Valiant loss puts Zenyatta's prowess in perspective

[CSC]

By Andrew Beyer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 7, 2010; 9:12 PM

The nationwide television audience watching "Zenyatta: A Quest for Perfection" and the 72,739 people cheering for the mare at Churchill Downs surely felt deflated when she lost to Blame in the Breeders' Cup Classic. They shouldn't have despaired. Zenyatta was more ennobled by this defeat than by almost anything she did during the 19-race winning streak she brought into Saturday's race.

Rest is on The Washington Post...

[Dahoss]

Here's the link to the article

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...110704076.html


Very good read IMO

[CSC]

Well written and fair.

[CSC]

Still quiet...This exerpt from Mr. Beyer should get the critics riled up:

However, Zenyatta's fans can make a reasonable claim that she should be considered the greatest U.S. filly or mare of all time. Any argument on the subject will be complicated by the fact that Zenyatta's one-dimensional stretch-running style would put her at a tactical disadvantage on the dirt in a hypothetical matchup against other great fillies such as Ruffian and Rachel Alexandra. But Zenyatta's historic winning streak and her two performances in the Classic constitute a formidable body of work, and nobody ought to hold her one defeat against her.

[Dahoss]

He basically said what everyone here has said since the race ended. Maybe it's quiet because the arguement has been going on for 24 hours already.

Just a guess.

[miraja2]

Hard to disagree with any of that.

Personally I certainly don't think she deserves the title of best filly/mare ever, but for those who do want to make the case that she is, I don't think her 2nd place finish yesterday really detracts from their argument one bit. Obviously their argument would be stronger if she had won the race, but overall I agree with Beyer in thinking more of her today than I did on Friday.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by CSC

Still quiet...This exerpt from Mr. Beyer should get the critics riled up:

However, Zenyatta's fans can make a reasonable claim that she should be considered the greatest U.S. filly or mare of all time. Any argument on the subject will be complicated by the fact that Zenyatta's one-dimensional stretch-running style would put her at a tactical disadvantage on the dirt in a hypothetical matchup against other great fillies such as Ruffian and Rachel Alexandra. But Zenyatta's historic winning streak and her two performances in the Classic constitute a formidable body of work, and nobody ought to hold her one defeat against her.

I've always said that in a hypothetical race between Rachel and Zenyatta, if the distance was 9F and it was a race only open to fillies and mares that Rachel would have the edge because "average" Grade 1 fillies and mares typically would not have enough quality to keep her honest on the lead.

However, if they met at 9F in a race open to Grade 1 males also, I think Zenyatta would have the edge because average Grade 1 males would be of similar quality to both the super star girls and keep Rachel honest allowing Zenyatta to beat her.

If the met at 10F Rachel would need help to beat her no matter what.

I think Zenyatta's connections understood that also and that's why they wanted to get her in the Classic where they would have an enormous advantage because the pace would at least be honest and it would be 10F.

In fact, I think Rachel's connections understood that also and that's why they avoided 10F last year and dropped out after her performance this year at 10F under pressure (sub par or not).

[CSC]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

I've always said that in a hypothetical race between Rachel and Zenyatta, if the distance was 9F and it was a race only open to fillies and mares that Rachel would have the edge because "average" Grade 1 fillies and mares typically would not have enough quality to keep her honest on the lead.

However, if they met at 9F in a race open to Grade 1 males also, I think Zenyatta would have the edge because average Grade 1 males would be of similar quality to both the super star girls and keep Rachel honest allowing Zenyatta to beat her.

If the met at 10F Rachel would need help to beat no matter what.

I think Zenyatta's connections understood that also and that's why they wanted to get her in the Classic where they would have an enormous advantage because the pace would at least be honest and it would be 10F.

In fact, I think Rachel's connections understood that also and that's why they avoided 10F last year and dropped out after her performance this year at 10F under pressure (sub par or not).

Looks like I won't get any work done today, yes I agree, in a match race Rachel would have the advantage. With Life at 10's situation Fri, maybe Rachel wins the ladies distaff, she finishes no worst than 2nd in my opinion, if she runs in the classic she probably finishes towards the rear.

[tector]

Seems about right to me.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...110704076.html

Valiant loss puts Zenyatta's prowess in perspective

By Andrew Beyer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 8, 2010; 12:26 AM

The nationwide television audience watching "Zenyatta: A Quest for Perfection" and the 72,739 people cheering for the mare at Churchill Downs surely felt deflated when she lost to Blame in the Breeders' Cup Classic. They shouldn't have despaired. Zenyatta was more ennobled by this defeat than by almost anything she did during the 19-race winning streak she brought into Saturday's race.

Although she regularly won races with electrifying rallies in the stretch, none was so impressive as her charge from a hopeless position with a half mile to run-dead last and 15 lengths behind the leaders-that brought her into a photo finish with Blame.

Because the finish was so close, many fans have second-guessed jockey Mike Smith for letting the mare drop too far behind in the early stages of the race. Smith blamed himself, too, saying, "I feel like I let her down. I left her too much to do. I had to put the brakes on at the quarter pole. . . . I just know she was the best horse in the race."

Smith was being too hard on himself. In fact, he secured for Zenyatta a trip as smooth as a horse can reasonably expect when coming from last place in a 12-horse field. The mare saved ground around most of the turn, eased to the outside for clear running room, and never had her momentum broken. She was so far behind not because of any tactical error by Smith but because of the way the Classic developed. It underscored the fundamental differences between races on dirt and the synthetic tracks where Zenyatta had posted 17 of her victories.

[Dunbar]

Here's a link to Beyer's Washington Post article on Zenyatta in the Classic:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...110704076.html

As Rupert predicted in another thread, Beyer lauds Zenyatta's performance. For example, Beyer writes "...With a quarter-mile to go, it appeared impossible that the mare could gain significant ground on a strong finisher like Blame, yet she almost made up all five lengths with a phenomenal rally through the stretch. "

His final paragraph was generous, too:

"...Zenyatta's fans can make a reasonable claim that she should be considered the greatest U.S. filly or mare of all time. Any argument on the subject will be complicated by the fact that Zenyatta's one-dimensional stretch-running style would put her at a tactical disadvantage on the dirt in a hypothetical matchup against other great fillies such as Ruffian and Rachel Alexandra. But Zenyatta's historic winning streak and her two performances in the Classic constitute a formidable body of work, and nobody ought to hold her one defeat against her."

I realize that Beyer is not endorsing the 'greatest U.S. filly or mare of all time' view as his own view. But he IS saying it is a reasonable view.

--Dunbar

Edited...sorry for starting a new thread. Somehow missed the original!

[Princess Doreen]

We know -

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39353