Shireffs-- Zenyatta is HOY

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

Except it couldn't. She's still Queen Z, and she's still going in the Hall of Fame but he beat her fair and square in her only race in open company this year, and no, she didn't fly past him after the wire. He kept digging in. His nose stayed in front. People need to calm down about this award somehow being a lifetime achievement award. It's not. We already have awards for that.

It's a weird deflation to have after a finish like that. I guess it really does feel to a lot of people like when Birdstone beat Smarty Jones. I do wanna congratulate Claiborne Farm for an amazing accomplishment with a homebred in their 100th year. I hope they threw a bit party back at the farm. They seemed to feel a bit guilty over the win, and when something like this happens they deserve an opportunity to break out the champagne. Now I'm sure the party to be at involved Goldikova's connections. Freddie thinks Goldi's better than Miesque and he would know, as he's the one who rode her back in the day. Amazing mare.

Heck, Zenyatta deserves some champagne too. Someone go give Mike Smith a hug and an "it's not your fault" Good Will Hunting-style therapy session.

In private balloting, I give the POT award (Post-Of-Thread) to this one by Merlinsky. Very well said. I like the idea of those 3 camps breaking out the champagne.

The only part of the post I personally disagreed with was that the finish was deflating. I thought the finish was great--it would settle two questions and bring everyone together. It showed Zenyatta WAS a terrific mare regardless of who she raced against, while at the same time showing that she shouldn't be given HOY. I was definitely wrong on it bringing everyone together!

--Dunbar