Why retire her?

[lemoncrush]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I don't think it's a "slam-dunk" that she will be retired. Once they have more time to think about it, I think there is a decent chance that they will change their minds. If I had to make a line on it, I'd say there is a 30% chance they change their minds and decide to run her next year.

By the way, she's not going to a farm in Kentucky right now. She's heading back to California to Hollywood Park. That will make it even easier for them to change their minds.

If Zenyatta would have won the Classic, I don't think there is any chance that they would have run her again. But since she lost (and the connections feel she was best and should have won), they may want to give it another try next year.

I don't see an upside to bring her back at 7, especially if it's just to appease the California fans, and try to win the vanity or lady's secret for the 16th time. If they were interested in running in the SA handicap, Hollywood gold cup, or an open company G1 outside of California I would be interested. Hell, try her on the turf. Anything but the same campaign as 2010.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

I don't see an upside to bring her back at 7, especially if it's just to appease the California fans, and try to win the vanity or lady's secret for the 16th time. If they were interested in running in the SA handicap, Hollywood gold cup, or an open company G1 outside of California I would be interested. Hell, try her on the turf. Anything but the same campaign as 2010.

Would the campaign of 2009 suit you?

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

I don't see an upside to bring her back at 7, especially if it's just to appease the California fans, and try to win the vanity or lady's secret for the 16th time. If they were interested in running in the SA handicap, Hollywood gold cup, or an open company G1 outside of California I would be interested. Hell, try her on the turf. Anything but the same campaign as 2010.

I can guarantee you that they are very frustrated right now. They wanted to win the Classic again and they wanted to win HOY and they're not going to get either. I think they believe in their hearts that if that race was run over again that she would win. It's frustrating when you feel you had the best horse but you got beat because of the trip (not being used to the dirt in her face and having to tap on the brakes turning for home). Whether they are correct about this is irrelevant but that is definitely what they think.

If they brought her back next year, it would definitely be a different campaign. The final goal would be the BC Classic but I think they would also run her at least once (and possibly twice) in other big races back east such as the Stephen Foster and/or the Whitney, etc.

The main goal of bringing her back would be to win HOY.

[Danzig]

lol
they could have avoided all that had they done what they said they were going to do this year. had she run/won just once in open company in cali, her loss by a head in the bc wouldn't keep her out of hoy. whether the big cap, the pac classic, hollywood gold cup..
but no, they had to chase the win streak.



thing is, it seems more, not less horses are able to lay down win streaks lately. citation did it decades ago, then mr frisky and cigar tied him-shortly followed by hallowed dreams and then peppers pride who passed them- she just retired a couple years ago. now zenyatta tied her, with azeri just having a dozen in a row not long before. they lost the war, again, with the same ho hum campaign. someone remind me the definition of insanity?

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I can guarantee you that they are very frustrated right now. They wanted to win the Classic again and they wanted to win HOY and they're not going to get either. I think they believe in their hearts that if that race was run over again that she would win. It's frustrating when you feel you had the best horse but you got beat because of the trip (not being used to the dirt in her face and having to tap on the brakes turning for home). Whether they are correct about this is irrelevant but that is definitely what they think.

If they brought her back next year, it would definitely be a different campaign. The final goal would be the BC Classic but I think they would also run her at least once (and possibly twice) in other big races back east such as the Stephen Foster and/or the Whitney, etc.

The main goal of bringing her back would be to win HOY.

I think the best thing about her loss is that this could become a reality. The BCC results last Saturday confirm to her connections that she is competitive against open company on the dirt. Maybe that will encourage them to give it another go in '11 since they don't have a winning streak to protect anymore. She wouldn't have to go unbeaten next year to win HOY if she's given a campaign that's a bit more ambitious than '10. And as much as I've been a Z doubter, I think she could prove herself deserving of HOY next year if given the chance.