Jackson passes on Belmont with Rachel Alexandra

[Handicappy]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Why? Why would one more race knock her out until October? This is ridiculous. How the hell do you say this with any certainty? No one gives a flying crap about the Haskell and Travers in the mainstream. We're all so damn excited when the Preakness ratings are up, then when they duck the last remaining nationally important race with the sound horse who brought those ratings, we applaud. This is ridiculous.

I know it does sound ridiculous but if you talk to enough trainers they will tell you the same thing. The series takes alot out of horses who are bred fragile anyway. Besides, she was dead on her feet in the win circle at the Preakness. It is the right decision for the horse and if it wasn't for Jackson, would have been made last week.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Handicappy

I know it does sound ridiculous but if you talk to enough trainers they will tell you the same thing. The series takes alot out of horses who are bred fragile anyway. Besides, she was dead on her feet in the win circle at the Preakness. It is the right decision for the horse and if it wasn't for Jackson, would have been made last week.

It clearly took a hell of a lot out of Curlin and Hard Spun two years back. They were never seen again, except for those 4 more combined graded stakes victories and 3 Grade I's in the summer and fall and 1-2 finish in the BC Classic.

[Handicappy]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

It clearly took a hell of a lot out of Curlin and Hard Spun two years back. They were never seen again, except for those 4 more combined graded stakes victories and 3 Grade I's in the summer and fall and 1-2 finish in the BC Classic.

Curlin's effort in the Haskel was his dullest effort all year. He rebounded with a sound effort in the jockey cup gold cup against Lawyer Ron. But his dull effort had to do with his difficulty rebounding from that triple crown series. Now Rachel may be able to handle it better than Curlin because she has alot more bottom to her than Curlin. She raced 6 times as a two year old. However, if Jackson could see a way to run her and win, he would obviously do it. A Belmont victory would stamp her as the greatest filly of all time in most fan's books. A place she may get to anyway. Hard Spun still amazes me. I still can't see how a horse could run those fractions for so friggin long.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Handicappy

Curlin's effort in the Haskel was his dullest effort all year. He rebounded with a sound effort in the jockey cup gold cup against Lawyer Ron. But his dull effort had to do with his difficulty rebounding from that triple crown series. Now Rachel may be able to handle it better than Curlin because she has alot more bottom to her than Curlin. She raced 6 times as a two year old. However, if Jackson could see a way to run her and win, he would obviously do it. A Belmont victory would stamp her as the greatest filly of all time in most fan's books. A place she may get to anyway. Hard Spun still amazes me. I still can't see how a horse could run those fractions for so friggin long.

I am not sure she is better then Rag too Riches

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Handicappy

Curlin's effort in the Haskel was his dullest effort all year. He rebounded with a sound effort in the jockey cup gold cup against Lawyer Ron. But his dull effort had to do with his difficulty rebounding from that triple crown series. Now Rachel may be able to handle it better than Curlin because she has alot more bottom to her than Curlin. She raced 6 times as a two year old. However, if Jackson could see a way to run her and win, he would obviously do it. A Belmont victory would stamp her as the greatest filly of all time in most fan's books. A place she may get to anyway. Hard Spun still amazes me. I still can't see how a horse could run those fractions for so friggin long.

Your Super filly while wonderful has never run a 110 beyer

[Handicappy]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Your Super filly while wonderful has never run a 110 beyer

Heh, she isn't MY super filly. But if she won the belmont on top of the Preakness she would go down as the greatest ever. And I am so amazed how many Beyer Speed supporters there are when it comes down to defending yourself in a debate. I loved Rags to Riches but felt jilted when she got injured in that race against Lears Princess and never ran again. Let's keep Rachel around awhile.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Handicappy

Heh, she isn't MY super filly. But if she won the belmont on top of the Preakness she would go down as the greatest ever. And I am so amazed how many Beyer Speed supporters there are when it comes down to defending yourself in a debate. I loved Rags to Riches but felt jilted when she got injured in that race against Lears Princess and never ran again. Let's keep Rachel around awhile.

Yeah Personal Ensign's would be second best to Rachel... Go watch her run down Winning Colors and let me know how great Rachel is.....

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Handicappy

Heh, she isn't MY super filly. But if she won the belmont on top of the Preakness she would go down as the greatest ever. And I am so amazed how many Beyer Speed supporters there are when it comes down to defending yourself in a debate. I loved Rags to Riches but felt jilted when she got injured in that race against Lears Princess and never ran again. Let's keep Rachel around awhile.

Wow. If she beat Mine That Bird again and a bunch of Derby washouts, she'd be the greatest ever?

And another terrible comparison in using Rags to Riches. Rags had what, one up the track start as a two-year-old in June? She had plenty of issues that Rachel doesn't have.

[asudevil]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Wow. If she beat Mine That Bird again and a bunch of Derby washouts, she'd be the greatest ever?

And another terrible comparison in using Rags to Riches. Rags had what, one up the track start as a two-year-old in June? She had plenty of issues that Rachel doesn't have.

You're not getting her on Belmont day....get over it! Ask Jerry Brown if he thinks she should run.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Handicappy

Heh, she isn't MY super filly. But if she won the belmont on top of the Preakness she would go down as the greatest ever. And I am so amazed how many Beyer Speed supporters there are when it comes down to defending yourself in a debate. I loved Rags to Riches but felt jilted when she got injured in that race against Lears Princess and never ran again. Let's keep Rachel around awhile.

surely not. it's a moot point anyway-but two races don't make a horse the greatest ever.

[Handicappy]

Originally Posted by Danzig

surely not. it's a moot point anyway-but two races don't make a horse the greatest ever.

Being that she would be the only Filly to have done that. Yes, those two races would have put her down as the greatest filly ever in most folks books. Maybe not yours but certainly in most people's books.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Handicappy

Curlin's effort in the Haskel was his dullest effort all year. He rebounded with a sound effort in the jockey cup gold cup against Lawyer Ron. But his dull effort had to do with his difficulty rebounding from that triple crown series.

You really should stop stating opinions as fact. He ran against a bias that day, and even if you think it was lingering effects from the TC, THE HORSE WAS BETTER IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER THAN IN THE SPRING. How the hell does his mediocre Haskell negate this?

[Handicappy]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

You really should stop stating opinions as fact. He ran against a bias that day, and even if you think it was lingering effects from the TC, THE HORSE WAS BETTER IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER THAN IN THE SPRING. How the hell does his mediocre Haskell negate this?

Most of what is talked about here are our opinions. The fact is it was 8 weeks until he raced again. The fact is that most opinions by folks more up on this than I believed that his effort was compromised by the grueling nature of running in the triple crown. You have a different opinion which I am sure you expressed loudly when Curlin passed on the Travers that year. I understand why they would want to pass on the Belmont. Whether it is for rest or due to the distance, your guess is as good as mine.

[MisterB]

I am shocked

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Handicappy

A Belmont victory would stamp her as the greatest filly of all time in most fan's books. A place she may get to anyway.

You have to be kidding me.

[Handicappy]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Are most fans morons, or just not old enough to have seen Ruffian, for openers, race?

I'll go out on a limb and declare that no serious, educated racing fan older than 40 or 45 would consider her the greatest female of all-time were she to have won the Belmont Stakes this year.

I'm not saying that it would not have been a monumental achievement, but lets keep our historical perspective.

This whole thread has become a bit silly. We don't have an "OUR historical perspective". We have our own.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Are most fans morons, or just not old enough to have seen Ruffian, for openers, race?

I'll go out on a limb and declare that no serious, educated racing fan older than 40 or 45 would consider her the greatest female of all-time were she to have won the Belmont Stakes this year.

I'm not saying that it would not have been a monumental achievement, but lets keep our historical perspective.

I am 34 and know that Azeri would bury RA. Not o mention the other fillies mentioned ie Ruffian.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

I am 34 and know that Azeri would bury RA. Not o mention the other fillies mentioned ie Ruffian.

please tell me that i'm reading this wrong-azeri would bury ruffian? or do you mean ruffian would bury rachel?

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Danzig

please tell me that i'm reading this wrong-azeri would bury ruffian? or do you mean ruffian would bury rachel?

RA= Rachel Alexandra.

I don't think Azeri would bury Ruffian but it is a nice match-up to imagine.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Danzig

please tell me that i'm reading this wrong-azeri would bury ruffian? or do you mean ruffian would bury rachel?

Ruffian would destroy RA as well I think.