Rachel Alexandra (116 Beyer for Haskell)

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Scav

She has won over a synthetic before, pretty impressively, if she is healthy, she should run in the BC, and quite possibly in the Classic.

Steve Asmussen horses don't run on synthetics.

I don't care what she did on synthetic tracks for other trainers - I will do cart wheels to bet against her on a synthetic track right now.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Steve Asmussen horses don't run on synthetics.

I don't care what she did on synthetic tracks for other trainers - I will do cart wheels to bet against her on a synthetic track right now.

You mean Asmussen de-Polyd her in 3 months? How does that work?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by GBBob

You mean Asmussen de-Polyd her in 3 months? How does that work?

His training methods - his shoes - his feeding program - maybe he forgets to clean their teeth ... how should I know?

The stats are overwhelmingly bad though.

It has nothing to do with Pyro's Blue Grass or Curlin's Breeders Cup Classic - or Asmussen's 4-for-73 with 23 straight beaten favorites at PID - it's based on a very large sample size. So long as the races aren't baby races at 4.5 furlongs - his horses tend to disgrace themselves over it.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

His training methods - his shoes - his feeding program - maybe he forgets to clean their teeth ... how should I know?

The stats are overwhelmingly bad though.

It has nothing to do with Pyro's Blue Grass or Curlin's Breeders Cup Classic - or Asmussen's 4-for-73 with 23 straight beaten favorites at PID - it's based on a very large sample size. So long as the races aren't baby races at 4.5 furlongs - his horses tend to disgrace themselves over it.

I agree on your Asmussen/Poly angle..I just think it would have more merit if he had more than 3 months to mess her up.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I agree on your Asmussen/Poly angle..I just think it would have more merit if he had more than 3 months to mess her up.

Try six months.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Try six months.

Wouldn't you like the chance to be proven right?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by GBBob

Wouldn't you like the chance to be proven right?

Putting myself in the connections shoes - I wouldn't even have run her in the Haskell .. she'd have been in the Del Cap or got another chance for a 20 length Grade 1 against the great Funny Moon.

Putting myself in Asmussen's shoes regarding synthetic tracks ... it's like a new bar comes to town and every time you go there - someone takes you outside and kicks your ass. After that happens enough you avoid the place.

But yeah, I'd like to bet against her. Sure. But as a fan, I don't want to see her embarassed.

[freddymo]

I hope she blows off the BC Cup.. They have no business running at SA back to back.. They should let the Euro's come and blow away all the crap that we have here for Poly/Pro Ride. Save Zenyatta who cares how well Dry friggin Martini runs in the BC Classic. I am looking more forward to the BC jumps in Far Hills in October then I am the friggin 2 year old turf race... Seriously a 2 year old turf championship race.. Bob has there been a two year old significant turf race in the US this year yet? It's August

If someone was smart at NYRA they would hook a big time sponsor for 3mil race and get Zenyatta and Rachel together..maybe even throw in a few colt slugs to fill the field. race it at Belmont in late Sept. and make the BC an afterthought.. Obviously the NTRA would punish NYRA and the next time they got the BC would be 2000 and dead.

[justindew]

Part of me would love to see Rachel Alexandra skip the Breeders' Cup and run somewhere else on the same day. Then I'd like to see the Breeders' Cup go away forever, and have its disappearance somehow attributed to Rachel Alexandra skipping it.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by justindew

Part of me would love to see Rachel Alexandra skip the Breeders' Cup and run somewhere else on the same day. Then I'd like to see the Breeders' Cup go away forever, and have its disappearance somehow attributed to Rachel Alexandra skipping it.

Would really suck for the horses that skipped the BC to point for the Ack Ack.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by justindew

Part of me would love to see Rachel Alexandra skip the Breeders' Cup and run somewhere else on the same day. Then I'd like to see the Breeders' Cup go away forever, and have its disappearance somehow attributed to Rachel Alexandra skipping it.

There is nothing wrong with the Breeders Cup concept.

Few things are as correct as the BC concept imo.

The problem is the people who run the Breeders Cup.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by justindew

Part of me would love to see Rachel Alexandra skip the Breeders' Cup and run somewhere else on the same day. Then I'd like to see the Breeders' Cup go away forever, and have its disappearance somehow attributed to Rachel Alexandra skipping it.

As many problems as the BC admittedly has, anyone who complains about why horse racing is so fractured and can't gain any national traction, probably should look to you for an answer. Taking your toys and running away won't solve anything, but all the dirt lovers who insist they love racing lose all credibility when they promote splintering what little base we have. No one outside the industry will notice if RA doesn't run in the BC, but if promoted in the right way, a whole lot more of the public would be aware if she did run.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by GBBob

As many problems as the BC admittedly has, anyone who complains about why horse racing is so fractured and can't gain any national traction, probably should look to you for an answer. Taking your toys and running away won't solve anything, but all the dirt lovers who insist they love racing lose all credibility when they promote splintering what little base we have. No one outside the industry will notice if RA doesn't run in the BC, but if promoted in the right way, a whole lot more of the public would be aware if she did run.

My problem with the BC really has nothing to do with the dirt/synthetic issue. It's what the BC has done to the entire racing calendar that bothers me.

[randallscott35]

I wouldn't be surprised if she matched her Oaks number with that effort in terms of Thorograph. It was that good. I was more impressed with this race than the Oaks actually.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by justindew

My problem with the BC really has nothing to do with the dirt/synthetic issue. It's what the BC has done to the entire racing calendar that bothers me.

That's a different and legitimate conversation. I fear I am veering into stubborness showed by a rare few over this, but I can't help myself. Horse racing's best interests are served by RA running in a BC race...there is no minute agenda that can overcome this big picture reality.

I have spoken

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by GBBob

That's a different and legitimate conversation. I fear I am veering into stubborness showed by a rare few over this, but I can't help myself. Horse racing's best interests are served by RA running in a BC race...there is no minute agenda that can overcome this big picture reality.

I have spoken

I really think you are overestimating the promotability of the BC to non-racing fans.

[SniperSB23]

I'd rather see Golidkova, Zenyatta, and Rachel square off in the BC Mile than any of them race on the synthetic. At least on the turf they'd prove something on a surface with historical significance.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I really think you are overestimating the promotability of the BC to non-racing fans.

And I really think you are underestimating the potential of RA to non-racing fans..If it wasn't her specifically I wouldn't take up this fight, but racing as an industry has waited forever for a real positive to market the sport and all the hatred of you know what should take a back seat for what is best for the sport. Mr and Mrs Joe Blow won't know what surface she is running on, but if The Today Show has a feature on her, and if marketed right they would, then they just might watch...and that's a start. We are all way too close to the industry sometimes to take a step back and realize our biggest star not running in our second biggest race can't be a good thing.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I really think you are overestimating the promotability of the BC to non-racing fans.

True.

I was at the Breeders Cup last year.

Seriously, I heard at least five or six people who were obviously in SoCal on business and decided to lay over and come to the Breeders Cup.

I guess they were at least regular racing fans.

I overheard their ends of conversation with friends from home with their excited brag that they were at Santa Anita and "at the Breeders Cup!"


Each and every time, they needed a follow up conversation to explain what the Breeders Cup and it's significance was all about.

For the record, I'm very glad I was there.

I suspect that most of you who diss Santa Anita live in states that elected Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Barrack Obama and John Kerry.

Our Governor can kick the arse of all your current and prior elected officials. Except for perhaps Hillary Clinton.....

And we have Bo Derek on OUR state racing board.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by GBBob

That's a different and legitimate conversation. I fear I am veering into stubborness showed by a rare few over this, but I can't help myself. Horse racing's best interests are served by RA running in a BC race...there is no minute agenda that can overcome this big picture reality.

I have spoken

While I respect your opinion, I disagree.

Ending the BC forever with one devestating blow is not a minute agenda.