Rachel to Monmouth on July 24...

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

There is no shame at all in losing - no shame at all. These horses are being managed is such a pathetic fashion - solely to reduce chance of defeat - that it's beyond lame.

I think you're a bit confused. RA has already lost and lost pretty badly this year. Jackson pretty much had no choice but to duck Z in the AB and might just be aware that his horse of the year caught a speed favoring track last out. You must be just about the only one out who needs to emphasize the belief that RA is not going in the Classic.

As for Z, as long as she shows up for the Classic, her connections have nothing to answer for. Let's face it, the intent is to go after the Horse of the Year award. How exactly does she get this by beating Rail Trip? Exactly.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

As for Z, as long as she shows up for the Classic, her connections have nothing to answer for.

She will not show up in the BC Classic - nor should she based her on dirt form.

The meeting between the two will eventually take place in the Distaff at least. An entire racing season for the two of highest profile horses pretty much wasted by the both of them.

At least Life Is Sweet got to face Rail Trip.

At least Curlin wasn't given an SEC non-confrence type schedule after he lost his turf race as a 4yo.

[smuthg]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

She will not show up in the BC Classic - nor should she based her on dirt form.

The meeting between the two will eventually take place in the Distaff at least. An entire racing season for the two of highest profile horses pretty much wasted by the both of them.

At least Life Is Sweet got to face Rail Trip.

At least Curlin wasn't given an SEC non-confrence type schedule after he lost his turf race as a 4yo.

I have to disagree... I don't see anything short of injury that keeps Zenyatta out of the starting gate in the Breeders' Cup Classic. And Curlin's 2008 campaign was more like Vandy and Miss St. at home following his turf loss.

[Patrick333]

Another ungraded stake for RA. I'm really surprised. Imagine the outcry if Zenyatta was racing in an ungraded race.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Patrick333

Another ungraded stake for RA. I'm really surprised. Imagine the outcry if Zenyatta was racing in an ungraded race.

Rachel has run in two ungraded stakes during the last sixteen months, which did include five consecutive Grade Is in 2009. You kind of make it sound like she's repeatedly running in ungraded races.

Neither of these two deserve any notoriety in terms of seeking out strong competition in 2010.

NT

[Wayne Bertrand]

Let's see, NYRA has kissed Jackson's *ss for three years now, make this year's hat giveaway a Rachel Alexandra version in a poor copy-cat of Santa Anita's Zenyatta boosterism, and the local media and NYRA press ofice follow her arrival in Saratoga this week as if a "rock star" had arrived, and this is the thanks Jackson shows them. I guess he won't be in Saratoga on August 1 to give away the trophy for the Curlin Stakes (in yet another sop to this guy) on the Ruffian undercard. This is beyond weak.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Wayne Bertrand

Let's see, NYRA has kissed Jackson's *ss for three years now, make this year's hat giveaway a Rachel Alexandra version in a poor copy-cat of Santa Anita's Zenyatta boosterism, and the local media and NYRA press ofice follow her arrival in Saratoga this week as if a "rock star" had arrived, and this is the thanks Jackson shows them. I guess he won't be in Saratoga on August 1 to give away the trophy for the Curlin Stakes (in yet another sop to this guy) on the Ruffian undercard. This is beyond weak.

Maybe PJ Campo can tell Asmussen when he ships Rachel to Monmouth to not bring her back, as he'll need the stall at the Oklahoma for horses that support the Saratoga meet.

[Patrick333]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Rachel has run in two ungraded stakes during the last sixteen months, which did include five consecutive Grade Is in 2009. You kind of make it sound like she's repeatedly running in ungraded races.

Neither of these two deserve any notoriety in terms of seeking out strong competition in 2010.

NT

The point I was trying to make (and not very well I guess) is that the anti Zenyatta crowd would be having a field day with her connections if she was running in an ungraded race.

I have as much respect for both of these great horses as anybody. I love watching them both run.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I think you're a bit confused. RA has already lost and lost pretty badly this year. Jackson pretty much had no choice but to duck Z in the AB and might just be aware that his horse of the year caught a speed favoring track last out. You must be just about the only one out who needs to emphasize the belief that RA is not going in the Classic.

As for Z, as long as she shows up for the Classic, her connections have nothing to answer for. Let's face it, the intent is to go after the Horse of the Year award. How exactly does she get this by beating Rail Trip? Exactly.

RA lost pretty badly this year?

Did I miss a start where she ran up the track?

Or are you Smooth Operators meat puppet?

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

RA lost pretty badly this year?

Did I miss a start where she ran up the track?

Or are you Smooth Operators meat puppet?

IC does she have to run up the track to get beat badly? She lost to 2 horse who both came back to get beat.... Enough said... Its not like the races she lost in came back KEY or anything, I would call them both pretty bad losses all things considered.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I think you're a bit confused. RA has already lost and lost pretty badly this year.

I got a problem with the implied definition of "lose badly." You might point to those that beat her, but her times and Beyers for the races were very much in line with those she'd had before. She ran respectable efforts. Sorry she wasn't 20 lengths ahead like last year. I guess in comparison it was a bit of a downer for you.

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

As for Z, as long as she shows up for the Classic, her connections have nothing to answer for. Let's face it, the intent is to go after the Horse of the Year award. How exactly does she get this by beating Rail Trip? Exactly.

That's hilarious. First off, the horse is the one that has to answer for things and it's all year, not just in one race. It's not the facing Rail Trip folks take issue with. It's that she's DUCKING Rail Trip (and doesn't need to be). What does THAT say? If it's so darn easy to beat him, go for it. They're avoiding it cuz it's riskier. End of. I wish that precious streak had never happened. One loss somewhere might've prevented this. She's got what it takes. What's the bloody problem?

[Thunder Gulch]

No excuse for either avoiding competition. Better to go down swinging than keep up this charade.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

I



That's hilarious. First off, the horse is the one that has to answer for things and it's all year, not just in one race. It's not the facing Rail Trip folks take issue with. It's that she's DUCKING Rail Trip (and doesn't need to be). What does THAT say? If it's so darn easy to beat him, go for it. They're avoiding it cuz it's riskier. End of. I wish that precious streak had never happened. One loss somewhere might've prevented this. She's got what it takes. What's the bloody problem?

Here's what you and the other Z connection bashers seem to conveniently overlook. The intent behind bringing Z back was to go for the Horse of the Year, which they thought she deserved last year. The way to get it was:

1) beat the reigning Horse of the Year of the Apple Blossom

and/or

2) win this year's Classic (giving her 2 in a row)


1) didn't pan out when RA didn't show for the AB

2) has noting to do with whether she beats Rail Trip or not BECAUSE, clearly, if she beats RT and loses (or doesn't participate in) the Classic, she's almost certainly not getting HOTY. Let's make this a bit clearer: say Quality Road goes into the Classic undefeated for the year. If she beats him, she gets HOTY. If she loses and he wins, she doesn't. Once again, Rail Trip is not in the equation. Get it?

So, why run her under those conditions for the purpose of anything other than keeping her fit? Why ship her, as some have been demanding? Too bad RA couldn't keep her end of the bargain and 2 is now the ONLY option for the Z camp.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

As for Z, as long as she shows up for the Classic, her connections have nothing to answer for. Let's face it, the intent is to go after the Horse of the Year award. How exactly does she get this by beating Rail Trip? Exactly.

Yea, because if 2009 taught us anything, it's the HOY voters are idiots who can't tell the difference between the word "year" and the words "one race."

Sure worked out swell last year. Seems like the same plan is a good one -- that is, if what I'm hoping to see is another emotional meltdown of biblical proportions from Zenyatta fans when she loses it again....which it is.

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

I think you're a bit confused. RA has already lost and lost pretty badly this year. Jackson pretty much had no choice but to duck Z in the AB and might just be aware that his horse of the year caught a speed favoring track last out. You must be just about the only one out who needs to emphasize the belief that RA is not going in the Classic.

As for Z, as long as she shows up for the Classic, her connections have nothing to answer for. Let's face it, the intent is to go after the Horse of the Year award. How exactly does she get this by beating Rail Trip? Exactly.

this post makes perfect sense unlike so many others including the start. why should zenyatta come back east? so the other horse can chicken sh^t out again? people here are not even in reality. zenyatta barring injury will most likely start in the classic. at this point rachel has a prayer of even making it to the cup, let alone the classic. the horses that beat rachel are feed for zenyatta, especially at 10 furlongs. its going to be funny this fall when zenyattas starting in the classic and rachel is running friday on "ladies day". i hope she runs well at monmouth and comes back to saratoga where she will get beat again. the way they are "cherry picking" races...you know they are worried. they'll take the "bait" money at monmouth but for 5 million they wanted no part of zenyatta.....not that zenyatta can't lose, it just won't ever be to rachel. they've pratically admitted it with the recent events and schedule. when rachel shows up breeders cup day and runs in the classic And beats the other horse....i'll eat my hat.