Zenyatta's 2009 campaign is a waste

[Kermit]

Kermit, don't mean to nitpick but Personal Ensign did beat males in the Whitney. Granted, it was only two. It was such an important event that everyone forgets it and remembers her win over the f&m in the breeders' Cup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-y2YgXgQYI

Not picking a nit at all! I stand corrected! (I tried to remember back, but that was longer than 24 hours ago. )

That begs the question then - was Personal Ensign better than Winning Colors?

[Beckron]

It is interesting that for the most part people only remember 1 of 13 races isn't it? I know it was spectacular but still it's curious.

I was watching the 1988 Woodward for the 900th time yesterday. In the fall of that year, I don't think there was a horse breathing that was better than Alysheba. Imagine all the three-year-olds not given the chance to mature like he did at four and he didn't take extended breaks either, he was Johnny on the Spot coast to coast.

[Fredo]

Great thread/post by Fredo, and concur w/Dgstan on Husker's post. Great contribution to the discussion, strong opinions to be sure.

Zen's recent races are all the same, she imposes her physical advantages over smaller, weaker horses. It's like groundhogs day.

For those who choose to criticize Rachel's opponents, you better realize Zenyatta isn't exactly facing Murderer's Row, either. Who is Anabaa's Creation? Slow fractions/bad post, I get it, but if you want legendary status, you might want to beat that one by more than a desperate nose.

Zenyatta is a great horse, owned by great people. But she has reached her peak, where as Rachel is continuing to reach higher and higher w/every trip to the post.

I think Zen's connections want to keep her unbeaten far more than they want to challenge her, at this point, against the males, or god forbid, Rachel. Rachel is only going to get better, so every day these two don't meet, it's advantage Rachel.

Rachel's past victories over 'weaker" colts and fillies, 4 of those horses came back last weekend to win 4 G1+2's. I think she destroyed all of them by a combine 100 lengths...

[Vince P]

Kermit, don't mean to nitpick but Personal Ensign did beat males in the Whitney. Granted, it was only two. It was such an important event that everyone forgets it and remembers her win over the f&m in the breeders' Cup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-y2YgXgQYI

Great memories......I was there that day at Saratoga for that Whitney. There were thunderstorms shortly before the race, and being a sissy from California who had never heard thunder that loud, it scared the living loving daylights out of me. You could hear thunder echoing throughout the grandstands and clubhouse. If anyone's been to Saratoga during one of these monster storms, they'll confirm. I was petrified the whole place was going to get struck by lightening and come down.

But again, it was great time, lol.

Vince P

[Beckron]

VP, wish you could be in Florida tonight. We're rocking and rolling. Lightning making it look like day time, glass in the windows rattling. I have a wireless keyboard.

[Vince P]

VP, wish you could be in Florida tonight. We're rocking and rolling. Lightning making it look like day time, glass in the windows rattling. I have a wireless keyboard.

Florida? Did you say Florida?

During our honeymoon about 77 years ago, we drove from Orlando to Daytona Beach and back. On the way back we had to stop on freeway because the "sudden storm" was too bad to drive in. My new wife was scared outta her mind so just stopped on freeway along with all the other cars and yada, yada, yada.

The funny thing is, like 2 miles down the freeway at the very next exit, it was DRY as if the next town didn't even have that same storm. Don't understand that.

Vince P

[PrivateSmiles]

Just heard an interesting tidbit on TVG from the guy who does the steeplechasing analysis (didn't catch his name). He said he used to work for Shireffs and JS asked him to find a special saddle awhile back for Z because she has such high withers and regular racing saddles were making her sore. So this guy (who's a UK native) called a little place in England or Ireland, a saddle-making specialty shop in some tiny town, and had a jump saddle handmade for Z. The story of how it was "handcarried" (flights and drives) was quite interesting too. Sounded almost like the saddle version of the quest for & handling of The Lost Ark

[Ogygian]

Fredo:

Amen, brother. We are singing the same song, I was merely repeating what I have heard from those Zenyatta fans who feel compelled to attack Rachel for some reason.

Personally, I hope all the Zenyatta fans show up w/their wallets when these two meet. But I think now, it's obvious that Rachel is peaking and Zenyatta may have already seen her best......so, maybe it's best to just watch?

Rachel wins in a romp......

[Lurker]

Which horse are you more likely to dive into the bridgejumpers show pool and try and take advantage of some huge prices some day?

[Masterp]

Lurker...Zenyatta in my opinion will give up the "monster prices" sooner rather than later. I would plunge against her before I would with Rachel.