Zenyatta

[The Bid]

He ran a 113

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by The Bid

He ran a 113

It was a 103 in the Foster. I have his PPs right in front of me.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by The Bid

He ran a 113

Who Blame?

[RockHardTen1985]

I am of the belief that in any aspect of life consistency should count for something. Work, home, personal, sports and especially horse racing. The sport that we all love, who has ever been this consistent, over this long a period of time? I don't care if shes running on dirt, turf, synthetic, or literally running on ****... She has got there 19/20 times, and I truly believe she ran her A race today and was best. Like in any other race, for handicapping purposes we look at trips, and the entire race... I believe she was best today, she simply ran a better race then Blame. Blame pulled the better trip, got the jump on her and ran hard and beat her. It should take nothing away from Zenyatta. Fine she is not one of the best ever, fine... She is easily the most consistent. Blame did not show up in the JCGC, Quality Road had not shown up multiple times already. Rachel was beaten multiple times.... Ghostzapper lost, Point Given lost... Further back Cigar and Skip Away lost. I believe that Zenyatta connections cost her any chance at being an ALL TIME GREAT, by not shipping her around this year. She had already won 2 BC races... This year should have been a tour... She should have run in the Donn-Foster-Whitney-Woodward-JCGC and Classic. I'm confident she would have won at least 3 of those 5 races, she would have been very likely second in the other 2 and would absolutely be HOY, something that might evade her now. I think even the Z haters need to realize now she is as good if not better on dirt and the connections should be ashamed of themselves. I can only hope they run her again this year, if not bring her back for another campaign next year. Run her until she doesn't fire, when that day comes then retire her. There is nothing wrong with that.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

I am of the belief that in any aspect of life consistency should count for something. Work, home, personal, sports and especially horse racing. The sport that we all love, who has ever been this consistent, over this long a period of time? I don't care if shes running on dirt, turf, synthetic, or literally running on ****... She has got there 19/20 times, and I truly believe she ran her A race today and was best. Like in any other race, for handicapping purposes we look at trips, and the entire race... I believe she was best today, she simply ran a better race then Blame. Blame pulled the better trip, got the jump on her and ran hard and beat her. It should take nothing away from Zenyatta. Fine she is not one of the best ever, fine... She is easily the most consistent. Blame did not show up in the JCGC, Quality Road had not shown up multiple times already. Rachel was beaten multiple times.... Ghostzapper lost, Point Given lost... Further back Cigar and Skip Away lost. I believe that Zenyatta connections cost her any chance at being an ALL TIME GREAT, by not shipping her around this year. She had already won 2 BC races... This year should have been a tour... She should have run in the Donn-Foster-Whitney-Woodward-JCGC and Classic. I'm confident she would have won at least 3 of those 5 races, she would have been very likely second in the other 2 and would absolutely be HOY, something that might evade her now. I think even the Z haters need to realize now she is as good if not better on dirt and the connections should be ashamed of themselves. I can only hope they run her again this year, if not bring her back for another campaign next year. Run her until she doesn't fire, when that day comes then retire her. There is nothing wrong with that.

I agreee with you that Zenyatta would have won today with a better trip. But as I said before, when you come from 15-20 lengths back in a 12 horse field, you're not going to always get a great trip.

Blame actually may have had an excuse in his last race (the JCGC). He was supposed to fly in on Thursday but there was a problem with the plane and he didn't end up flying in until Friday (the day before the race). There is a reason why horses don't fly in the day before the race. The reason is that they rarely run well when they do. That is why Tex Sutton never schedules flights the day before the race. Nobody wants to come in the day before because horses usually need a day to recover from the trip. Anyway, that might have been the reason that Blame through in the clunker in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Blame actually may have had an excuse in his last race (the JCGC). He was supposed to fly in on Thursday but there was a problem with the plane and he didn't end up flying in until Friday (the day before the race). There is a reason why horses don't fly in the day before the race. The reason is that they rarely run well when they do. That is why Tex Sutton never schedules flights the day before the race. Nobody wants to come in the day before because horses usually need a day to recover from the trip. Anyway, that might have been the reason that Blame through in the clunker in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Uh huh.

And Fly Down?

Blame and Fly Down basically both ran back to their JCGC races .. the loose on the lead winner Haynesfield did not.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by CSC

A very exciting race, Blame looked like he walks to victory but Zenyatta makes a race out of it when she looked like she was totally out of it, she will get more respect out of finishing second than winning the race.

Not that it matters now, but Blame dug-in when he finally heard Zenyatta coming and he ended-up galloping-out past her. And even after the wire Blame still held his lead, which makes you question the "one more jump" or "one more stride."

I will say this... I've seen some pretty exciting races. The electricity at CD today was awesome. The race itself was intense and thrilling. Even though Blame was my top pick all summer for this race, I found myself watching her from start to finish

In terms of drama, that's exactly what needed to happen... Zenyatta trying to catch someone, putting it all on her late kick. Regardless of the result, it was a great race, exciting finish and horse racing got a lot of play today.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

Not that it matters now, but Blame dug-in when he finally heard Zenyatta coming and he ended-up galloping-out past her. And even after the wire Blame still held his lead, which makes you question the "one more jump" or "one more stride."

I will say this... I've seen some pretty exciting races. The electricity at CD today was awesome. The race itself was intense and thrilling. Even though Blame was my top pick all summer for this race, I found myself watching her from start to finish

In terms of drama, that's exactly what needed to happen... Zenyatta trying to catch someone, putting it all on her late kick. Regardless of the result, it was a great race, exciting finish and horse racing got a lot of play today.

It was a great race Travis, very exciting from start to finish, I didn't bet a cent on the race and I can't ever remember being so fixated in a race without a monetary interest. I was not even disappointed with the result, strange as that may sound, a lot is made of the unbeaten streak coming to an end, but for me it has always been about how good she was, was she just a one trick pony, that got lucky on synthetics. When she almost lost touch with the field down the backstretch, I must admit I thought maybe my opinion was wrong about her, however to make a race of it and to barely miss a horse that loves CD, I feel she sort of vindicated herself today to her critics, I know where they were coming from and if they still want to doubt her that's okay, nothing anyone can do about it now. So she is 19-1-0 for her 20 races if this is the end. I wonder what Andy Beyer will say later this week. His thoughts should be interesting above all thoughts, he was her biggest critic, wonder if this race will lessen the criticisms.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

Not that it matters now, but Blame dug-in when he finally heard Zenyatta coming and he ended-up galloping-out past her. And even after the wire Blame still held his lead, which makes you question the "one more jump" or "one more stride."

I will say this... I've seen some pretty exciting races. The electricity at CD today was awesome. The race itself was intense and thrilling. Even though Blame was my top pick all summer for this race, I found myself watching her from start to finish

In terms of drama, that's exactly what needed to happen... Zenyatta trying to catch someone, putting it all on her late kick. Regardless of the result, it was a great race, exciting finish and horse racing got a lot of play today.

I don't think there wasn't a single person at Churchill yesterday that wasn't screaming for her when she was clear - whether you bet on her or not. Awesome indeed.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Uh huh.

And Fly Down?

Blame and Fly Down basically both ran back to their JCGC races .. the loose on the lead winner Haynesfield did not.

Fly Down ran 10x better today. He never switched leads in the JCGC.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Fly Down ran 10x better today. He never switched leads in the JCGC.

Considering the pace and final time ... he's the horse who I'd be most interested in betting against out of this race.

I bet him in the Travers and still swear he won the photo when he got a similar pace setup.

[Dahoss]

She ran well and got beat by a better horse. He wasn't much better, but he was. She's a very, very nice horse, but never as good as some were making her. Also puts to sleep the silly notion that she only runs as fast as she has to.

You can't really take anything away from her performance, because she ran her heart out. So did Blame. It was a fantastic finish and a great way to conclude a weird weekend.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I agreee with you that Zenyatta would have won today with a better trip. But as I said before, when you come from 15-20 lengths back in a 12 horse field, you're not going to always get a great trip.

Blame actually may have had an excuse in his last race (the JCGC). He was supposed to fly in on Thursday but there was a problem with the plane and he didn't end up flying in until Friday (the day before the race). There is a reason why horses don't fly in the day before the race. The reason is that they rarely run well when they do. That is why Tex Sutton never schedules flights the day before the race. Nobody wants to come in the day before because horses usually need a day to recover from the trip. Anyway, that might have been the reason that Blame through in the clunker in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Your first 2 sentences is my point... She has always overcome it, and you can argue, even in defeat she did again today.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Your first 2 sentences is my point... She has always overcome it, and you can argue, even in defeat she did again today.

Do people even realize, that in 20 starts, the 'worst' trouble Zenyatta ever got in was that 1/50th of a second wait she had to survive yesterday?

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Do people even realize, that in 20 starts, the 'worst' trouble Zenyatta ever got in was that 1/50th of a second wait she had to survive yesterday?

You are arguing with people who believe that the best horse in a race is always the horse closing the fastest at the end.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by CSC

Who Blame?

Blame ran a 103 in the Foster. His PPs are right in front of me.

[tiggerv]

Blame got a 111 for the Whitney so pairing that was an easy call. However, it surprises me is that they didn't split the variant from the Juvy and instead gave Uncle Mo a legit 108 instead of an artificially lower number.