Who Is Horse Of The Year?

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

Here's Ghostzapper's 4-race Horse of the Year campaign in 2004, which started in July:


Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (gr. I, 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.02, NTR, equal top weight, by 3, defeating Roses in May, Pleasantly Perfect, Perfect Drift, Azeri, Personal Rush, Birdstone, Dynever, Fantasticat, Funny Cide, Bowman's Band, Newfoundland, Freefourinternet).

Woodward S (gr. I, 1 1/8 miles, defeating Saint Liam, Bowman's Band, Seek Gold, Newfoundland, Midway Road, Presidentialaffair).

Tom Fool H (gr. II, 7 furlongs, top-weighted, by 41/4, defeating Aggadan, Unforgettable Max, Lion Tamer).

Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup H (gr. III, 1 1/8 miles, top-weighted, by 103/4, defeating Presidentialaffair, Zoffinger, Private Lap).


In 2004, Saint Liam was not an "established" horse, and the fields for the Tom Fool and Iselin were really weak. Considering the fact that she's a female, is Zenyatta's campaign substantively less?

I just don't get this notion that Zenyatta was somehow "obliged" to ship East. When Personal Ensign raced in 1988 (in races like the Molly Pitcher against modest fields), I don't recall anyone suggesting that she needed to ship to California to validate her campaign. (And, yes, they had planes back then also.)

So what other 8-8 horse that raced outside of the box all year long in ultra impressive fashion did Ghostzapper have to go up against on the west coast to solidify his claim as horse HOY?

[slotdirt]

I don't see how Ghostzapper is an apt comparison to either of these. Who else was really worthy of the award in 2004 given how brilliant those four races were? Funny Cide? Roses in May?

[philcski]

Originally Posted by kgar311

So what other 8-8 horse that raced outside of the box all year long in ultra impressive fashion did Ghostzapper have to go up against on the west coast to solidify his claim as horse HOY?

Smarty Jones

Originally Posted by Sightseek

6 or 7 countries?

Kentucky, California, New York, Chicago, Miami, Ireland, and London.

Weren't you paying attention?

[Antitrust32]

It would be interesting to get Phils, or Scotts opinion on this since he saw Rachel live in the Preakness and Zenyatta in the BC.. Scott was there for woodward, and BC..

What do you two think?

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

It would be interesting to get Phils, or Scotts opinion on this since he saw Rachel live in the Preakness and Zenyatta in the BC.. Scott was there for woodward, and BC..

What do you two think?

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[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by philcski

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would you be upset about co-HOY of the year? By the way that was some great steak we had!!!! and Scott seemed OK w/HOY. You guys are great and this was the year of the females no doubt about it. Give them both HOY and make everyone happy!!

[philcski]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

would you be upset about co-HOY of the year? By the way that was some great steak we had!!!! and Scott seemed OK w/HOY. You guys are great and this was the year of the females no doubt about it. Give them both HOY and make everyone happy!!

what a crew... ruth's chris is my absolute favorite joint
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d=317917410583

i'd be alright with a co-hoy. really the way it should be.

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by philcski

what a crew... ruth's chris is my absolute favorite joint
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d=317917410583

i'd be alright with a co-hoy. really the way it should be.

I can't argue with that Phil but the whole thing seems to be an oddity of the calendar. You and I walk out of Pimlico KNOWING we just saw a display of heart that we are unlikely to ever see again, and then she does it twice more that summer in races a 3 year old filly isn't supposed to run in let alone win. Z ran and won the last race. Does that mean it counts for 3?

While the cackling of experts were waving fists full of cash against her RA sent them all home indigent and poor. Now because she doesn't run a different surface in November somehow her success is distilled to simply good. Einstein runs grass, poly and dirt to Beyers > 100 while all the rest are respected for their Beyer > 100 wins run on their preference. Rachel runs on dirt but should clean up HOY voting...

[mclem0822]

As wonderful as Zenyatta's performance was in the Classic, and it was an epic thing of beauty, HOY should still go to Rachel Alexandra. The overall body of work by RA is just simply better. The number of different tracks she won one, along with the higher number of times she defeated males give her an advantage in my opinion. I'm not trying to take anything away from what Zenyatta accomplished, she's had a wonderful year with a storybook ending. I just believe Rachel Alexandra's year was better, and worthy of HOY.