Jerry Brown's letter to TDN on HOY discussion

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by sammy

Forget the surfaces. This is a no-brainer. R.A. is the better horse and she is H.O.Y. Period.

It's a no-brainer ... for people who are high on crack.

Granted, enough of the lemmings will likely vote for the Alexander filly to put her over the top for the HotY award … but there's no doubt as to which was the superior animal this year.


Does anyone actually believe that that 3yo filly could've held off the 5yo monster mare in a two-turn 9 or 10f affair on a fair dirt surface???

If so, you really need to step away from Jersey boy's bong for a while…

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

It's a no-brainer ... for people who are high on crack.

Granted, enough of the lemmings will likely vote for the Alexander filly to put her over the top for the HotY award … but there's no doubt as to which was the superior animal this year.


Does anyone actually believe that that 3yo filly could've held off the 5yo monster mare in a two-turn 9 or 10f affair on a fair dirt surface???

If so, you really need to step away from Jersey boy's bong for a while…

I don't understand why people just assume what would happen. A dirt surface would play more favorably to Rachel's running style, therefore she'd have a better chance. Not saying for sure she'd win, but it would be a close race.

People are letting their emotions get away with Zenyatta's Classic win. She's not invincible. Maybe she can run 112 beyers, but Rachel has proven herself capable of those numbers on a dirt track already.

[Smooth Operator]

When healthy horses are held out of world-class championship events we have no choice but to make assumptions, letswastemoney.


Unfortunately, despite her impressive achievements, RA never proved that she could handle a horse of Z's quality … or that she could stay the classic 10f distance.

Z was older and stronger and likely would've gotten to RA … even on a dry dirt surface, imo.

And I don't believe people are "letting their emotions get away" with Z. Her Classic was a powerful, impressive performance by any objective measure.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

When healthy horses are held out of world-class championship events we have no choice but to make assumptions, letswastemoney.


Unfortunately, despite her impressive achievements, RA never proved that she could handle a horse of Z's quality … or that she could stay the classic 10f distance.

Z was older and stronger and likely would've gotten to RA … even on a dry dirt surface, imo.

And I don't believe people are "letting their emotions get away" with Z. Her Classic was a powerful, impressive performance by any objective measure.

Wait, assumptions other than the one where her new owner said there was no way, no how, he was going to run her there? They were dodging nothing, they didn't want to run on a surface that is patently unkind to dirt horses...the classic type their star runner is.

And there is nothing to say Rachel wouldn't get 10f at all, which is a favorite trope of the Rachel bashers, but there's still little to even remotely think she couldn't get the distance.

Cue the Woodward with 9f scenarios infused into a 10f race responses.

It's really boring, for Christ's sake.

[Smooth Operator]

Lol … did the "new owner" conveniently forget about the race she won at Keeneland, spencer?

The guy made a BUSH-LEAGUE call to skip the championship event and I'd love to see it bite him in the ass.


And yeah, she can get 10 panels … hell, any horse can run that far. Question is … could she get the classic distance with a high-quality router like Z breathing down her throat in the lane?

HIGHLY unlikely, in my estimation…

[letswastemoney]

Cigar won a turf race or maybe two. Doesn't mean it was the right surface for him though. No one ever penalized Cigar for being only a dirt horse.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Lol … did the "new owner" conveniently forget about the race she won at Keeneland, spencer?

The guy made a BUSH-LEAGUE call to skip the championship event and I'd love to see it bite him in the ass.


And yeah, she can get 10 panels … hell, any horse can run that far. Question is … could she get the classic distance with a high-quality router like Z breathing down her throat in the lane?

HIGHLY unlikely, in my estimation…

Do you pay even the minimum amount of attention to understand that not every synthetic surface operates the same, Smooth?

I'd be more than willing to take a frontrunner to Keeneland under the right circumstances...why anyone would take one to Santa Anita is beyond me.

The guy made a perfect call given his runner's style and affinity for a certain surface, and the fact that he decided to skip the BC has no more bearing on his charge's talents than does the fact that they skipped the Beverly D. on the lawn this summer. More succinctly, he wants his dirt horse to run on dirt...where dirt horses run. Not on the turf, not on Pro-Ride, which plays just like turf and nothing like dirt, which is why you saw the best Grade I turf field assembled all year for the biggest "dirt" race of the year. Please.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

The guy made a perfect call given his runner's style and affinity for a certain surface, and the fact that he decided to skip the BC has no more bearing on his charge's talents than does the fact that they skipped the Beverly D. on the lawn this summer.

no effect on talent correct, but maybe should have an affect on an Eclipse Award?

Totally agree with this statement, though he played a little gamble when it came to the Eclipse Awards. He skipped the championship event and gambled that Zenyatta would not be good enough to win the classic (and lets face it just about ever pro capper was on his side on that call).

Now its a closer race. No way a east coast horse does not get the edge here, the media is in the east so that will be way to much for Zenyatta to overcome in a ballot deal.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Lol … did the "new owner" conveniently forget about the race she won at Keeneland, spencer?

The guy made a BUSH-LEAGUE call to skip the championship event and I'd love to see it bite him in the ass.


And yeah, she can get 10 panels … hell, any horse can run that far. Question is … could she get the classic distance with a high-quality router like Z breathing down her throat in the lane?

HIGHLY unlikely, in my estimation…

It's amusing to me why anyone would believe anything that comes out of the mouth of Jess Jackson, using that argument that just because the owner says a horse won't race in the Championships because of reasons for only he knows is a nonsensical argument, especially when one comes looking for year end honors. The fact is one horse was there and one wasn't, if you have the best horse racing or one that many claim to be, you better show up and defend your honor, no excuses, just race baby...Decide it on the track, Zenyatta did and she gets big props for doing so. She did, RA may have. I will go with DID everyday of the week rather than, coulda or woulda...

Good post.