This year is not what is being discussed. A couple of people have suggested that Stonestreet was somehow foolish for racing Rachel Alexandra in a demanding manner last season because it may have burned her out as a 4yo.

Actually, how many people thought Zenyatta would race in 2010 last fall? When did Charles Cella announce the $5 million purse, mid February or so?

Nobody said that Zenyatta isn't a formidable opponent, or even the most formidable opponent Rachel Alexandra will ever face...but does that mean Rachel Alexandra should have stayed in the barn at 3 to await a possible showdown?

No...because there wouldn't be talk of a showdown if Rachel Alexandra hadn't built up her reputation last spring and summer. Zenyatta would have run in the Ladies Classic and would be in a breeding shed somewhere right now...

I believe this year was discussed in reference ot getting ready on a momnet's notice ... I cvertainly did not bring up last year.

No one-- least of all me suggested anythinbg about Rachel staying in the barn at any time...

And no one knows for sure if Zenyatta would have run in the Ladies Classic as you suggest last year ...

I believe the AB matchup was at least several weeks before mid-February ..

It gave Rachel about 2 months for a prep race and the actual race ...

I really do not mind favoritism, but not at the expense of exaggeration free comments .

Do you have Asperger's?

Sorry. You quoted my earlier post so I took that to mean you were discussing its content, which had everything to do with 2009.

Again, people mentioned she was mismanaged. If that doesn't refer to her 2009 campaign then I guess the 6 month layoff was a bad idea?

If Rachel Alexandra wasn't a heavy favorite for HOY, it was highly likely Zenyatta would have been in the Ladies Classic.

Nope. February 4. At which time Jackson said she wouldn't be ready.

It gave her just over 1 month (that is, if you are allowing for a prep race).

What did I exaggerate exactly?

Do you have recto-cranial inversion ???

There may be therapy ...

Not to be nit-picky, but mid-Feb is not the first week ...

Jackson then changed his mind .

I would say " a moment's notice " is poetic license, if not exaggeration .

Elsewhere is speculation--which we all do--like Z would have been off to the breeding shed, if not for this year's " challenge " of beating Rachel .

They lost HOY, but as is said---HOY is not gotten with ONE race or beating ONE horse .

Is it difficult to consider that a five year old mare that may have been slated for the shed, looked too good to retire ??? And deserved another shot at HOY?

Had Z gotten HOY--I think she probably would have, but since she did not--all factors considered, it was not too much of a stretch to bring this very lightly raced, late maturing mare back at six to try for HOY---NOT necessarily to beat Rachel exclusively ...

No I don't.

Now answer my question, Corky.

OK bucko--here is the answer--no ...

But I have other more benign maladies -addictions to expensive breeches, Persian rugs, and old pottery ..

Thanks for your concern ...

Yes, that is nit-picky. Especially since you said it was "several weeks before" mid-February.

This was the instance where I'd agree Rachel Alexandra was mismanaged...in 2010.

It's called hyperbole. As you hint at by "poetic license", it is not meant to be taken literally.

I never said she came out of retirement strictly to face Rachel Alexandra. In fact, I basically said the same thing you just did when I said if Rachel Alexandra was a non-contender for HOY last year (eg by being "well managed"), Zenyatta would have won the award and rode off into the sunset...

Do you just make this stuff up? You make a statement at least provide some sound logic or fact for it.

I must be getting soft because reading this stuff just kind of rolls off my back now. You just had to know the excuse machine would be in full mode when they withdrew her from the Apple Blossom. Let's face it she had a very good prep, all systems were apparently all go with a month to fine tune her until JJ got cold feet because he is so concerned how history will look at Rachel if she lost again, the end result he doesn't run her. Too scared to win, too scared to lose.

Laughable. As if the converse (her running in the BC Classic was a foregone conclusion) was even remotely possible. She was cross-entered for both races, right? Considering how conservative and obvious they were campaigning her for the better part of 2 years, why would they stray from the straight and narrow if nothing was on the line?

How about the heavy politicing for HOY less than 24 hours after the race?

Shirreffs:

"She has a great shot to win the Ladies Classic, which has a very large purse. But the Classic is an opportunity to try to garner Horse of the Year honors, and to not run her when she’s doing so well would be a mistake."


"There was so much at stake," Shirreffs said. "All of the fans wanted to see her win and Horse of the Year was on the line."

[Shirreffs] noted that many East Coast-based writers, who are the ones who will decide the Horse of the Year question, got their first chance to see Zenyatta in person for the first time.

Were you reading at all? 10 Point's post is challenging the contention that Zenyatta only ran in the BC Classic because HOY was on the line, nothing regarding 2010 or the Apple Blossom is being debated at the moment.

Yeah, CSC, JJ really showed his ass here.

A real 'sportsman' would've run her back in the Blossom and taken a shot at the dual Breeders’ Cup champ … especially with 5000 large on the table.

Guy said he wasn't afraid to lose … until he lost … LOL

Time to lock this idiotic thread.

This.

Because they were certainly racing her all year as though conquering new worlds was their goal, or something that had even once crossed their mind.

Just once?

Riiiiight.

AMEN...I cringe when I see it at the top of the forum everyday. Same people making the same tired arguments while refusing to consider the other side's merits. Sounds like a bunch of politicians.

:tro: :tro: :tro:

What's great about your smugness is that of the 200-odd posts on this thread, you single handedly came up with the most idiotic post (your only contribution, of course--other than this final gem) of all:

I expect Zenyatta to lose [the Apple Blossom] anyway.

couldn't agree more...