Zenyatta's Next Race

[cpitt84]

this article thoroughly explains my own thoughts/feelings about Zenyatta's next start:

"First of all, do we really need to see Zenyatta beat a few California-based mares on synthetics again? We know she can beat them and can probably do it running on three legs. She has done it time and time again, wowing all of us along the way with her brilliance.

As far as I'm concerned, once Zenyatta won the Breeders' Cup Classic she raised the bar so high that she should have raced exclusively against males in 2010. That being said, I was OK with her first two races of the year because the Santa Margarita was a prep for the expected showdown versus Rachel Alexandra in the Apple Blossom. We all wanted to see that race. Jerry and Ann Moss, and Shirreffs, were doing the sporting thing in that situation. They kept their word and showed up in Hot Springs. It was not their fault that Rachel didn't show. I was OK with all of that.

But now it's time to step up. The Mosses said they wanted her last season to be about the fans. They wanted racing fans everywhere--not just in California--to be able to see this exceptional horse. The June 12 Stephen Foster is the "logical" spot, not the Vanity. The Foster is the same weekend as the Vanity, only it is at historic Churchill Downs, on real dirt, and against males. With this year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill, it also makes sense to give her a run over the same track she will race over in November. The "shipping across the Rockies" excuse is pretty laughable."

more here:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/triplecrowntalk/archive/2010/05/06/is-zenyatta-really-going-to-the-vanity-so-it-ain-t-so.aspx

Zenyatta is already one of the greatest modern race horses and has the potential to be placed in the top 10 if she raced more against males on dirt.

Why are her owners/trainers holding her back?

[DRIVEWAY]

this article thoroughly explains my own thoughts/feelings about Zenyatta's next start:

"First of all, do we really need to see Zenyatta beat a few California-based mares on synthetics again? We know she can beat them and can probably do it running on three legs. She has done it time and time again, wowing all of us along the way with her brilliance.

As far as I'm concerned, once Zenyatta won the Breeders' Cup Classic she raised the bar so high that she should have raced exclusively against males in 2010. That being said, I was OK with her first two races of the year because the Santa Margarita was a prep for the expected showdown versus Rachel Alexandra in the Apple Blossom. We all wanted to see that race. Jerry and Ann Moss, and Shirreffs, were doing the sporting thing in that situation. They kept their word and showed up in Hot Springs. It was not their fault that Rachel didn't show. I was OK with all of that.

But now it's time to step up. The Mosses said they wanted her last season to be about the fans. They wanted racing fans everywhere--not just in California--to be able to see this exceptional horse. The June 12 Stephen Foster is the "logical" spot, not the Vanity. The Foster is the same weekend as the Vanity, only it is at historic Churchill Downs, on real dirt, and against males. With this year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill, it also makes sense to give her a run over the same track she will race over in November. The "shipping across the Rockies" excuse is pretty laughable."

more here:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/triplecrowntalk/archive/2010/05/06/is-zenyatta-really-going-to-the-vanity-so-it-ain-t-so.aspx

Zenyatta is already one of the greatest modern race horses and has the potential to be placed in the top 10 if she raced more against males on dirt.

Why are her owners/trainers holding her back?

If Zenyatta had won the HOY then your expectations for her are reasonable. Beating males in the BC Classic did not merit that award in 2009 and beating males in June at Churchill will have little affect in 2010. She came east in April to run in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on dirt only to face a weak field and run a slow time in victory. Her critics say the race proved nothing.

Let her run at home where her true fans can appreciate her efforts. The Breeders Cup in the fall is soon enough to come back east and run in the BC Ladies Classic.

This way she can finish 2nd in the HOY voting for the 3rd straight year. :lol:

[Hedevar]

Originally Posted by Hedevar
Quoting Nikki1997



"Maybe it would be prudent to wait till the year is over before complaining about Zenyatta's campaign .

The Mosses are committed to the BCC and are well aware that repeating last year's schedule will not cut it .

She has already won one G1 on dirt in which Rachel was expected to participate but did not .

Can you at least wait and see where she goes next ???

As far as being a six year old mare, this has zero to do with her facing males . This smacks of sexism--geldings like Forego and Kelso were in their prime then ..

As a late bloomer and slow, awkward developer, she has less wear and tear on her than an average horse of either sex her age .

Chronological age and physical and mental age are not as black and white as many think .

In other disciplines, six is considered quite young for a horse ...

Maybe if we let some rangy, awkward two year olds of several lines forego the rich stakes for twos and threes, they would be racing longer .

That said, bone loading at a young age has been proved clinically beneficial if it is done properly .

Last year the Mosses said they would do something different, and they did, but only once .

Not enough.

They made their goal for this year clear and said it again . Whatever they do may not be enough to suit some, and as a Zenyatta fan, I would like to see a resonable amount of dirt racing against males as well .

Where are all the demands for Rachel facing males or even getting into the gate for her next race ???"

Nikki1997


I guess whatever Zenyatta does it will not be east of the Rockies or against males despite what the Mosses have said.



Year is not over .
http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_online.gif http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/images/buttons/green/report.gif (http://report.php?p=887869) http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/images/buttons/green/quote.gif (http://newreply.php?do=newreply&p=887869) http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/images/buttons/green/reply_small.gif (http://newreply.php?do=newreply&p=887869&noquote=1)

Nikki1997View Public Profile (http://member.php?userid=17297)Send a private message to Nikki1997 (http://private.php?do=newpm&userid=17297)Find More Posts by Nikki1997 (http://search.php?do=finduser&userid=17297)Add Nikki1997 to Your Buddy List (http://profile.php?do=addlist&userlist=buddy&u=17297)


http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/images/statusicon/post_old.gif 05-03-2010, 02:00 PM

[McSock]

I am constantly amazed at the audacity of many people concerning Zenyatta. Not one of the talking heads has a vested interest in the horse, but still insists they know better than the connection where and when she should be running. She can run every race this year in Southern California then go to the classic and “prove” everything she needs to prove. If she does not win the classic oh well.

I have not seen one person posting or even suggesting that RA should just come to CA to run again Zen. I am not a fan of the flubber tracks either, but damn it they are part of life now and I am not sure we will see it changed.

There is a mass of "know it all" gamblers and now hack writers trying to decide what is best for the horse. When they are clueless about what is planned for the horse, but still have to get in their two cents worth.

[Tom]

If Z should be obligated to facing only males, how is that Rachael avoids this new rule? Oh, yeah, I forgot, she can't even beat lowly females yet. :rolleyes:

Sit back, chill out, enjoy the two of them while you can. It's only May 6.

[miesque]

If Z should be obligated to facing only males, how is that Rachael avoids this new rule? Oh, yeah, I forgot, she can't even beat lowly females yet. :rolleyes:

Sit back, chill out, enjoy the two of them while you can. It's only May 6.

:ThmbUp: Very adeptly stated and yes, a lot of people really need to chill out about all of this and stop getting their panties into a twist.

[Hedevar]

Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 39
vCash: 400


Has anybody given any thought to, as I'm sure the Moses have, the fact that Zenyatta may not have to leave California until the BC. Unless Rachel Alexandra improves there will be no public hue and cry for Zenyatta to head east.

She can stay in California and beat the usual suspects. She could even take on males(not in a Handicap), although I am opposed to running mares against males except on rare occassions. True it would not be on dirt but I don't think the Mosses or Sheriffs care.

Sheriffs then gets her cranked up for the BC and she heads to Churchill for her swan song. I can only imagine the press.
http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/images/statusicon/user_online.gif http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/images/buttons/green/quote.gif (http://newreply.php?do=newreply&p=888292) http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/images/buttons/green/reply_small.gif (http://newreply.php?do=newreply&p=888292&noquote=1)

[fast4522]

I think let them cry, the owners of Zenyatta are having fun, they have the interest of the horse in keeping her motivated and wanting to run and the health of a extraordinary individual that she truly is. Everything else is on the public and not the horse.

[PaceAdvantage]

There is a mass of "know it all" gamblers and now hack writers trying to decide what is best for the horse. When they are clueless about what is planned for the horse, but still have to get in their two cents worth.So what you're saying is...we should simply trust only the opinions of anonymous Internet message board guys like you? Since the "know it all" gamblers and "hack" writers are now out of the question, guys like you seem to be the only remaining option....interesting...

[eastie]

Zenyatta wants to run at saratoga and see what it's all about there. We will definitely see her there this summer. it will be as big as Travers day. All hail the Queen.

[Audioslavery]

I've seen Zenyatta 8 times now here in Socal and already requested work off June 13th, I say, keep her here! ;)

[5k-claim]

When my brother and I made the trip from Kentucky to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup I didn't know that we would return home having witnessed one of the most exciting races in my lifetime. I would absolutely love to be able to recapture a little bit of that magic by seeing Zenyatta again in person before this year's BC. And that would mean her coming east. Maybe even against males on the dirt, that is fine with me. So in one sense, what I would WANT her owners to do is bring her east and run her in a race that could be endlessly debated for its fast (slow) figures and its strong (weak) field. But what I might want them to do has absolutely nothing to do with what they SHOULD do.

Her owners have ultimate decisions to make. And what they SHOULD do in making those decisions is what any owner of any horse should do. Get as good a group of trainer, exercise rider, groom, vet, farrier, hot walker, et al. as possible and then trust the people who actually have their hands on the horse every single day of her life to give input into the decision of what is in the very best interest of the horse, mentally and physically. Whatever it may be. Especially as they already have a race circled on the calendar at this year's Breeders' Cup, and have to map out a course accordingly.

Everything else needs to go in one ear and then directly out the other.