Asmussen: No Rachel for Blossom

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by CSC

I wonder how our pal Kgar is handling it, Serotonin perhaps? I suspect there is abit of that flowing around here. Seriously I feel a bit sorry for all that bought into her supposed superiority over Zenyatta, based on one win in one of the weaker Woodward's in recent memory and obcourse the inflated win over Summer Bird in the Haskell. She did enough to win HOY, that's fine, I have no problem with the decision. Never had. However I never believed she was better than Zenyatta was, especially after what she did in the BC. Some of us cab adjust, reanalyse...If there is a silver lining in this, it did show just how devious Jess Jackson really is and secondly it showed just because a horse was a good 3 yr old, it isn't necessarily a sure thing they come back better at 4. It's not all rain and gloom around here.

I'm sorry.. but Rachel and Zenyatta have never raced against each other? You make it seem like one race off a huge layoff where she lost by a lenght makes her worse than Zenyatta, eventhough they still havent faced each other?

I'll tell you that you are correct only when Zenyatta beats Rachel head to head.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by CSC

If there is a silver lining in this, it did show just how devious Jess Jackson really is.

You're right, he's the devil in disguise.

NT

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

I'm sorry.. but Rachel and Zenyatta have never raced against each other? You make it seem like one race off a huge layoff where she lost by a lenght makes her worse than Zenyatta, eventhough they still havent faced each other?

I'll tell you that you are correct only when Zenyatta beats Rachel head to head.

I really don't want to rehash all of this again, but they did have a chance to resolve this in the Apple Blossom this time around, where only because of Zardana being in the field, wrecked what otherwise was as close to a perfect prep for her as possible. Adding on to the 3 weeks, 6 days of possible works leading up to the big race, it is a mystifying move by what some hailed as a sportsman last year. Optically having Jess Jackson pull out would indicate they don't like their chances. As for them ever meeting, we would all love to see this. Let's face it, if Jess doesn't believe she can win, it will never happen. And that is why they are not meeting in the Apple Blossom.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

You're right, he's the devil in disguise.

NT

NT, don't make me come back here and post, everyone is so happy when I am not around.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by CSC

I really don't want to rehash all of this again, but they did have a chance to resolve this in the Apple Blossom this time around, where only because of Zardana being in the field, wrecked what otherwise was as close to a perfect prep for her as possible. Adding on to the 3 weeks, 6 days of possible works leading up to the big race, it is a mystifying move by what some hailed as a sportsman last year. Optically having Jess Jackson pull out would indicate they don't like their chances. As for them ever meeting, we would all love to see this. Let's face it, if Jess doesn't believe she can win, it will never happen. And that is why they are not meeting in the Apple Blossom.

z will have other chances to face the HOY. I wonder if Moss will ship z across the country again only to scratch on raceday because of a little rain. It is a good thing z was scratched at CD last year, because RA's romp in the Kentucky Oaks would have entirely overshadowed whatever z would have done in the Louisville Distaff.

[letswastemoney]

Very few Zenyatta fans distinguish between dirt and synthetic races and assume they would all play out the same.

Zenyatta has 1 dirt win, and admittedly it was an awesome win with a 110 beyer over a champion Ginger Punch. Yes, she beat a champion that day, establishing her quality on both surfaces.

But nearly all of her races and wins have come on tracks that favor her running style with the exception of her thumping Ginger Punch.

I would not bet that she could win with that running style every single time if 90% of her races were on a dirt track, rather than the other way around.

[slotdirt]

I'd wager large amounts of money that Zenyatta would not be anywhere near undefeated had she ran her career on, say, Santa Anita's old dirt strip. Then again, if my uncle had lady parts, he'd be my aunt, so that thought doesn't seem particularly relevant to this discussion.

[2Hot4TV]

This has really got me thinking that if Zenyatta had been racing with Formula one cars she wouldn't have even broke her maiden, but then again if you shoved a jet engine in her a s s she's right back in the race and 15 for 15 with a short tail and shiney shoes.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Somehow I don't think Shirreffs is losing any sleep over this, AeWingnut


Picking off that filly (which STOLE the HotY trophy that your mare deserved) with your third-stringer … PRICELESS...

This post was almost awarded four trophies, but one was stolen......


I have the utmost of respect and admiration for Rachel Alexandra.

No doubt though that Zenyatta and her connections have managed to not miss a proverbial "Jerry Moss beat" in how they have managed her career and reputation.

I'm not sure how the "Rachel Alexandra was and is not ready" argument holds any water against the open planning and prep the Zenyatta team has done.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

Very few Zenyatta fans distinguish between dirt and synthetic races and assume they would all play out the same.

Zenyatta has 1 dirt win, and admittedly it was an awesome win with a 110 beyer over a champion Ginger Punch. Yes, she beat a champion that day, establishing her quality on both surfaces.

But nearly all of her races and wins have come on tracks that favor her running style with the exception of her thumping Ginger Punch.

I would not bet that she could win with that running style every single time if 90% of her races were on a dirt track, rather than the other way around.

At last count I knew there were 25+ world tracks racing on surfaces other than dirt.

Two in the racing history bastion of Kentucky, and two in California...a state with a decent racing history of racing legend of it's own.

Rachel Alexandra has won over a synthetic surface at Keeneland.

Zenyatta won a stakes over a dirt surface at Oaklawn.

And Zenyatta and her connections agreed to meet Rachel Alexandra and crew on their stated surface of "comfort" in the Apple Blossom on dirt. Rachel Alexandra's crew had 7 months between her early September Woodward Stakes win and the Apple Blossom. They could have certainly devised an effective training regimen for Rachel Alexandra to race at top ability by April of her four year old season.

If they really wanted to.


That "synthetic surface versus dirt surface" argument for Rachel Alexandra's connections does not hold water either.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

No doubt though that Zenyatta and her connections have managed to not miss a proverbial "Jerry Moss beat" in how they have managed her career and reputation.

Yep. A nice, slick, overdubbed, processed production lacking any sort of imagination, innovation, or heart.

Not to mention a whole bunch of payola to get airplay at the end of the year. Didn't win them the Grammy, though.

I'm not sure how the "Rachel Alexandra was and is not ready" argument holds any water against the open planning and prep the Zenyatta team has done.

What does one horse have to do with the other in terms of form and fitness?

This isn't some Us And Them battle. It's about two of the top horses in the same division actually butting heads for a change.

Frankly, it's pretty pathetic that both sides think that they're really going all out by agreeing to run in the same race together. They should be ashamed of themselves that they've stirred up all this BS, controversy, and straw-man theatrics that's taken most of the spotlight off the actual horses and put it onto their own withered, decayed, senile heads instead.

I laugh when people say this is "good for racing". If these decrepit old misers took 30 minutes to go on Youtube and punched in "Alysheba Bet Twice", "Alysheba Ferdinand", "Sunday Silence Easy Goer", or "Skip Away Formal Gold" or even "Silver Charm Free House" they'd see how much overwrought fanfare they've brought on for a mere baby step in the realm of sportsmanship.

A curse on both their stables.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

At last count I knew there were 25+ world tracks racing on surfaces other than dirt.

Two in the racing history bastion of Kentucky, and two in California...a state with a decent racing history of racing legend of it's own.

Rachel Alexandra has won over a synthetic surface at Keeneland.

Zenyatta won a stakes over a dirt surface at Oaklawn.

And Zenyatta and her connections agreed to meet Rachel Alexandra and crew on their stated surface of "comfort" in the Apple Blossom on dirt. Rachel Alexandra's crew had 7 months between her early September Woodward Stakes win and the Apple Blossom. They could have certainly devised an effective training regimen for Rachel Alexandra to race at top ability by April of her four year old season.

If they really wanted to.


That "synthetic surface versus dirt surface" argument for Rachel Alexandra's connections does not hold water either.

Sure they had 7 months in which they "could have" prepared, but that is also ignoring the fact that she may have needed the time. (If you recall, Zenyatta was also given 7 months off leading into 2009.) Also, and stated here repeatedly, Zenyatta was retired (though training beautifully) until the second week of January - so the target of the Apple Blossom for them to meet up wasn't stated until that time and Rachel had yet to post a work.

Nice post by Rollo above.

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

This post was almost awarded four trophies, but one was stolen......

Too kind

My other trophy was no doubt stolen by one of the half-cocked RA for HotY voters.



RA clearly took some fitness from her butt-whoppin' the other week.

They could've taken a shot at Z in Arky … lot of things in their favor ... but they chickened out.


Hell, I thought Jess said that he wasn't 'afraid to lose'.


Apparently not the case … LMAO

[Sightseek]

Look at it this way Booth, if Lucky Alexandra hadn't stolen Big Mama's trophy, the latter wouldn't be back for another year..

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Look at it this way Booth, if Lucky Alexandra hadn't stolen Big Mama's trophy, the latter wouldn't be back for another year..

Yes, but without Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta would have never started in the BC Classic, saving us all from the ridiculously overblown, and now overdone (see the torturous call for the Santa Margarita): "This! Is! Un ba leave a bowl!"

I sure hope she never runs at Santa Anita or Del Mar or the Breeder's Cup again.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Yes, but without Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta would have never started in the BC Classic, saving us all from the ridiculously overblown, and now overdone (see the torturous call for the Santa Margarita): "This! Is! Un ba leave a bowl!"

I sure hope she never runs at Santa Anita or Del Mar or the Breeder's Cup again.

Does anyone else get the impression that he kind of tapered the Un-buh-leave-a-bull off a bit towards the end in the Santa Margarita because he probably heard himself saying it and was like, holy s.hit, I can't use that again.

NT

[gamblin4ever]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Look at it this way Booth, if Lucky Alexandra hadn't stolen Big Mama's trophy, the latter wouldn't be back for another year..

I agree 100%. If Z wins HOY she's retired with "she has nothing else to prove"
but, since she lost HOY they keep her training to race another year.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Too kind

My other trophy was no doubt stolen by one of the half-cocked RA for HotY voters.



RA clearly took some fitness from her butt-whoppin' the other week.

They could've taken a shot at Z in Arky … lot of things in their favor ... but they chickened out.


Hell, I thought Jess said that he wasn't 'afraid to lose'.


Apparently not the case … LMAO

listen man you are getting your wish so far in this zen/rach thing but i think your bustin balls about the vote is way off base as is your acting like r.a. accomplishemnts on the track are trumped up..she did more in more places than zenyatta..period..zen is a nice horse also and deserves most of the accolades she gets . but make no mistake r.a. when right would be accross the finishline before her. in any number of types and distances. zen beat up on also rans in most of her crushing victorys. and most all in her cozy home track. r.a whipped ass on all comers for more time at more places and any gender.. just know that

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Yes, but without Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta would have never started in the BC Classic, saving us all from the ridiculously overblown, and now overdone (see the torturous call for the Santa Margarita): "This! Is! Un ba leave a bowl!"

I sure hope she never runs at Santa Anita or Del Mar or the Breeder's Cup again.

I was personally distraught that no horse was encouraged to sprout wings to catch her.

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by CSC

I wonder how our pal Kgar is handling it, Serotonin perhaps? I suspect there is abit of that flowing around here. Seriously I feel a bit sorry for all that bought into her supposed superiority over Zenyatta, based on one win in one of the weaker Woodward's in recent memory and obcourse the inflated win over Summer Bird in the Haskell. She did enough to win HOY, that's fine, I have no problem with the decision. Never had. However I never believed she was better than Zenyatta was, especially after what she did in the BC. Some of us cab adjust, reanalyse...If there is a silver lining in this, it did show just how devious Jess Jackson really is and secondly it showed just because a horse was a good 3 yr old, it isn't necessarily a sure thing they come back better at 4. It's not all rain and gloom around here.

How am I handling it? I would say I couldnt be happier with the race Rachel ran. I along with everyone else knew she was short for that race. She gains 150lbs, is off 6 months and is probably 50% fit going into the race. Zardana had been racing all along and probably peaked in that race and Rachel ran into a buzz saw and still only lost by a length. Id like to see Zardana in a couple months and she wouldn't even be able to see Rachel at the finish line. As far a Zenyatta goes, I still cant wait till the meet up and Rachel is at 100%, it wont even be a contest. Rachel doesnt lose again for the rest of the year guaranteed!!!