He has no shot (for HOY).

only if he becomes Mr. Ed and gives a post race interview....

HOY is a lady yea ,yea she's a lady, hopefully she runs next year....

If many other European horses have been able to come here and win championships off of one race, I don't understand why people think it's such a dumb idea to suggest Sea the Stars should be considered. Arazi was not only named champion 2yo but was also one of the three finalists for HOY in 1991 and that was after winning the Juvenile. Singspiel was named turf champion in 1996 even though he never won a race in this country. As long as the only criteria is that a horse must have started at least once in North America, if Sea the Stars were to come over and win, he'd get my vote. If you think Rachel is the best horse, then vote for her. But to me, it would be stupid if you believe that Sea the Stars is the best, that you would not vote for a horse that is qualified.

i'd have to go back and look at the other candidates for the years mentioned, but i think euros generally only get more attention in years when we don't have viable candidates for hoy. this year is far from that scenario.

as for people talking about zenyatta in the classic, don't get your hopes up. and as for beating 'the birds', mine that bird hasn't won since may-just how good is he really, when he's yet to back up what is looking more and more like a fluke win? and beating summer bird and mine that bird puts you on par with rachel, not ahead of her.

It is time for you to become born again it is the only thing that is going to save you. King you need salvation! What does the fact that Sea the Star would crush Rachel at 11f's on the grass at Leopardstown have to do with HOY? He isn't getting within 4 lengths of her at 7f's on dirt so who cares if he would beat her around 4 turns and thru the woods at Longchamps?

Can she beat him going 10 on dirt?
That's a question that Tiznow answered twice.

Zenyatta's main competition in the Classic will come from European horses with strong turf form, not from "the birds". Zenyatta could easily finish further ahead of Mine That Bird in the Classic than Rachel did in the Preakness. I would take Einstein (who has proven synthetic form and won the Big Cap at Santa Anita) to finish ahead of "the birds".

I think so.. i have no reason to believe a grass horse is going to be exceptional on dirt

why? Have there not been plenty that have excelled on both? In this decade alone, would it be safe to say that Dubai Millenium, Sakhee and Giants Causeway excelled on the dirt?

Sea of Stars may very well hate the dirt, but why is there no reason to believe he could excel?

This thread took a turn for the outlandish and unbelievable days ago.

The difference is this year you have Rachel Alexandra in one corner.. back then you had Diplomatic Jet, Mecke, Sandpit, Talloires etc..

A victory in the BC Classic isn't going to rival all of RA's accomplishments...

Haskin sums up her accomplishments great in the article. The only filly or mare to EVER win 3 Grade 1 races against the other gender in one year.

There is absolutely no way that any horse besides Rachel Alexandra is Horse of the Year this year...

:tro: :tro: :tro:

The point is being missed here. I fully understand that Rachel has locked up the title and she is a deserving candidate. The question that isn't answered though is a different one. Is she the BEST horse to run in this country this year. This gets to the point that the criteria needs to be changed. As long as it's what it is, it doesn't make sense that the best horse may not win the award. If Sea the Stars beats Zenyatta or vice versa, I would feel that the winner is the best horse to have raced in America this year and that's who'd get my vote. I don't see why it should matter what other viable candidates there are. Arazi can be a finalist but Sea the Stars can't be? Doesn't matter if there are 100 candidates worthy. The award should go to the best horse as long as that horse qualifies and the rules say one start qualifies.

without a doubt...

YES

it's not called horse of the bcc, but horse of the year.

i still don't get why everyone is talking about a matchup with zenyatta in the classic. does anyone really think she'll run there?

i agree, emphatically.

Rachel is done for probably good. Sea the Stars could come over here and win the Classic by a pole and still not get many votes for HOY. He has no shot for HOY. What the heck does one race on the phoniest of surfaces prove, when after all, Richard's Kids just took down what will be just about as good a group of horses as this year's Classic will be??

Rock Hard- You really are stretching it with this one. The Quality Road thing was at least readable. Are you forgetting all the Grade 1's Rachael has won this year?

The only other conceivable horse to even talk about for this award is Gio Ponti but turf horses hardly ever win this. What if he were to win on October 3rd at Belmont, then go on and win either the BC Turf or Classic?

Forgive me if this is a stupid question as I'm not as versed in all of this as the rest of you; but shouldn't a Horse of the Year award be based on what a horse has accomplished in that year? Why would the outcome of one race, even if it's a Breeders Cup race change that?

If the "best horse to have raced in America" is the sole factor, does this have to be the best horse in America at 10 furlongs on dirt/poly? What about the sprinters. I'd like to see Sea the Stars race Fabulous Strike at six furlongs on dirt.