I have to give Zenyatta her due. She's a Champ. Hats off to Blame

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by tucker6

I think she got a really good trip from Mike.

after watching the replay a couple of times, I agree.

[HuggingTheRail]

After a race like that, it makes me wonder if they will consider racing her once more....

[Stillriledup]

Zenyatta is a great champion. What a race.



I've paid my dues -
Time after time -
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime -
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -
But I've come through

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls -
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
-
I thank you all -

But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise -
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
And I ain't gonna lose -

We are the champions - my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end -
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world

[cpitt84]

Smith, who was in tears, said: "It was a little struggle for me early as she surprised me in that she didn't get a hold of the ground.

"If we'd got a better position it would have been a different outcome because I was on the best horse in the race, trust me.

"I'm overwhelmed with emotion because I just feel that I have let her down and it is all too much to take.

"The crowd was roaring so hard that she pricked her ears."

[Tom]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

after watching the replay a couple of times, I agree.

He's saying it was his fault she lost.
I don't agree.

[cj]

Originally Posted by gm10

Mike Smith didn't have an easy task and I'm not sure he made that many mistakes. Zenyatta was the best horse in the race but Blame got the jump on her and then it becomes very difficult to run him down, epecially when you have to wait for the gaps to appear.

One thing I know for sure is that she will never be the same mare again. Mike Smith destroyed her with his whip a la Borel on RA last year. It's likely that this has soured her on racing for good.

The view from the blimp completely contradicts this post. Her trip was fine. Why is she the best horse, because she has no early speed unlike Blame? Neither had to wait at all, very clean runs.

She ran great, please don't belittle her effort with lame excuses.

[davefulche]

Heart-stopping race. I bombed out on the betting earlier in the card and decided to just sit back and watch. Rooted harder for Zen than I have on couple K pick 3's and 4's. Today's race impressed me more than anything. I actually feel for Mike Smith.....has to be heartbroken. I am not a huge Mike Smith fan and never have been, but wanted him to get there so bad. Great race...that's what its all about.

[bigmack]

Originally Posted by cj

She was very good. She is what many of us thought that she is, a very good horse that was overrated because of the surface/schedule. There were no excuses today. I only wish she had been tested more often, because she certainly would have passed some of them.

So much for your prediction on the call of the race and blame being put on "The Rockies"

Originally Posted by cj

...and Zenyatter a well beaten 6th.

[CincyHorseplayer]

Oh man.I'm a mess.I have enjoyed this girl's run.Today I did not think she was good enough on dirt vs a pretty solid field.I just didn't think she was fast enough on this surface.I saw that move she put on,stood up like a shot,not giving a rat's a$s about my tickets and said "She's gonna do it,go,go,go,go!".

Immediate tears and a surge of emotion.She was good enough enough,on dirt,vs big boys,it was her distance.I can't help but think about what might have been had the record not been the loftier goal.She could have been the best handicap horse in the country for years,maybe a defeat here or there.

But whatever,she was good enough,and she just missed by a jump.She proved she is a champ to any doubters IMO.What a racehorse.And it was sad to see her walk off,looking confused that she wasn't in the winner's circle.

I am objective,but not an unsentimental horseplayer.I'm pretty heartbroken right now.But man what gal.I'll miss her.Cheers girl,this one's for you!!

[cpitt84]

Ultimately, the traffic weaving and the lengths back sealed her fate.

[bcgreg]

Originally Posted by gm10

One thing I know for sure is that she will never be the same mare again. Mike Smith destroyed her with his whip a la Borel on RA last year. It's likely that this has soured her on racing for good.

I do not post often but I just cannot resist...

I WISH TO HELL YOU WOULD SHUT UP!

bcgreg

[Pick6]

Originally Posted by cj

The view from the blimp completely contradicts this post. Her trip was fine. Why is she the best horse, because she has no early speed unlike Blame? Neither had to wait at all, very clean runs.

She ran great, please don't belittle her effort with lame excuses.

You can only give up so much ground early on. It was obvious today she gave up WAY too much ground early on.

When she got it in gear, she was clearly the best of the bunch. But it's who finishes first that matters. Racing.

[GregReinhart]

I just hope it doesn't get "lost in the shuffle" that Blame won the race. I give all the credit in the world to Zenyatta, she ran a great race, but just like he did in his other G1 wins this year, Blame found a way to get to the wire first.

[jognlope]

I got the 10 cent superfecta but it's a blah win, $48, very blah, because I would have rather taken $4 for Zenyatta to win.

[JimG]

Zenyatta got beat by a better horse today. However, her connections have nothing to be ashamed of.

Jim