Shirreffs' latest gem

[The Indomitable DrugS]

The Whitney number was very much an educated guess Rupert. Even though it made sense on paper to give it a 111 - I'm not giving that figure the benefit of the doubt.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

The Whitney number was very much an educated guess Rupert. Even though it made sense on paper to give it a 111 - I'm not giving that figure the benefit of the doubt.

I don't think that number is too far off. I think it was actually a pretty fast race. I think 1:48 4/5 was a very good time on that track that day. I'm actually surprised they ran that fast on that track after running the half in :48. That track was not very fast that day. I would not have expected them to run much faster than 1:48 and change even if the pace was fast, not on that track.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Considering they are running in the BC Classic, I don't think there is any real upside to running in the Goodwood. If she can beat the boys in the BC Classic for the second year in a row and finish her career 20 for 20, she will be immortalized forever. I don't think winning the Goodwood would really add anything to that legacy. It all comes down to this year's BC Classic.

If she's 20 for 20 with 2 wins in the BC Classic, I doubt anyone will look at her PP's and question why she didn't run in the Goodwood.

Her losing the Goodwood would be more respectable than winning her 19th race in the Zenyatta IMO. I wouldnt be surprised if other people felt the same way too.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Scav

Who says I am not dissatisfied? Quite honestly, I feel all the races she runs this year are bonus because she was suppose to be retired.

She can't control who shows up to run, she ran at Oaklawn and no one showed up, same would happen in NY or anywhere else.

Oh, and sorry for being excited about being at the great race place for a great race, sure beats being onsite and cheering one of those NY bred turf sprints home....

ummm.. she runs in restricted races. Its not like that huge mountain named Rail Trip can run in the Zenyatta. Besides her & Blind Luck, all the fillies and mares on the West Coast are absolute garbage. Who's supposed to show up and face Zenyatta in these amazing Grade 1 races? Quality Road? Blame? They are called restricted races for a reason.

come on now.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Doesn't Zenyatta's reputation transcend her gender?

There was a big blow up when she was compared to Lava Man a few months ago.

Doesn't the vast majority here think she is more than capable of shouldering the principle components of his '96-'98 campaigns (ie Big Cap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Pacific Classic) and come out the other end at least as successful as he was?

If you still want to play the gender card, didn't most of the top mare's of the modern era travel to a much greater extent than Zenyatta? Let's ignore Personal Ensign, who's "light" campaigning (in fact she was raced in intense fashion playing "catch up" as a 3yo) was the result of a major injury as opposed to a conscientious trainer.

Lava Man ran that long ago??? Man I feel old

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by PSH

The days of all the best horses running against one another in all the big stake races has long passed us.

And if this doesnt change the days of horseracing period will have passed us. There is absolutely no reason that fillies aren't running against the best horses if they can beat them, which both RA and Z have proven that they can. They are basically worthless as their owners wouldn't sell them anyway and there is a ceiling on what they are worth as mares already if they did try to sell them. Ego and greed are killing the sport at the top. What else would keep Zenyatta in CA to run against Rin Tin-Tin and company and Jess Jackson on the bum-a-palozza schedule?

It may be like this but it doesn't have to be.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Scav

Her dirt wins have been her best wins IMO. You can't change who shows up to face her, if there wasn't so many graded stakes races then there would be competitive races, why does everyone have such a hard on for her to ship across the country. I don't see people shipping from NY all the way to California every single day.

When she drills Rachel Alexandra they will blame something or someone. When she wins the BC Classic this year, people will still find something comedy to say. Its a tiresome argument.

After 18 starts we shouldn't need IMO's. She needs to ship OR run against better horses where she is at. If they won't run against the dreck that is the older male division in CA then she needs to PROVE that she can beat the older, less dreadful horses in the East or at the very least take on RA.

And we aren't talking about "people" we are talking about a horse that we are supposed to believe is an all-time great.

The reason that people are finding something comedy to say is that the connections have plotted a comedy schedule and want everyone to believe that it isn't. The sport used to be played on the track, not in the popular opinion polls. If she had shipped east and beaten RA or won the Whitney field, the comdeyness that you talk about would have been over.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

Lava Man ran that long ago??? Man I feel old

I stopped following racing after the '98 BC Classic, sorry about the gross error. Lava Man is still arguably the best horse on the backstretch at Hollywood Park.

Speaking of the '98 Classic, isn't Blame's campaign thus far this year eerily similar to Awesome Again's?

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

I stopped following racing after the '98 BC Classic, sorry about the gross error. Lava Man is still arguably the best horse on the backstretch at Hollywood Park.

Speaking of the '98 Classic, isn't Blame's campaign thus far this year eerily similar to Awesome Again's?

no need to apologize, I wasnt trying to point out an error.. was just confused (doenst take much for me)

98 Classic was awesome. Blame will be a tough horse at Churchill this year also.