I hope they can get this done....

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

It would be foolish to bring Zenyatta for a race with Rachel at Belmont. The track favors horses with Rachel's style. It would take her out of her routine leading up to the Synthetic Breeder's Cup that was the year long goal. Best we can hope for is they both stay around for another year and meet up in Churchill's Breeders Cup.

How exactly does Belmont favor horses with Rachel's style?

[NTamm1215]

Yeah, I mean who wouldn't want to run Zenyatta, who has an incomprehensibly long stride and massive size, on the largest dirt track in North America?

NT

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

How exactly does Belmont favor horses with Rachel's style?

It's dirt, not plastic.

[freddymo]

Not sure how or why the purse means anything to anyone other then the trainers.. You can't make the purse much more then a mil because then it could be viewed as overwhelming the BC Distaff which is suppose to be the Championship.

NYRA needs to get this done..They will get 65k at the gate if they pull this off

[SOREHOOF]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

How exactly does Belmont favor horses with Rachel's style?

Belmont favors speed. Especially controllable speed. Belmont is not typically a closers paradise.

[Pedigree Ann]

Northern Dancer bred some larger mares, even though he was vertically challenged himself. I think he had a ramp for help with altitude. Unfortunately, 'fish and fowl' matings (those with parents from extreme ends of the spectrum) often end up one or the other, not the average. She probably needs an 'average' sized mate to keep her baby from being so big it won't fit in the gate.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

Belmont favors speed. Especially controllable speed. Belmont is not typically a closers paradise.

Any numbers to back up this mammoth generalization or is this just anecdotal? Aside from the old Keeneland dirt, I don't recall many tracks being historically biased. Certainly not Belmont.

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

How exactly does Belmont favor horses with Rachel's style?

i had to wonder the same thing. the sweeping turn is perfect for zenyatta. if anything, belmont is probably the closest thing to a neutral site. the motivation is that zenyatta has got to win in something other than whats shes been in. unless she wins the classic(even that might not be enough), rachel will be horse of the year. won the oaks by 20. ran in the preakness, beat the boys. shipped to belmont, won by 20 again. beat the boys again in the haskell. i believe shes raced on 5 tracks now and won and her season isn't even fininished. who knows what she will accomplish next. if things go right for her! meanwhile zenyatta beats that same sorry division out there, sometimes barely. the owner almost has to make a move because rachel accomplishments are beginning to overshadow anything seen in recent history. plus the fact, we the fans, deserve this race for supporting thoroughbred racing. years ago they made it happen. even when horses were shipped by train, for crying out loud! this could make the whole year for racing, its a shame if it doesn't!

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by johnny pinwheel

this could make the whole year for racing, its a shame if it doesn't!

You know how many times I have said that as a racing fan? Needless to say I dont think like that anymore, its not worth it.

[tector]

Originally Posted by johnny pinwheel

i had to wonder the same thing. the sweeping turn is perfect for zenyatta. if anything, belmont is probably the closest thing to a neutral site. the motivation is that zenyatta has got to win in something other than whats shes been in. unless she wins the classic(even that might not be enough), rachel will be horse of the year. won the oaks by 20. ran in the preakness, beat the boys. shipped to belmont, won by 20 again. beat the boys again in the haskell. i believe shes raced on 5 tracks now and won and her season isn't even fininished.

6 tracks (in 6 different states): OP, FG, CD, PIM, BEL, MTH--and very likely a 7th track within two weeks or so.

The contrast with the Boring Crusade mounted by those dullards in California could not be greater. They are going to snooze their mare out of HOY consideration.