Zenyatta assigned 129 pounds for Vanity

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Just to be fair, Tim Wilkin wrote in his blog yesterday that the Hirsch might not necessarily be their first choice for Zenyatta.

http://blog.timesunion.com/horseraci...rk-maybe/4694/

NT

Sounds like more teeter-tottering to me, probably the result of quick backlash for the carbon copy gutless SoCal distaff campaigns of '08 and '09.

Note in the Hirsch 3-peat article in the DRF, Shirreffs was already on the defensive, as he was apparently called out for pointing for that race next even though he's been an outspoken critic of the Del Mar racing surface since the installation of Polytrack there:

"I said I didn't want to train at Del Mar," he said. "There is a difference."

He's just covering his ass as far as HOY goes. Announcing the Hirsch probable start even before they run the Vanity (which was supposed to be the Stephen Foster back in early May---more teeter-totter) had to have marginalized Team Zenyatta with more than a few Eclipse voters.

[Smooth Operator]

Pretty sure that comparing PP's figures from '03 to those earned in his races leading up to the '04 BC will tell a different story, geniuses…

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Pretty sure that comparing PP's figures from '03 to those earned in his races leading up to the '04 BC will tell a different story, geniuses…

Yes, the 5yo Pleasantly Perfect was awesome.

He nearly got within 5 lengths of Congaree in the San Antonio and Big Cap. He ran one time prior to the '03 BC off a 6 month layoff.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Pretty sure that comparing PP's figures from '03 to those earned in his races leading up to the '04 BC will tell a different story, geniuses…

Right, because he won the BC at SA it had to have been a better year, who cares what happened up to that point, right? It didn't matter either that he had a perfect trip in a race that unfolded the exact way he needed to be successful. That's a much better performance than a race where he ran against the grain of the track while chasing a horse who you yourself have called a monster. Genius.

And that's not even taking the rest of his 2003 and 2004 campaigns into question.

NT

[CSC]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Sounds like more teeter-tottering to me, probably the result of quick backlash for the carbon copy gutless SoCal distaff campaigns of '08 and '09.

Note in the Hirsch 3-peat article in the DRF, Shirreffs was already on the defensive, as he was apparently called out for pointing for that race next even though he's been an outspoken critic of the Del Mar racing surface since the installation of Polytrack there:

"I said I didn't want to train at Del Mar," he said. "There is a difference."

He's just covering his ass as far as HOY goes. Announcing the Hirsch probable start even before they run the Vanity (which was supposed to be the Stephen Foster back in early May---more teeter-totter) had to have marginalized Team Zenyatta with more than a few Eclipse voters.

You sound like a person that would rather grasp at anything to see Zenyatta lose rather than to truly see her tested at her best. If she races in N.Y or Keeneland and then stays out east, where she will just ship on down to Louisville, wouldn't this suffice your longing to see her to race outside of California, or are your motives one of just seeing beat or beaten up prior to the classic.

[slotdirt]

Am I the only who thinks it's more likely that George Bush wins a third term as US president than Zenyatta ever races in the Eastern time zone again?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by CSC

You sound like a person that would rather grasp at anything to see Zenyatta lose rather than to truly see her tested at her best. If she races in N.Y or Keeneland and then stays out east, where she will just ship on down to Louisville, wouldn't this suffice your longing to see her to race outside of California, or are your motives one of just seeing beat or beaten up prior to the classic.

What from my post highlighting some of Shirreffs' now perennial politicking in the press suggests any feeling or judgment I have with regards to Zenyatta as a racehorse?

If you do a search, I was probably one of the earliest to suggest that the only way we'd see Zenyatta back east was for her to be stabled there for an extended period.

That doesn't mean that Team Zenyatta get's to merely mention campaigning her in a serious manner and get a free pass when things "don't work out".

Talk is cheap.

And for the record, I don't care if she were to be "beaten up" prior to the BC Classic. It's not the only race that counts.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

What from my post highlighting some of Shirreffs' now perennial politicking in the press suggests any feeling or judgment I have with regards to Zenyatta as a racehorse?

If you do a search, I was probably one of the earliest to suggest that the only way we'd see Zenyatta back east was for her to be stabled there for an extended period.

That doesn't mean that Team Zenyatta get's to merely mention campaigning her in a serious manner and get a free pass when things "don't work out".

Talk is cheap.

And for the record, I don't care if she were to be "beaten up" prior to the BC Classic. It's not the only race that counts.

If she races in The Beldame or Jockey Gold Cup prior to the BC Classic, I think these type of threads will be a distant memory. I'm all for it and I truly hope it happens.

[slotdirt]

I'm pretty sure the term "hung" was invented to describe the various efforts of Ittasak.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'm pretty sure the term "hung" was invented to describe the various efforts of Ittasak.

He was a giant among horses.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by CSC

If she races in The Beldame or Jockey Gold Cup prior to the BC Classic, I think these type of threads will be a distant memory. I'm all for it and I truly hope it happens.

This was the point of my initial post.

You're being took in with this NY BS, just like you were with the Rockies excuse.

Team Zenyatta has no intention of running in NY. They've been saying that they "might" for 2 years running now.

The only question remaining is whether or not she starts again after the Hirsch prior to the BC.

But seeing how there's a race available to her in CA actually called the "Zenyatta" and it is likely to be run at her home track of Hollywood Park (remembering Oak Tree is considering running its meet in Inglewood this year), I think its a safe bet she will make a start. If for no other reason than running in a race named for you trumps even a day of bobbleheads.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

This was the point of my initial post.

You're being took in with this NY BS, just like you were with the Rockies excuse.

Team Zenyatta has no intention of running in NY. They've been saying that they "might" for 2 years running now.

The only question remaining is whether or not she starts again after the Hirsch prior to the BC.

But seeing how there's a race available to her in CA actually called the "Zenyatta" and it is likely to be run at her home track of Hollywood Park (remembering Oak Tree is considering running its meet in Inglewood this year), I think its a safe bet she will make a start. If for no other reason than running in a race named for you trumps even a day of bobbleheads.

If I were reading this from a NYRA point of view, I would bend over backwards to get her whatever they needed to make this happen, as Cella tried to do with RA for the AB. I do recall Sheriff's saying he tried calling their office to inquire about stalls or something and they just referred to him to look it up on the website. I would say a personal touch would be more successful if they want Zenyatta at Belmont this fall.

[Crown@club]

Originally Posted by CSC

If I were reading this from a NYRA point of view, I would bend over backwards to get her whatever they needed to make this happen, as Cella tried to do with RA for the AB. I do recall Sheriff's saying he tried calling their office to inquire about stalls or something and they just referred to him to look it up on the website. I would say a personal touch would be more successful if they want Zenyatta at Belmont this fall.

Eliminate the detention barns, and they might think about it.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by CSC

If I were reading this from a NYRA point of view, I would bend over backwards to get her whatever they needed to make this happen, as Cella tried to do with RA for the AB. I do recall Sheriff's saying he tried calling their office to inquire about stalls or something and they just referred to him to look it up on the website. I would say a personal touch would be more successful if they want Zenyatta at Belmont this fall.

I'd think Team Zenyatta would be bending over backwards to try and win the HOY that has eluded them the last 2 years.

They seem hell-bent on playing the arrogant "you come to us" card which is not the way racing works. No one wants to play ball with Zenyatta, so no one's gonna come. Go outside the comfort zone, and one or two are going to get a little brave and take you on. And if the horse is as good as she appears, then she'll mop the floor with them, even if she's not as sharp under the non-ideal conditions. Even a loss, were she to take on too much all at once, would probably enhance her reputation if she performed admirably.

But Team Zenyatta doesn't show their confindence or their arrogance on the racetrack, they only show it in the press.

Zenyatta is a fantastic racehorse, but thanks to connections, she's a meek champion.