I need to listen to ATR more often

[Thunder Gulch]

Zenyatta is a great horse. She is the best synthetic runner in the 5 year history of the synthetic track proliferation in the US. She proved that in the BC Classic by beating horses who largely specialized in dirt or turf. Where that SPECIALTY rates in the bigger picture is highly questionable. Until she beats a good field on dirt (Apple Blossom? Please), you can't start comparing her to the others who stand out in a 100+ year history of dirt racing. I still don't understand why people can't differentiate the two. How can you elevate synthetic superiority and not mention turf greats like Goldlikova or Ouija Board who went to battle with and defeat the best turf horses in the world multiple times?

[estreetposse]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

By the way, I think the double standard is ridiculous. Zenyatta is going to go back east twice this year and yet people don't think that is enough.

Some of the New York horses never came out west. If one did come out west twice in a year, that would be considered a very ambitious campaign. Yet Zenyatta going back east twice this year is not enough.

I guess Zenyatta needs to fly back east 3 or 4 times this year. That would be a really smart way to get her to peak on BC day, just keep flying her back and forth from California to the east coast.

Why would a trainer/owner want to run an eastern DIRT(the organic brown stuff) horse on tracks made out of rubber and a$$ lint? Zenyatta is great, in the BC she beat some 2nd string Euro turf horses and 1 or 2 actual DIRT(again, the organic brown stuff)horses. We all know what she has beaten in her other "glorified" allowance races so there is no need to try an argue that point anymore. There is no argument that she is not a very good horse with a decent career...but that is about all that it has been so far.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by estreetposse

Why would a trainer/owner want to run an eastern DIRT(the organic brown stuff) horse on tracks made out of rubber and a$$ lint? Zenyatta is great, in the BC she beat some 2nd string Euro turf horses and 1 or 2 actual DIRT(again, the organic brown stuff)horses. We all know what she has beaten in her other "glorified" allowance races so there is no need to try an argue that point anymore. There is no argument that she is not a very good horse with a decent career...but that is about all that it has been so far.

I wasn't talking about an east coast horse coing out west right now. I was talking about in past years when we used to have dirt.

[lemoncrush]

Zenyatta is a sensational story, and a great mare. My only problem with her connections is that they continue to cater to the California circuit by running her in the same races every year. Bringing her back this year, should have meant new challenges, not just another reason to have "Zenyatta bobblehead day" at hollywood park.

However, it's not her fault that california has synthetic tracks. Nor is it her fault that John Sherrifs doesn't have an operation like Assumussen or Pletcher where he can just easily send her to 10 different tracks in the country where they have stalls and assistants ready to take care of her.

But even the most ardent Zenyatta supporters have to be tired of watching her in these restricted races in California where the competition (usually) is subpar.

[Patrick333]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

By the way, I think the double standard is ridiculous. Zenyatta is going to go back east twice this year and yet people don't think that is enough.

Some of the New York horses never came out west. If one did come out west twice in a year, that would be considered a very ambitious campaign. Yet Zenyatta going back east twice this year is not enough.

I guess Zenyatta needs to fly back east 3 or 4 times this year. That would be a really smart way to get her to peak on BC day, just keep flying her back and forth from California to the east coast.

Some New York horses do go the Monmouth and Delaware. That's traveling isn't it?

[fantini33]

I'm late for whatever because of this thread....