8/8 (AP): Arlington Million (G1); Beverly D (G1); Secretariat (G1)

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fischer

this was a good effort today for Ponti.

the Classic does maybe fit him better than the Turf anyway. If you get Zenyatta, and a couple of the top Euros in the Classic and Ponti that could be another great race. Avoiding the Classic is starting to look like a mistake for Rachel.

He wasn't quite as good over it as he is on turf though. Went off favored in the Strub and got beat by some horses that are currently banging around high priced claiming company in California.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

HOY is a longshot for him because of the two girls

The way I see it:

Rachel Alexandra: 4 G1 wins (Female beating males 2x trumps all)
Gio Ponti: 4 G1 wins
Zenyatta: 1 G1 1 win, 1 G2 win

Zenyatta has lots of catching-up to do for mid-August.

[Danzig]

zenyatta has to either face rachel or face males and win to get HOY at this point. as for gio ponti, since there are main track alternatives, i don't think he has a shot at HOY. turfers just don't get the respect.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

The way I see it:

Rachel Alexandra: 4 G1 wins (Female beating males 2x trumps all)
Gio Ponti: 4 G1 wins
Zenyatta: 1 G1 1 win, 1 G2 win

Zenyatta has lots of catching-up to do for mid-August.

You know how I feel about Gio Ponti but his 4 GI wins have nowhere near the weight that Rachel's do.

If her 2009 campaign were to be over right now the only way GP wins HOTY is if Zenyatta stays in the berry patch division and wins the Distaff and he wins the Classic.

There's not a turf race coming up worth running him in so I'd point him to the Goodwood and if he runs well there then go to the Classic.

NT

[CSC]

Will Gio Ponti try synth? At this stage I would say why not. The current state of the older division is not overwhelming at the moment that it wouldn' take a leap of form for him to be competitive.

[randallscott35]

Euros they brought over stink. Where's Conduit when you need him.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

You know how I feel about Gio Ponti but his 4 GI wins have nowhere near the weight that Rachel's do.

If her 2009 campaign were to be over right now the only way GP wins HOTY is if Zenyatta stays in the berry patch division and wins the Distaff and he wins the Classic.

There's not a turf race coming up worth running him in so I'd point him to the Goodwood and if he runs well there then go to the Classic.

NT

As of right now, no, Rachel has the edge, but remember Rachel is going to stop before the Breeders' Cup (or at this point, not run) which will produce a yet-to-be-determined reaction from voters. This is all speculating but there are numerous outcomes which can make it interesting.

Regardless, it's cool that Gio Ponti is doing what he's doing while the dirt elders are winning their first G1's in our most prestigious races.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

As of right now, no, Rachel has the edge, but remember Rachel is going to stop before the Breeders' Cup (or at this point, not run) which will produce a yet-to-be-determined reaction from voters. This is all speculating but there are numerous outcomes which can make it interesting.

Regardless, it's cool that Gio Ponti is doing what he's doing while the dirt elders are winning their first G1's in our most prestigious races.

Mineshaft, Point Given, Charismatic, Holy Bull, Criminal Type, Spend a Buck, and John Henry all won HOY without running in the BC and a Smarty Jones would have if not for Ghostzapper's Classic win. It's unfortunate because I agree with what I think is your opinion of Gio Ponti. He's faced and beaten better than she has and in most years, would be a prime candidate. But she's done more than just win races. She's captured the imagination and that's worth a few more wins. It's going to take something really special to overtake her and I don't know that what he'd need is available out there, especially if she were to do something like win the Woodward or the Travers.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Mineshaft, Point Given, Charismatic, Holy Bull, Criminal Type, Spend a Buck, and John Henry all won HOY without running in the BC and a Smarty Jones would have if not for Ghostzapper's Classic win. It's unfortunate because I agree with what I think is your opinion of Gio Ponti. He's faced and beaten better than she has and in most years, would be a prime candidate. But she's done more than just win races. She's captured the imagination and that's worth a few more wins. It's going to take something really special to overtake her and I don't know that what he'd need is available out there, especially if she were to do something like win the Woodward or the Travers.

IMO, If Zenyatta were to win the Pacific Classic and the BCC nothing Rachel does would matter, as far as horse of the year.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

IMO, If Zenyatta were to win the Pacific Classic and the BCC nothing Rachel does would matter, as far as horse of the year.

Careful on that limb you just climbed onto.

NT

[chucklestheclown]

Originally Posted by CSC

Not that I bet the race but watching Mike Smith on Mr. Big in the 4th at Delmar improves Zenyatta's resume in my eyes, staying undefeated with Mr. Wide is an accomplishment that shouldn't never be understated.

I thought that was the plan for his other entry

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Careful on that limb you just climbed onto.

NT

I realize Im not going out on a limb, but a lot of people around here act like Rachel is HOY already.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Euros they brought over stink. Where's Conduit when you need him.

I posted prior to The Arlington Million to adjust picks accordingly when the ground was obviously on the slow side, Cima probably needs firmer going to be more effective however that is to take nothing away from Gio Ponti, he was very good today and has run 2 crackers in a row to borrow a Vic Stauffer line.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

IMO, If Zenyatta were to win the Pacific Classic and the BCC nothing Rachel does would matter, as far as horse of the year.

I'm guessing that if Rachel retired tomorrow, she wins no matter what any of them do. If she were to win the Woodward or Travers, Zenyatta could win the Pacific Classic, go to NY and win the JCGC, win the Distaff and the Classic on the same day and that might get her a couple of votes. This contest is over.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I'm guessing that if Rachel retired tomorrow, she wins no matter what any of them do. If she were to win the Woodward or Travers, Zenyatta could win the Pacific Classic, go to NY and win the JCGC, win the Distaff and the Classic on the same day and that might get her a couple of votes. This contest is over.

If Jackson is too chicken sh*t too race in the BC, she doesn't deserve HOY.

No need to respond..I know the responses all too well

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by GBBob

If Jackson is too chicken sh*t too race in the BC, she doesn't deserve HOY.

No need to respond..I know the responses all too well

Oh hush. How about that response?

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Oh hush. How about that response?

Dirt Rules

happy?

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by GBBob

Dirt Rules

happy?

That's a passive-aggressive bogus response too. But either way, I'm too exhausted from giving away my money today to really argue.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I'm guessing that if Rachel retired tomorrow, she wins no matter what any of them do. If she were to win the Woodward or Travers, Zenyatta could win the Pacific Classic, go to NY and win the JCGC, win the Distaff and the Classic on the same day and that might get her a couple of votes. This contest is over.

Ok I hate arguing this, because I feel Rachel is better, but I think your wrong.

If Zenyatta wins tomorrrow, wins the Pacific Classic, and The BCC it is all over. If she retires UNDEFEATED and beats OLDER MALES twice it will not matter what Rachel does.

As for her going to The Travers I highly doubt it. She would be far from a lock in that race, Quality Road is really good.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

Good call on Dynaforce. Hope you at least backed your opinion with a win bet.

Worst day of my handicapping career out there today. F'n Romancaca wins because of bs configurations, then that cow of a horse Dynaforce goes and wins, and then the diseased cow Stotsfold can't out grind Just as Well for 2nd.....

Grand!