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

[magwell]

Originally Posted by cj

She wasn't even the best filly or mare that ran today!

That's why they make chocolate and vanilla partner,Goldie is a great one but shes no Zen, we seen a freak run today probably not to be seen again in our lifetime.

[Charlie D]

Originally Posted by magwell

That's why they make chocolate and vanilla partner,Goldie is a great one but shes no Zen, we seen a freak run today probably not to be seen again in our lifetime.

You will as horses with the kind ability of come along pretty regular as they are not freaks as you put it.

[Marlin]

Originally Posted by magwell

That's why they make chocolate and vanilla partner,Goldie is a great one but shes no Zen, we seen a freak run today probably not to be seen again in our lifetime.

I agree. Goldikova is the best miler in the world. The best in a long time. But specialists like her will always take a back seat in my opinion. You have to go a bit down the list to find a specialist (milers, sprinters, turfers) in the rankings of the all time greats.
Now if you want to argue Zenyatta's ranking, it certainly is up for debate. But IMHO it is higher than Goldie. What is more likely? Zenyatta hitting the board in the mile or Goldie hitting the board in the classic? Goldie is lucky she races in Europe because people here would be all over her connections for not racing on the dirt or at longer distances.

[PhantomOnTour]

What I've learned after watching today's BC Classic:

A) Trevor has got to go...gimme Durkin, Collmus, anyone....except Wallace.

B) it's tough to beat someone on their home turf, ain't it?

C) sometimes you gain more respect and admiration in defeat than in victory.

[Jasonm921]

Turf horses always getva pass. We demand more from our dirt runners. Goldikova is a great mare. The best in her element although I still believe Lure was the better miler but it is very debatable.

[Marlin]

Originally Posted by Jasonm921

Turf horses always getva pass. We demand more from our dirt runners. Goldikova is a great mare. The best in her element although I still believe Lure was the better miler but it is very debatable.

Lure was ranked 85th in the Bloodhorse's top 100 of the 1900s.

[Charlie D]

Originally Posted by Marlin

I agree. Goldikova is the best miler in the world. The best in a long time. But specialists like her will always take a back seat in my opinion. You have to go a bit down the list to find a specialist (milers, sprinters, turfers) in the rankings of the all time greats.
Now if you want to argue Zenyatta's ranking, it certainly is up for debate. But IMHO it is higher than Goldie. What is more likely? Zenyatta hitting the board in the mile or Goldie hitting the board in the classic? Goldie is lucky she races in Europe because people here would be all over her connections for not racing on the dirt or at longer distances.

Goldi has raced at longer distance actually and got well beaten, but it wasn't by a tomato can, that is unless you consider Zarkava one

[Nikki1997]

Originally Posted by pandy

When I saw Ruffian live in person I thought for sure that I'd never see a better filly, but I think that Zenyatta is at least as good, and probably better. The interesting thing is that they are complete opposites, Ruffian was better at shorter distances and the fastest early speed horse I've ever seen, ran them into the ground and coasted home. Zen crawls early and finishes faster than any horse I've ever seen, prefers more distance. Ruffian would be unbeatable at a mile or shorter. In my opinion she was the fastest sprinter/miler that ever lived, regardless of sex.

Ruffian won at 10 and 12 furlongs--her last furlong of the 12 covered in 11 and change. She was built and bred to stay, but was very much the frontrunner .

She was not a sprinter miler regardless of her achievements at those distances. Had she survived the match, you would have seen her running more than the three times she did at classic distances.

As a Z fan, I will say Ruffian was perhaps more versatile at a variety of distances, though her style like Zenyatta's was one dimensional .

Ruffian had to be in front, Z behind . In that respect only were they complete opposites .

MIKKI

[Marlin]

Originally Posted by Nikki1997

Ruffian won at 10 and 12 furlongs--her last furlong of the 12 covered in 11 and change. She was built and bred to stay, but was very much the frontrunner .

She was not a sprinter miler regardless of her achievements at those distances. Had she survived the match, you would have seen her running more than the three times she did at classic distances.

As a Z fan, I will say Ruffian was perhaps more versatile at a variety of distances, though her style like Zenyatta's was one dimensional .

Ruffian had to be in front, Z behind . In that respect only were they complete opposites .

MIKKI

Pulling this Bloodhorse Top 100 of the 20th century was a great idea. It is a great read. They had Ruffian 35th. Of course this excludes the last ten years but Zenyatta would certainly fall somewhere around there. Id be somewhat comfortable moving her in front of Easy Goer at 34. Less so moving her by Skip Away at 32. And no way I could move her by Sunday Silence at 31.

[andymays]

http://www.horseraceinsider.com/Bree...ing-for-blame/

Excerpt:

“I was just having a rough time of it going underneath the white wire the first time. She just wasn’t leveling out like I wanted to. The dirt hitting her in the face was a lot of it. She just wasn’t used to that part.

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[PhantomOnTour]

Originally Posted by Marlin

Pulling this Bloodhorse Top 100 of the 20th century was a great idea. It is a great read. They had Ruffian 35th. Of course this excludes the last ten years but Zenyatta would certainly fall somewhere around there. Id be somewhat comfortable moving her in front of Easy Goer at 34. Less so moving her by Skip Away at 32. And no way I could move her by Sunday Silence at 31.

Who is the highest rated filly/mare? Is it Ruffian at 35?

[Marlin]

Originally Posted by PhantomOnTour

Who is the highest rated filly/mare? Is it Ruffian at 35?

Yes. The next is Busher at 40.

[Man o' War]

Well Zenyatta…..going 19 for 20 ain’t bad. You didn’t expect to top my 20 for 21 did you? Or the Dancer’s 21 for 22? Damned ‘UPSET’, I should have been perfect too! Now after today, I’m beginning to think the Lord won’t let us be perfect so I will not ‘BLAME’ your loss on any lack of 'class' on your part. Welcome to the club!! And you’re the first female by the way….

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by andymays

http://www.horseraceinsider.com/Bree...ing-for-blame/

Excerpt:

“I was just having a rough time of it going underneath the white wire the first time. She just wasn’t leveling out like I wanted to. The dirt hitting her in the face was a lot of it. She just wasn’t used to that part.

-------------------------------------------------------

How can it be that a mare like Zenyatta, who consistently and without fail races at the back of the pack for much of every race, is NOT USED to dirt (or synth for that matter) getting kicked up into her face? I find this a little hard to believe now that I have had a moment to think about it.

[WJ47]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

She impressed me more today than ever before...she's a tremendous race horse and a tremendous mare.

I didn't think Zenyatta would be close with her speed and pace figures. She made a fool out of me! What a heart she has. I'm also more impressed with her today even though she lost the race.