A question for those that do not like Zenyatta...

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by chucklestheclown

He is no Zenyetta...hell...he is no Zardana.

You really are a clown...


As for what this thread initially asked...I respect and really enjoy Zenyatta as a race horse. What makes me really want to see her get beat, and why I am unable to enjoy her more, is her ridiculous rabid fans. The fact they seem to never look at anything objectively with her, and only see her through pink and teal colored glasses is quite annoying.

[slotdirt]

Originally Posted by ARyan

You really are a clown...


As for what this thread initially asked...I respect and really enjoy Zenyatta as a race horse. What makes me really want to see her get beat, and why I am unable to enjoy her more, is her ridiculous rabid fans. The fact they seem to never look at anything objectively with her, and only see her through pink and teal colored glasses is quite annoying.

Don't forget that pink and teal colored glasses are really annoying in the first place.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by miraja2

It would be odd to dislike a horse like Zenyatta, but I have to admit that at least a part of me would be a little happy to see her lose, just because I would take some enjoyment from the pain and confusion this would cause her legion of worshipers. The same thing was true of Bernardini a few years ago. I didn't hate the horse, but his fans were freakin' annoying. I enjoyed watching Invasor running by the colt in the final strides of the BCC just because I knew that all of Bernardini's fans would be dumbfounded that such a thing had happened.

Also, like Chuck and others have said, it would be nice to see her (and Rachel this year) being placed in better races. I can't imagine how excited I would be for the Foster today if those two were both in there against Battle Plan, Blame, Duke of Mischief, General Quarters, etc. That would truly be a horse racing EVENT.

So will I enjoy watching her run this weekend? Yeah, probably a little. She's a good horse who runs her race EVERY time. It would be hard not to appreciate that. But it is tough to watch her knowing that each victory adds fuel to the ridiculous fire set by her fans, and that usually (the BCC and the Apple Blossoms being the exceptions) there is some other race I wished she had been entered in instead.

Okay I admit....I enjoyed that more than "a little."

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by miraja2

That's no joke.
I was living in NYC in '04. I'm a Dodger fan and an NL guy all the way so I didn't give a crap about the Sox or the Yanks, but living in New York when they blew that 3-0 series lead was wonderful. I fully enjoyed every single minute of the pain and humiliation all of the fans around me seemed to be experiencing.

Hey, don't be so hard on New York.

New Yorkers have David Patterson as Governor, Hillary Clinton as US Senator, and the fine workings of the NYRA for the betterment of horse racing.

Fuggetaboutit.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

I don't want to argue about the merits of the campaign that Sherriff and the Mosses have planned for her, or even if she is HOY material, I just want to know if any of Zenyatta's detractors enjoy watching her run? Irrespective of who she's racing against, can you at least appreciate watching her come from last and always managing to cross the finish first? Did you not at least say "Wow" when she won the BCC last year? That was an electrifying event. Can you not respect the fact that she (and Rachel as well) have brought new fans to this sport - maybe not people who will bet much and add to the pools - but the kind of people who will now have something positive to say about the sport of horse racing instead of being indifferent about the sport or worse. At the very least, have you not enjoyed having a single on your ticket these past few years when trying to hit the pick 6 at the southern California tracks?

Before you attack me as a "zennatard" or some other derogatory term, understand that I am a fan of Rachel Alexandra, Quality Road, Zenyatta, Summer Bird, and the list goes on - I am a fan of this sport and a fan of the horses that make this sport exciting and fun. I just want to know - can you appreciate watching Zenyatta race? I know I do.

Hi DC! Its not that the "Zenyatta detractors" dont like Zenyatta. It is CSC and Booth Operator who we do not like.. and they make it very hard to appreciate Zenyatta to the fullest. Blackthroat said it best in a previous thread.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Danzig

people who know i'm a race fan have never asked me about zenyatta, her win streak...but they question me about rachel, the t.c. races, and even knew who won the preakness.

any horse who wins a triple crown race is much more well known or popular with the non-racing folks. The Breeders Cup means nothing outside of the horse racing world. The Kentucky Derby means everything to the outside... and then they will watch the Preakness (especially when a filly is in it). If there is a TC try, then the masses will watch the Belmont...

No TC try, and noone cares about the Belmont either.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by miraja2

That's no joke.
I was living in NYC in '04. I'm a Dodger fan and an NL guy all the way so I didn't give a crap about the Sox or the Yanks, but living in New York when they blew that 3-0 series lead was wonderful. I fully enjoyed every single minute of the pain and humiliation all of the fans around me seemed to be experiencing.

I was in the city on a business trip in '04 at that time.. and yes I 100% agree.. it was wonderful.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Danzig

er, i wasn't comparing bernardini to skippy. i was saying that in the years since skip away retired, no one lost sight of all he accomplished, and his stature didn't diminish-if anything it grew. bernardini on the other hand....i doubt he gets much mention a few years down the road. he won't be one that later horses get measured by imo.

he's still in the very top few of best horses I've seen since starting to follow racing in 1996. (Skip away was the best though)

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Danzig

exactly! i'm just saying that a horse should really do a lot before they start getting a ton of accolades-and i don't think in hindsight that bernardini really deserved a lot of the praise he was given that year.

i respectfully disagree.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

I think he would've proven better than Curlin if given the opportunity.

agreed. I rate him above almost all winners of a TC race in 2000-2010. Point Given would rate with him.

I would not be embarrassed to say that PG and Bern > Afleet, Smarty, Street Sense, Rachel, Curlin, Rags, Funny Cide, War Emblem (a bum), Empire Maker, Barbaro (yes I said it!), etc.

[Indian Charlie]

Barbaro was the best 3yo of the 2000s, turf or dirt. At least in this country.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Barbaro was the best 3yo of the 2000s, turf or dirt. At least in this country.

I'll agree with that, especially on Turf. Kittens Joy was a joy to watch on Turf also.

Its hard and maybe unfair of me to rate Bernadini higher, as of course, there was no way to prove that.

Barbaro was a really good race horse...

In my opinion though, PG and Bern were the two best triple crown race winners in the decade.

[NTamm1215]

I think it's really tough to say Barbaro was the best of the decade on either surface. I'd certainly take Kitten's Joy before him on the weeds as a 3YO.

Barbaro was terrific but he also beat a future 20k claimer in the Holy Bull and a NY bred who never won a race again in the Fla Derby. His Derby was very strong but that ended up being an awfully weak field.

NT

[Thunder Gulch]

I think it was Smarty on the dirt.

Any of the ones mentioned would have had this year's crop by open lengths.

[slotdirt]

I don't think there are many folks who watched Barbaro run on turf who would put Kitten's Joy over him on that surface. Barbaro was probably the best American 2YO on turf, well, ever.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

I think it was Smarty on the dirt.

Any of the ones mentioned would have had this year's crop by open lengths.

I think Bernardini would have beat him.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I think it's really tough to say Barbaro was the best of the decade on either surface. I'd certainly take Kitten's Joy before him on the weeds as a 3YO.

Barbaro was terrific but he also beat a future 20k claimer in the Holy Bull and a NY bred who never won a race again in the Fla Derby. His Derby was very strong but that ended up being an awfully weak field.

NT

Barabaro was much better then KJ on turf IMO. On dirt he was not much and cought decent groups, at best decent.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Barabaro was much better then KJ on turf IMO.

This is up there on your list of gems.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Barabaro was much better then KJ on turf IMO. On dirt he was not much and cought decent groups, at best decent.

He completed three dirt races in his career, only two of which were on a fast track. Given the performance he turned in at CD - only his second start ever on a fast dirt surface - I think you are selling him a bit short here.

Unfortunately his career, although accomplished, will always remain one of the big what-ifs from the last decade of racing.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

This is up there on your list of gems.

Your right, I just looked at KJ pp's maybe I was selling him a bit short. His Belmont turf win as a 3yr old vs elders was STRONG.