HOTY: If Zenyatta wins the Classic...

[Getaway]

Before today I felt that even if Zenyatta was to win the Classic, HOY should still go to RA, but after that performance I saw today by Zenyatta, it would be an absolute crime if she didn't win. She showed up on the biggest day and ran huge. I wrote her off on the turn and she came up with a way to win. HOY.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Getaway

Before today I felt that even if Zenyatta was to win the Classic, HOY should still go to RA, but after that performance I saw today by Zenyatta, it would be an absolute crime if she didn't win. She showed up on the biggest day and ran huge. I wrote her off on the turn and she came up with a way to win. HOY.

Rachel Alexandra was the best choice for HOY prior to the running of The Classic, where incidentally most people in horseracing know when championships are decided, leaving room for extraordinary performances. I wouldn't say RA lost HOY today but rather Zenyatta earned it. What she did today was the most significant event of any race this decade.

[DaTruth]

Zenyatta's performance was awesome, but she beat a turf field today. Once you factor out MTB and Summer Bird from the equation, Zenya's opponents in the Classic had ZERO Grade 1 wins on dirt and TWO Grade 1 wins on artificial surfaces this year. What Zenyatta beat was basically the same type of field that would assemble if the BC had a 10 furlong turf race.

[eajinabi]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

Zenyatta's performance was awesome, but she beat a turf field today. Once you factor out MTB and Summer Bird from the equation, Zenya's opponents in the Classic had ZERO Grade 1 wins on dirt and TWO Grade 1 wins on artificial surfaces this year. What Zenyatta beat was basically the same type of field that would assemble if the BC had a 10 furlong turf race.

Who does Zenyatta have to beat to get her repsect? Macho Again??
She won fair and square and she did not toil or struggle in victory. She had more than enough in the tank after crossing the finish line. Please give credit where and when its due.

RA and their connections know where zenyatta is and if they like to settle it on the track then let it be.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by eajinabi

Who does Zenyatta have to beat to get her repsect? Macho Again??
She won fair and square and she did not toil or struggle in victory. She had more than enough in the tank after crossing the finish line. Please give credit where and when its due.

RA and their connections know where zenyatta is and if they like to settle it on the track then let it be.

Leaving California would have been nice. But I suppose racing all of four times until today and beating up on the likes of Lethal Heat, Briecat and Anabaa's Creation was just too taxing.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

Leaving California would have been nice. But I suppose racing all of four times until today and beating up on the likes of Lethal Heat, Briecat and Anabaa's Creation was just too taxing.

If Zenyatta is only a nose better than Anabaas Creation, as was almost a punchline to a joke around here two months ago, how much would she have beaten Gio Ponti by? Just saying.

[copying]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

Leaving California would have been nice. But I suppose racing all of four times until today and beating up on the likes of Lethal Heat, Briecat and Anabaa's Creation was just too taxing.

You forgot to mention Life is Sweet in that list. Sherriffs should have had the Classic exacta instead of the Classic/Classic double.

The question shouldn't have been "should Zenyatta be in the Ladies Classic?"
The question should have been "should Sherriff's second-stringer, Life is Sweet be in the Classic?"

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by copying

You forgot to mention Life is Sweet in that list. Sherriffs should have had the Classic exacta instead of the Classic/Classic double.

The question shouldn't have been "should Zenyatta be in the Ladies Classic?"
The question should have been "should Sherriff's second-stringer, Life is Sweet be in the Classic?"

She probably would have finished second in the Classic ahead of all those turf horses.

[copying]

RA is a nice little filly. We all know what Z does to nice little fillies....

[eajinabi]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

Leaving California would have been nice. But I suppose racing all of four times until today and beating up on the likes of Lethal Heat, Briecat and Anabaa's Creation was just too taxing.

I pose the same question to RA. Why is she staying in the east coast??
Fact is Zenyatta stepped up and ran and WON in the biggest race of the year and RA connections opted to stay put and now what was a sure HOY for RA is now totally up for grabs between them.

Zenyatta is a true 10-11 furlong horse and what you describe as near win against Lethal Heat, and Briecat etc is actually Zenyatta barely going full stride to win those races. If those F&M races she won this year were run at 10 furlongs then Zenyatta wins by 5 plus lengths.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by eajinabi

I pose the same question to RA. Why is she staying in the east coast??
Fact is Zenyatta stepped up and ran and WON in the biggest race of the year and RA connections opted to stay put and now what was a sure HOY for RA is now totally up for grabs between them.

Zenyatta is a true 10-11 furlong horse and what you describe as near win against Lethal Heat, and Briecat etc is actually Zenyatta barely going full stride to win those races. If those F&M races she won this year were run at 10 furlongs then Zenyatta wins by 5 plus lengths.

RA did not stay on the East Coast. She dominated horses at Fair Grounds, Oaklawn Park, and Churchill Downs. While RA was racing in Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and New York, Zenyatta left the comfort of LA to travel 120 miles down the road to San Diego.

Of the 19 top Beyers this years for dirt races over a mile, RA owns 5 of them. You can't find Zenyatta on this list with a searchlight.

Zenyatta's late rally was impressive, but then again, most turf races end in such fashion. No wonder turfers Gio Ponti and Twice Over felt right at home.

[alysheba4]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

RA did not stay on the East Coast. She dominated horses at Fair Grounds, Oaklawn Park, and Churchill Downs. While RA was racing in Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and New York, Zenyatta left the comfort of LA to travel 120 miles down the road to San Diego.

Of the 19 top Beyers this years for dirt races over a mile, RA owns 5 of them. You can't find Zenyatta on this list with a searchlight.

Zenyatta's late rally was impressive, but then again, most turf races end in such fashion. No wonder turfers Gio Ponti and Twice Over felt right at home.

zenyatta would go by RA at 10 furlongs on dirt,turf,syn,or glass........stevie wonder could see that.

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by eajinabi

I pose the same question to RA. Why is she staying in the east coast??
Fact is Zenyatta stepped up and ran and WON in the biggest race of the year and RA connections opted to stay put and now what was a sure HOY for RA is now totally up for grabs between them.

Zenyatta is a true 10-11 furlong horse and what you describe as near win against Lethal Heat, and Briecat etc is actually Zenyatta barely going full stride to win those races. If those F&M races she won this year were run at 10 furlongs then Zenyatta wins by 5 plus lengths.

RA is a dirt horse....

the synthetics would eat her speed and throw her to the back like Careless Jewel, D Funnybone, and other dirt horses who couldn't cut it on this surface.

It's not a fair comparison in my opinion. I once suggested there should be a separate dirt and synthetics eclipse award. I don't think people here agreed with me.

Dirt races have always been the standard before synthetics came along. It's only when there wasn't a clear cut dirt champion that a turf horse or female or 2 year old got HOY.

So why shouldn't dirt races take preference over synthetic races as well?

[eajinabi]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

RA is a dirt horse....

the synthetics would eat her speed and throw her to the back like Careless Jewel, D Funnybone, and other dirt horses who couldn't cut it on this surface.

It's not a fair comparison in my opinion. I once suggested there should be a separate dirt and synthetics eclipse award. I don't think people here agreed with me.

Dirt races have always been the standard before synthetics came along. It's only when there wasn't a clear cut dirt champion that a turf horse or female or 2 year old got HOY.

So why shouldn't dirt races take preference over synthetic races as well?

As they say: Great horses do not need to take thier track with them.

Careless Jewel already won on synthetics before but lost because of the knucklehead jockey who thought he was on Secratariat and went :23 :45 and 1:09. D'funnybone had no published workout nor raced on synthetics I agree but he also never raced two turns nor does his pedigree scream out route. Maybe that had something to do with his demise.

[Revidere]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

Leaving California would have been nice. But I suppose racing all of four times until today and beating up on the likes of Lethal Heat, Briecat and Anabaa's Creation was just too taxing.

Not as taxing as beating Bullsbay, D'tara, Flashing and Malibu Prayer

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Revidere

Not as taxing as beating Bullsbay, D'tara, Flashing and Malibu Prayer

Winners of the Whitney (G1), Test (G1), and Chilukki (G2)? Doesn't really bolster your argument.

NT

[Revidere]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Winners of the Whitney (G1), Test (G1), and Chilukki (G2)? Doesn't really bolster your argument.

NT

Careful there. I love Rachel. I'm just throwing back those 89 beyer numbers that her opponents got in their other wins back at everyone that has dissed Zenyatta for being too slow.

See?