Asmussen: No Rachel for Blossom

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by rgustafson

He doesn't own Zardana and he sure isn't the one that cost anybody to lose anything. The owner od the horse ultimately calls the shots and it aint him.

Lol … was being sarcastic

Common knowledge that Zetcher wanted little z to crash RA's powderpuff-fest.



And quite a crash it was.

[eajinabi]

The Apple Blossom could still be Zardana Vs. Zenyatta. At least that would be more entertaining than the Pacquio vs Clottey fight last night.

[slotdirt]

I'd have to imagine that Zenyatta's not going to Oaklawn on April 9th either, right? If they're going to take her out of her comfort zone, I'd think it would be for something more worthwhile than running against Careless Jewel or some other slob.

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'd have to imagine that Zenyatta's not going to Oaklawn on April 9th either, right? If they're going to take her out of her comfort zone, I'd think it would be for something more worthwhile than running against Careless Jewel or some other slob.

oh, haven't you heard - her best race was at Oaklawn

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Lol … was being sarcastic

Common knowledge that Zetcher wanted little z to crash RA's powderpuff-fest.



And quite a crash it was.

ok, Zetcher cost all parties a chance at $5 mil

happy

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

ok, Zetcher cost all parties a chance at $5 mil

happy

Somehow I don't think Shirreffs is losing any sleep over this, AeWingnut


Picking off that filly (which STOLE the HotY trophy that your mare deserved) with your third-stringer … PRICELESS...

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Somehow I don't think Shirreffs is losing any sleep over this, AeWingnut


Picking off that filly (which STOLE the HotY trophy that your mare deserved) with your third-stringer … PRICELESS...

stole , yup , she stole it alright

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by gales0678

stole , yup , she stole it alright

Grand Theft Eclipse, in my estimation, gales0678


Thought they had her a bit overrated last year. She never had to face much in those races.

Would be hilarious if she drops a couple more this season...

[alysheba4]

it is o.k. to be a fan of both fillies right, dont understand the " hope zen or rach " do bad thing.....as more of a zan fan i still think rachael is a fantastic horse.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Grand Theft Eclipse, in my estimation, gales0678


Thought they had her a bit overrated last year. She never had to face much in those races.

Would be hilarious if she drops a couple more this season...

I wonder how our pal Kgar is handling it, Serotonin perhaps? I suspect there is abit of that flowing around here. Seriously I feel a bit sorry for all that bought into her supposed superiority over Zenyatta, based on one win in one of the weaker Woodward's in recent memory and obcourse the inflated win over Summer Bird in the Haskell. She did enough to win HOY, that's fine, I have no problem with the decision. Never had. However I never believed she was better than Zenyatta was, especially after what she did in the BC. Some of us cab adjust, reanalyse...If there is a silver lining in this, it did show just how devious Jess Jackson really is and secondly it showed just because a horse was a good 3 yr old, it isn't necessarily a sure thing they come back better at 4. It's not all rain and gloom around here.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by CSC

I wonder how our pal Kgar is handling it, Serotonin perhaps? I suspect there is abit of that flowing around here. Seriously I feel a bit sorry for all that bought into her supposed superiority over Zenyatta, based on one win in one of the weaker Woodward's in recent memory and obcourse the inflated win over Summer Bird in the Haskell. She did enough to win HOY, that's fine, I have no problem with the decision. Never had. However I never believed she was better than Zenyatta was, especially after what she did in the BC. Some of us cab adjust, reanalyse...If there is a silver lining in this, it did show just how devious Jess Jackson really is and secondly it showed just because a horse was a good 3 yr old, it isn't necessarily a sure thing they come back better at 4. It's not all rain and gloom around here.

I'm sorry.. but Rachel and Zenyatta have never raced against each other? You make it seem like one race off a huge layoff where she lost by a lenght makes her worse than Zenyatta, eventhough they still havent faced each other?

I'll tell you that you are correct only when Zenyatta beats Rachel head to head.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by CSC

If there is a silver lining in this, it did show just how devious Jess Jackson really is.

You're right, he's the devil in disguise.

NT

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by CSC

I wonder how our pal Kgar is handling it, Serotonin perhaps? I suspect there is abit of that flowing around here. Seriously I feel a bit sorry for all that bought into her supposed superiority over Zenyatta, based on one win in one of the weaker Woodward's in recent memory and obcourse the inflated win over Summer Bird in the Haskell. She did enough to win HOY, that's fine, I have no problem with the decision. Never had. However I never believed she was better than Zenyatta was, especially after what she did in the BC. Some of us cab adjust, reanalyse...If there is a silver lining in this, it did show just how devious Jess Jackson really is and secondly it showed just because a horse was a good 3 yr old, it isn't necessarily a sure thing they come back better at 4. It's not all rain and gloom around here.

How am I handling it? I would say I couldnt be happier with the race Rachel ran. I along with everyone else knew she was short for that race. She gains 150lbs, is off 6 months and is probably 50% fit going into the race. Zardana had been racing all along and probably peaked in that race and Rachel ran into a buzz saw and still only lost by a length. Id like to see Zardana in a couple months and she wouldn't even be able to see Rachel at the finish line. As far a Zenyatta goes, I still cant wait till the meet up and Rachel is at 100%, it wont even be a contest. Rachel doesnt lose again for the rest of the year guaranteed!!!

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Somehow I don't think Shirreffs is losing any sleep over this, AeWingnut


Picking off that filly (which STOLE the HotY trophy that your mare deserved) with your third-stringer … PRICELESS...

This post was almost awarded four trophies, but one was stolen......


I have the utmost of respect and admiration for Rachel Alexandra.

No doubt though that Zenyatta and her connections have managed to not miss a proverbial "Jerry Moss beat" in how they have managed her career and reputation.

I'm not sure how the "Rachel Alexandra was and is not ready" argument holds any water against the open planning and prep the Zenyatta team has done.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

No doubt though that Zenyatta and her connections have managed to not miss a proverbial "Jerry Moss beat" in how they have managed her career and reputation.

Yep. A nice, slick, overdubbed, processed production lacking any sort of imagination, innovation, or heart.

Not to mention a whole bunch of payola to get airplay at the end of the year. Didn't win them the Grammy, though.

I'm not sure how the "Rachel Alexandra was and is not ready" argument holds any water against the open planning and prep the Zenyatta team has done.

What does one horse have to do with the other in terms of form and fitness?

This isn't some Us And Them battle. It's about two of the top horses in the same division actually butting heads for a change.

Frankly, it's pretty pathetic that both sides think that they're really going all out by agreeing to run in the same race together. They should be ashamed of themselves that they've stirred up all this BS, controversy, and straw-man theatrics that's taken most of the spotlight off the actual horses and put it onto their own withered, decayed, senile heads instead.

I laugh when people say this is "good for racing". If these decrepit old misers took 30 minutes to go on Youtube and punched in "Alysheba Bet Twice", "Alysheba Ferdinand", "Sunday Silence Easy Goer", or "Skip Away Formal Gold" or even "Silver Charm Free House" they'd see how much overwrought fanfare they've brought on for a mere baby step in the realm of sportsmanship.

A curse on both their stables.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

I laugh when people say this is "good for racing". If these decrepit old misers took 30 minutes to go on Youtube and punched in "Alysheba Bet Twice", "Alysheba Ferdinand", "Sunday Silence Easy Goer", or "Skip Away Formal Gold" or even "Silver Charm Free House" they'd see how much overwrought fanfare they've brought on for a mere baby step in the realm of sportsmanship.

A curse on both their stables.

I was a fan and a witness for most of those match ups. I realize that current event accomplishments real time often seem to pale in comparison to accomplishments by achievers of yore. Time heals wounds, and time helps good stories ferment, develop and gain traction in acceptance.

I think the Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra stories and races of 2009 and 2010 certainly deserve more than mention in the names you reference, and others. And trump some of them.

Again, I have great respect for Rachel Alexandra and have enjoyed her career. I just don't think the Rachel Alexandra connections played their cards as well and managed their filly as well as the Zenyatta connections managed their unique and great mare.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

I think the Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra stories and races of 2009 and 2010 certainly deserve more than mention in the names you reference, and others. And trump some of them.

The point was that all those pairings mentioned faced each other multiple times with merely an iota of the press these two horses have received for a matchup that still has yet to take place.

Again, I have great respect for Rachel Alexandra and have enjoyed her career. I just don't think the Rachel Alexandra connections played their cards as well and managed their filly as well as the Zenyatta connections managed their unique and great mare.

Rachel Alexandra's legacy will likely pay the price for Zenyatta coming out of "retirement" and getting another streamlined campaigned with the main focus maintaining an unbeaten record as opposed to taking on all-comers. Zenyatta seems poised to maintain her form whereas Rachel Alexandra appears hard-pressed to find her 3yo form, not to mention any improved form related to maturity.

It's ironic that you suggest that Rachel Alexandra's camp somehow mismanaged their filly. Her 2009 season was clearly one of the greatest campaigns for a 3yo filly of all time. Unfortunately, it appears as though that campaign has gutted her in much the same way that fillies like Silverbulletday, Winning Colors, and Genuine Risk were gutted.

Of course, Zenyatta supporters will turn a blind eye to this probability, equating the 3yo Rachel Alexandra with the 4yo version. Sadly, that group must rely on Rachel Alexandra failing this season to be able to trump up their own heroine, who, ironically, has few real noteworthy accomplishments herself, save one.

As far as Zenyatta is concerned, make no mistake, being "managed well" has more to do with what races you don't run in, not what races you do.

Yes, the Moss's and the Shirreffs have pulled off an amazing stunt; they have created the illusion that Zenyatta is unbeatable. And it is the main blight on her career.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

I was a fan and a witness for most of those match ups. I realize that current event accomplishments real time often seem to pale in comparison to accomplishments by achievers of yore. Time heals wounds, and time helps good stories ferment, develop and gain traction in acceptance.

I think the Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra stories and races of 2009 and 2010 certainly deserve more than mention in the names you reference, and others. And trump some of them.

Again, I have great respect for Rachel Alexandra and have enjoyed her career. I just don't think the Rachel Alexandra connections played their cards as well and managed their filly as well as the Zenyatta connections managed their unique and great mare.

I respectfully disagree, I think Rachel winning the Haskell, Preakness and Woodward over males is more exciting and better management then staying in one state and taking on the same terrible fillies & racing in the BCC on your home course against a field of horses who most were question marks on the Pro Ride..

BCC was a great win and a great day, but there is no doubt that Rachels year was much better managed and was much better overall.

This year could obviously be different.. and if Moss and crew decide to run Zenyatta out of Cali it will be great. Of course Rachel could come back as strong as she was last year too.. people are making way too big of deal of one race off a long layoff where Rachel actually ran okay.

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

I was a fan and a witness for most of those match ups. I realize that current event accomplishments real time often seem to pale in comparison to accomplishments by achievers of yore. Time heals wounds, and time helps good stories ferment, develop and gain traction in acceptance.

I think the Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra stories and races of 2009 and 2010 certainly deserve more than mention in the names you reference, and others. And trump some of them.

Again, I have great respect for Rachel Alexandra and have enjoyed her career. I just don't think the Rachel Alexandra connections played their cards as well and managed their filly as well as the Zenyatta connections managed their unique and great mare.

Possibly the most idiotic, stupid, off the wall statement I have ever heard in my entire life

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

This post was almost awarded four trophies, but one was stolen......

Too kind

My other trophy was no doubt stolen by one of the half-cocked RA for HotY voters.



RA clearly took some fitness from her butt-whoppin' the other week.

They could've taken a shot at Z in Arky … lot of things in their favor ... but they chickened out.


Hell, I thought Jess said that he wasn't 'afraid to lose'.


Apparently not the case … LMAO