Performance of the Weekend?

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Whats kinda sad is the predicament that her owners have put her in, if she loses many are going say "see I told you so", yet in reality its not all that easy for 6 year olds to win the Classic, its only happened a handful of times.

This could have been avoided quite easily.

She probably still jogs but you never know in horse racing.

Actually it has never happened.

Cigar and Pleasantly Perfect couldn't do it … and there were probably other decent 6yos along the way which have tried.

Gives you some idea of what Z is up against here...

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Actually it has never happened.

Cigar and Pleasantly Perfect couldn't do it … and there were probably other decent 6yos along the way which have tried.

Gives you some idea of what Z is up against here...

Hedging?

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Actually it has never happened.

Cigar and Pleasantly Perfect couldn't do it … and there were probably other decent 6yos along the way which have tried.

Gives you some idea of what Z is up against here...

Yeah, just a couple minor differences between Zenyatta and the horses you mentioned:

Cigar's BCC at 6 was his 8th race of the year, all against major league competition...and it was the 33rd race of his career. I'm not sure if the horses he faced in his last BCC would compete with this year's version though.

Pleasantly Perfect's campaign at age 6 began in February, included a Dubai trip(beating Medaglia d'Oro), and also the Pacific Classic. He also faced Roses in May(the following Dubai Classic winner) and Ghostzapper in the Classic.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by cakes44

Yeah, just a couple minor differences between Zenyatta and the horses you mentioned:

Cigar's BCC at 6 was his 8th race of the year, all against major league competition...and it was the 33rd race of his career. I'm not sure if the horses he faced in his last BCC would compete with this year's version though.

Pleasantly Perfect's campaign at age 6 began in February, included a Dubai trip(beating Medaglia d'Oro), and also the Pacific Classic. He also faced Roses in May(the following Dubai Classic winner) and Ghostzapper in the Classic.

Cigar had a very tough four wide trip on a gold rail in the Woodbine BC against a field that would crush this year's BC Classic crew. Louis Quatorze would be odds on in this Classic.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Cigar had a very tough four wide trip on a gold rail in the Woodbine BC against a field that would crush this year's BC Classic crew. Louis Quatorze would be odds on in this Classic.

Alphabet Soup was also wide in that race.

He only ran one time after winning the BC Classic ... a great 2nd to Gentlemen ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwrjjH6G7Ps


I remember sports channel showing a handicapping segment about the BC Woodbine's year claiming the rail was gold.

[cakes44]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Cigar had a very tough four wide trip on a gold rail in the Woodbine BC against a field that would crush this year's BC Classic crew.

Yes...I figured I laid the sarcasm so thick onto that one that I wouldn't have to use an emoticon. I'm not sure if anyone from this year's race would be able to split that field Cigar faced.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by cakes44

Yes...I figured I laid the sarcasm so thick onto that one that I wouldn't have to use an emoticon. I'm not sure if anyone from this year's race would be able to split that field Cigar faced.

Sorry....I should have realized that.

[NoLuvForPletch]

I thought Jaycito's performance was remarkable in light of the Mike Smith "Special" ride he got.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Actually it has never happened.

Cigar and Pleasantly Perfect couldn't do it … and there were probably other decent 6yos along the way which have tried.

Gives you some idea of what Z is up against here...

Horses to run in the BC at 6 (or higher) since 2000:
Awesome Gem 2009 52-1 7th
Student Council 2008 44-1 11th
Perfect Drift 2006 34-1 8th
Perfect Drift 2005 15-1 3rd
Pleasantly Perfect 2004 5/2 3rd
Azeri 2004 15-1 5th
Bowmans Band 2004 62-1 11th
A Fleets Dancer 2001 146-1 11th

See something in common here? All but Pleasantly Perfect in '04 were 15-1 or higher, and really most were much higher. Any horse that was good enough to compete in the BC that was intact was gone to stud before the age of 6 in 99.9% of cases (PP in '04 a notable exception.) Age isn't the factor that will get Zenyatta beat if she loses... it's the lack of shipping and/or quality competition on her lesser surface.

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by philcski

Horses to run in the BC at 6 (or higher) since 2000:
Awesome Gem 2009 52-1 7th
Student Council 2008 44-1 11th
Perfect Drift 2006 34-1 8th
Perfect Drift 2005 15-1 3rd
Pleasantly Perfect 2004 5/2 3rd
Azeri 2004 15-1 5th
Bowmans Band 2004 62-1 11th
A Fleets Dancer 2001 146-1 11th

See something in common here? All but Pleasantly Perfect in '04 were 15-1 or higher, and really most were much higher. Any horse that was good enough to compete in the BC that was intact was gone to stud before the age of 6 in 99.9% of cases (PP in '04 a notable exception.) Age isn't the factor that will get Zenyatta beat if she loses... it's the lack of shipping and/or quality competition on her lesser surface.

A more taxing campaign might've emptied the tank too much.

I think John has her right where he wants her.


By the way, think you meant 'superior' surface…

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

A more taxing campaign might've emptied the tank too much.

I think John has her right where he wants her.


By the way, think you meant 'superior' surface…

Of course. The path of least resistance has been taken by many all time great horses in the past. I will list them below:

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Actually it has never happened.

Cigar and Pleasantly Perfect couldn't do it … and there were probably other decent 6yos along the way which have tried.

Gives you some idea of what Z is up against here...

Yes they secretly add 15 pounds to the saddle of 6 year olds to try to encourage owners to retire horses early. It is the Breeders Cup after all.