Asmussen: No Rachel for Blossom

[randallscott35]

I expect Zenyatta to lose that race anyway.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Zenyatta has beat up on cupcakes in 90% of her starts. She is far from a lock taking on males (even the crappy ones that masquerade as grade 1 horses these days) on dirt.

I guess I should have added one of these:

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by pointman

If Rachel doesn't show in the AB, you have to wonder if the Moss' are thrilled about Sheriff's decision to send Zardana against RA yesterday, even second place in the AB would have been worth a lot more than a win is worth now. It is not everyday you get to run for $5 million!

They could supplement to the Dubai WC!

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

I guess I should have added one of these:

You never know these days. People who bomb abortion clinics are less twisted than some of the fans of these fillies...

[richard]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The problem seems to be they have unrealistically overrated the filly. She is a very good horse with a couple of truly fantastic accomplishments. However she is not invincible, no horse is

True enough . It's tough out on the track. The competition is fierce . That's why they run the race . RA did not embarrass herself .

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

Couldn't it be that RA just won't really be ready for that race?

Then how will she ever get "ready?" If they think the filly was short for the race yesterday, why don't they use it as a foundation, get plenty of work in her over the next few weeks, and run her?
I think the whole idea that trainers can get horses primed to peak for a particular race is a bit overrated. However, I guess I don't understand the point of a "prep" race if a less than stellar performance in that race derails the horse from the actual targeted race. Isn't the point supposedly to help them get ready for the targeted race. How did yesterday not accomplish that for RA?
It isn't like she ran a complete clunker yesterday. She ran fine. What in the world makes the connections think she isn't capable of reaching her top form in 4 weeks?

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by pointman

If Rachel doesn't show in the AB, you have to wonder if the Moss' are thrilled about Sheriff's decision to send Zardana against RA yesterday, even second place in the AB would have been worth a lot more than a win is worth now. It is not everyday you get to run for $5 million!

Do they even bother sending Z to Oak now? There's got to be a Grade 1, five horse field of fillies and mares to challenge her in California around the same time.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by richard

True enough . It's tough out on the track. The competition is fierce . That's why they run the race . RA did not embarrass herself .

Exactly. Somebody forgot to tell the connections that

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The problem seems to be they have unrealistically overrated the filly. She is a very good horse with a couple of truly fantastic accomplishments. However she is not invincible, no horse is

They also have a trainer that isn't exactly Frankel off the layoff.. Note to Jess you want Rachel back give Hal a call.. lol

Detox is a killer

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Then how will she ever get "ready?" If they think the filly was short for the race yesterday, why don't they use it as a foundation, get plenty of work in her over the next few weeks, and run her?
I think the whole idea that trainers can get horses primed to peak for a particular race is a bit overrated. However, I guess I don't understand the point of a "prep" race if a less than stellar performance in that race derails the horse from the actual targeted race.
It isn't like she ran a complete clunker yesterday. She ran fine. What in the world makes the connections think she isn't capable of reaching her top form in 4 weeks?

I agree with racing for foundation.. I just get the sense she was being rushed into this race(and the next)..

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

I expect Zenyatta to lose that race anyway.

You're bound to get one right one of these days.

[dalakhani]

I think its great they didn't wait around to make this announcement. Good for them! They took a shot in the prep to see how she looked and it wasn't to their liking. That being the case- why run?

Hopefully, Rachel will be back sometime later in the spring or summer and we can see this go down.

Wouldn't you be pissed if they waited around for another week or two before making the announcement?

Rushed off that layoff? Jesus if that is the case then might as well close all of the tracks. It's obvious horses weren't meant to race.

/sarcasm

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Then how will she ever get "ready?" If they think the filly was short for the race yesterday, why don't they use it as a foundation, get plenty of work in her over the next few weeks, and run her?
I think the whole idea that trainers can get horses primed to peak for a particular race is a bit overrated. However, I guess I don't understand the point of a "prep" race if a less than stellar performance in that race derails the horse from the actual targeted race. Isn't the point supposedly to help them get ready for the targeted race. How did yesterday not accomplish that for RA?
It isn't like she ran a complete clunker yesterday. She ran fine. What in the world makes the connections think she isn't capable of reaching her top form in 4 weeks?

Does make you wonder. You would have thought that they would have said they were disappointed that the filly lost but she would definitely improve off that effort. But they are acting astonished that she lost even though assmussen had said he was concerned with her fitness level going in.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

I think its great they didn't wait around to make this announcement. Good for them! They took a shot in the prep to see how she looked and it wasn't to their liking. That being the case- why run?

Hopefully, Rachel will be back sometime later in the spring or summer and we can see this go down.

Wouldn't you be pissed if they waited around for another week or two before making the announcement?

What if she goes out and turns in absolutely stellar workout next week. She looks great, runs a fast time, etc.
That leaves two options:
1) They continue to say she isn't going....which would make virtually no sense.
2) They change their mind and say she is going to run....in which case....why announce right now one way or the other?

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Does make you wonder. You would have thought that they would have said they were disappointed that the filly lost but she would definitely improve off that effort. But they are acting astonished that she lost even though assmussen had said he was concerned with her fitness level going in.

This decision really makes very little sense, either there is something wrong with her or they are hitting the panic button.

Chances are good Zenyatta skips now. Gotta love horse "racing"

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

I think its great they didn't wait around to make this announcement. Good for them! They took a shot in the prep to see how she looked and it wasn't to their liking. That being the case- why run?

Hopefully, Rachel will be back sometime later in the spring or summer and we can see this go down.

Wouldn't you be pissed if they waited around for another week or two before making the announcement?

While I understand where you are coming from and fully expected Jackson to drag it out before backing out but the reasoning behind not running is unusual to say the least.

[freddymo]

It is starting to sound like the "ole micro fracture" announcement..You know it kind of goes like this. "We just wanted to make sure nothing was coming up hot ,and wouldn't you know it.. She seems to have a xxxx on her xxx and although its not career threaten she will never be able to come back to her top form.. With great sadness we have to retire are great champion."

[CSC]

"If I knew she wasn't going to win I wouldn't have run her". Asmussen

What did I tell this forum...

You can apply that to last year also with running in the Woodward against mediocre Bullsbay and Macho Again rather than trying real horses in the Travers. Then she skips the BC and now when she loses a 'Prep' which is designed to get the horse ready for a match up with Zenyatta, they once again duck, avoid the race. It's embaressing that they moved the race 1 week back to accomodate her.

As I told some of you last year to all that bought into this marvellous campaign that she somehow faced the best in raciing. There was an element of smoke and mirrors to her HOY season. With racing there is always risk to losing, however with these connections the chance of winning does not equal the fear of losing. Let the excuses come via the fanclub.

If this wasn't dissapointing this would be actually funny.