  
Old 06-11-2010, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by ateamstupid View Post
She had a taxing campaign, taking on the boys and older horses multiple times, shipping to multiple states and no one with a good dirt horse is too keen on running on a crap surface in a race that people like you wrongly determine the be-all end-all. I wouldn't have run her in the BC either. She'd already had a remarkable campaign, dancing every dance, while Zenyatta had a complete yawner of a year before deciding to take a slight step up at the very end. The HOY vote reflected the respective ambition and accomplishment of their campaigns.

Zenyatta has done everything she's slated to do this year. Multiple times. The only notable thing she could possibly accomplish is winning the Classic at Churchill, and even then, it'll be disappointing that they didn't showcase her on dirt or against top competition or out of her backyard more often. They're being chickenshit and boring with this campaign. Again. Rachel isn't facing monsters this year either, but at least they have the excuse of losing two races this year. Zenyatta is coming off of 17 straight wins and they still aren't even willing to face the top male in their state. It's embarrassing.
As stated multiple times, I am not disputing HOY, again for the 157th time I am fine with her winning it. Fact is it means less to me than for others, so for my sake, anyone who brings this up with me. I don't care about HOY 2009 or 2010. What wasn't answered for me is how good or great she was, I formed an opinion that the jury wasn't even close to being closed on her. Some put a seal on it and slamdunked her greatness. She may have been all the things you state, tired, wiped out..ect..I will accept that. I saw it as ducking. Regardless, we still don't have a clear consensus, I am just glad she returned to racing this year, otherwise she may still be up on that pedestal.
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  #5  
Old 06-12-2010, 08:39 AM
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Originally Posted by CSC View Post
As stated multiple times, I am not disputing HOY, again for the 157th time I am fine with her winning it. Fact is it means less to me than for others, so for my sake, anyone who brings this up with me. I don't care about HOY 2009 or 2010. What wasn't answered for me is how good or great she was, I formed an opinion that the jury wasn't even close to being closed on her. Some put a seal on it and slamdunked her greatness. She may have been all the things you state, tired, wiped out..ect..I will accept that. I saw it as ducking. Regardless, we still don't have a clear consensus, I am just glad she returned to racing this year, otherwise she may still be up on that pedestal.
In your opinion, where does Rachel's 2009 campaign rank among 3yo fillies? Best I've ever seen. Where does it rank among campaigns for any filly or mare? It's hard to find a better one without digging deep. That doesn't mean she would have beaten 4yo colts such as Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, or even Cigar, but I think the season stands alone in 100+ years of American racing. Who knows if she can live up to those standards as a 4yo, but either way it shouldn't diminsh the once in a lifetime accomplishments of 2009.

Zenyatta's 2009 campaign was the best in the 5 year history of synthetic tracks. I will say that it may hold for a long time, as most with an animal of that talent would venture for more ambitious spots, and she will always be remembered for becoming the first female to win the Classic..
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  #6  
Old 06-11-2010, 05:48 PM
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Travis Stone Travis Stone is offline
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Originally Posted by CSC View Post
I don't want to get into the she will improve at age 4 bravado that was evident prior to her 1st start this year, and now it is convenient to say let's not compare last year to this year. Horses are judged on their career, I never like to look at one race, one year, and say this horse is the greatest thing since sliced bread when the most notable race she won was what she faced in the Woodward, if she had gone on and run in the JCGC or BC, I may feel differently. So my question to you is what absolves her from criticism of not running in one of those races and why is it alright to criticize another?
Dude, this is not about Rachel. This is about where Zenyatta is running this year. For all the people who thought she backhanded at the Eclipse Awards dinner, this year was supposed to vindicate her.

If you can't use Rachel, you use Quality Road, if you can't use Quality Road, you use shipping Quality Road, if you can't use shipping Quality Road, you use Chuck's two horses who didn't ship over the Rockies, if you can't use Chuck's two horses who didn't ship over the Rockies, you bring-up china dolls, if you can't use China Dolls, you use Summer Bird etc. It's nauseating.

Guess what? This is NOT ABOUT Quality Road, China Dolls, Summer Bird, The Rockies, the Alps, Mt. Everest or anything else. This is about where Zenyatta is running right now.

Unfortunately, she is NOT the leader for Horse of the Year, even though she probably should be. This was supposed to be her year where she struts her stuff.

Unfortunately for her, much like last year, another horse is out-working her up to this point (through not fault of her own).

If this is about getting her to peak at the BC, that's fine, but don't come crying when the voters say again, "Hey, this is Horse of the Year, not Horse of the Race."
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Old 06-11-2010, 05:52 PM
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Duvalier Duvalier is offline
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Oh my gawd
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  #8  
Old 06-11-2010, 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Travis Stone View Post
Dude, this is not about Rachel. This is about where Zenyatta is running this year. For all the people who thought she backhanded at the Eclipse Awards dinner, this year was supposed to vindicate her
If you can't use Rachel, you use Quality Road, if you can't use Quality Road, you use shipping Quality Road, if you can't use shipping Quality Road, you use Chuck's two horses who didn't ship over the Rockies, if you can't use Chuck's two horses who didn't ship over the Rockies, you bring-up china dolls, if you can't use China Dolls, you use Summer Bird etc. It's nauseating.

Guess what? This is NOT ABOUT Quality Road, China Dolls, Summer Bird, The Rockies, the Alps, Mt. Everest or anything else. This is about where Zenyatta is running right now.

Unfortunately, she is NOT the leader for Horse of the Year, even though she probably should be. This was supposed to be her year where she struts her stuff.

Unfortunately for her, much like last year, another horse is out-working her up to this point (through not fault of her own).

If this is about getting her to peak at the BC, that's fine, but don't come crying when the voters say again, "Hey, this is Horse of the Year, not Horse of the Race."
Amen Brother, Iam a westcoast fan of Zenyatta, but they have a chance to bring her game to any race track in the country and they have not done it.
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  #9  
Old 06-11-2010, 06:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Travis Stone View Post
Dude, this is not about Rachel. This is about where Zenyatta is running this year. For all the people who thought she backhanded at the Eclipse Awards dinner, this year was supposed to vindicate her.

If you can't use Rachel, you use Quality Road, if you can't use Quality Road, you use shipping Quality Road, if you can't use shipping Quality Road, you use Chuck's two horses who didn't ship over the Rockies, if you can't use Chuck's two horses who didn't ship over the Rockies, you bring-up china dolls, if you can't use China Dolls, you use Summer Bird etc. It's nauseating.

Guess what? This is NOT ABOUT Quality Road, China Dolls, Summer Bird, The Rockies, the Alps, Mt. Everest or anything else. This is about where Zenyatta is running right now.

Unfortunately, she is NOT the leader for Horse of the Year, even though she probably should be. This was supposed to be her year where she struts her stuff.

Unfortunately for her, much like last year, another horse is out-working her up to this point (through not fault of her own).

If this is about getting her to peak at the BC, that's fine, but don't come crying when the voters say again, "Hey, this is Horse of the Year, not Horse of the Race."
Blame Atsteamstupid, I didn't bring it up first. If you read my reply beginning with Cannonball, it was 100% on topic.
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  #10  
Old 06-11-2010, 06:08 PM
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ateamstupid ateamstupid is offline
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Blame Atsteamstupid, I didn't bring it up first. If you read my reply beginning with Cannonball, it was 100% on topic.
Nope, sorry. It was 10 pnt move up who first invoked Rachel, followed by you, then me. As always, it was a Zenyatta fan who brought up the other one. Inferiority complex much?
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  #11  
Old 06-11-2010, 07:08 PM
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What do you call a fan of Quality Road?

A Roadie?
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  #12  
Old 06-11-2010, 07:21 PM
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You want me to say what it is? Travis is already mad at me.
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  #13  
Old 06-11-2010, 07:35 PM
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You want me to say what it is? Travis is already mad at me.
No.

I just find it amusing that grown men are calling each other names over horses.
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  #14  
Old 06-11-2010, 08:19 PM
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What do you call a fan of Quality Road?
Troubled
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  #15  
Old 06-12-2010, 07:09 AM
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Troubled
Well then, call me troubled OldDog. Been called worse.
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