I dont blame him, but you said yourself you were not sure she could be closer and still finish. He never really gave her the chance to be closer. For a split second I thought she was pulled up right at the start. I could not believe she was that far back.

what did he do wrong. He got steadied at the Q pole following the wrong horse, he had to wheel her out and lose 5 lengths, he didnt put her into the race quick enough. He did a multitude of things wrong and she still ran through him and was beaten a zap to boot. You don't give a horse that much to overcome, I cannot believe she was in the photo. Nearly any other horse would have folded it up, certainly any in that field would never have made a race of it if they had to put in the work she did.

If you watch the replay he wanted her closer early. He's scrubbing on her when she begins to drop back early. He said she didn't react well to the dirt hitting her in the face. He also said even though she had dealt with it before at Oaklawn, they were small fields. As they rounded into the backstretch she caught up with the field.

He rode a nearly flawless race. I guess it's nice he decided to take the blame, but he deserves none of it. No excuses are necessary. She ran her race and she fell just short. That's what happens when you run against good fields.

Smith did nothing wrong. She is what she is. She looked like a drunk down the stretch at Santa Anita last year and was miles behind. Being way back was not that much of a detriment looking at the race again. Dakota Phone was miles back in the dirt mile and won a photo. She lost. Blame was better but she ran a really good race. Blame was going to get the jump on her regardless in this race. He did just enough.

He didn't steady and he certainly didn't lose 5 lengths. Watch the replay again. If he tries to circle, she gets beat even more. He did everything he could. She just wasn't good enough to get up.

She doesn't need lame excuses. She ran well. Don't tarnish it with the excuses.

Then you need to watch the race again horseofcourse. Try the overhead

Yeah he steadied, and it was probably 7 not 5

That's an excuse - also saying the dirt in her face. I'm wondering why he's showing up at the interivew with his helmet and goggles - it's to prove she got dirt in her face?!~

Someone on another topic, and I can't find it, said Mike did nothing to warm up Zenyatta before the race. Too much PR and maybe not enough preparation? I think she should have done some of her works at CD instead of shipping her in a couple days before the race.

There are no excuses. She was valiant in defeat, Mike rode a very good ride (in my opinion). She lost. It's as simple as that. Shouda, woulda, coulda, and ifs just don't cut it.

Make it 15 while you are at it.

Get a clue bud

Can you please add Zenyatta and Rock Hard Joey to your list of horses you love in your avatar.... It would make me feel much better.

Did I really just read someone say that Zenyatta had 7 lengths of trouble?

How about if I put you on IGNORE. Wassamatter, can't deal with a difference of opinion?

Hoss said 15...

It was just an idea... A good one, but clearly you disagree.

What cost her was the start more than anything, she almost lost contact with the field to I guess not being used to getting kickback in her face from racing on synth's almost her entire career, the slight steady was more of an inconvenience that cost her momentum. When the difference is a head, she was simply not good enough to overcome it to a horse as good as Blame at CD, one thing we can be certain of from yesterday's race, Blame and Zenyatta were 3+ better than the rest of the field. Great race by both, no disgrace winning it or finishing 2nd, I keep hearing this was a brutal field but in all due respect this was the best dirt fields we have had in the past 2 years.

he was being facetious.

and yes, ateam, the bid says zenyatta had 7 lengths of trouble.

Take your own advice guy.

That really isn't saying much.

she didn't get much kick back, she wasn't close enough to experience it for much of the race.

a couple of horses were decent, but some of them were distance limited. the bulk of the field sucked.