Rachel Alexandra-Zenyatta set for Apple Blossom confrontation

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Way to keep the hope alive Dougie!

hey, hopes about all they have...lol

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Why not?

Because Zenyatta toyed with donkeys and RA "only manged" to run about a 100 Beyer in a route race comeback for a trainer who is statistically close to being the worst trainer in the entire game off the layoff.

I'm sure they wish they had more time .. but RA obviously has a big chance in the Apple Blossom if they don't chicken out and stall for more time.

I got the Zen beyer about 90 to 92, what do you have. Clearly RA ran the superior race.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Why not?

Because Zenyatta toyed with donkeys and RA "only manged" to run about a 100 Beyer in a route race comeback for a trainer who is statistically close to being the worst trainer in the entire game off the layoff.

I'm sure they wish they had more time .. but RA obviously has a big chance in the Apple Blossom if they don't chicken out and stall for more time.

As I have written previously, a loss at FG takes the pressure off of RA's camp should they decide to skip the Apple Blossom and train her up into the La Troienne. They can now save face and skip the Hot Springs race. I think Jackson has this fear that RA would be 90% for the Blossom, lose to Zenyatta, and then Zenyatta would never again leave SoCal. If RA shows up in the Stephen Foster, Woodward, and BC Classic, then Z will have to engage her at some point along the road.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

As I have written previously, a loss at FG takes the pressure off of RA's camp should they decide to skip the Apple Blossom and train her up into the La Troienne. They can now save face and skip the Hot Springs race. I think Jackson has this fear that RA would be 90% for the Blossom, lose to Zenyatta, and then Zenyatta would never again leave SoCal. If RA shows up in the Stephen Foster, Woodward, and BC Classic, then Z will have to engage her at some point along the road.

So you think the Zenyatta camp fears RA?

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by geeker2

So you think the Zenyatta camp fears RA?

The Zenyatta camp fears the whole east coast, judging by her PPs

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by geeker2

So you think the Zenyatta camp fears RA?

I'm not sure they would ship to NM to face Pepper's Pride Kev..

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by geeker2

So you think the Zenyatta camp fears RA?

If the last two years are any basis, I think they fear leaving Southern California. I would love to see RA, Z, Summer Bird, and Quality Road all show up in the Stephen Foster at the top of their games.

Certainly Moss has tired of beating up on basically the same horses in SoCal. Doesn't he want his prized mare competing against males on the East Coast? Lady's Secret did it. Personal Ensign did it. RA did it. Wait a second, I just mentioned the last three females who were Horse of the Year.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

If the last two years are any basis, I think they fear leaving Southern California. I would love to see RA, Z, Summer Bird, and Quality Road all show up in the Stephen Foster at the top of their games.

Certainly Moss has tired of beating up on basically the same horses in SoCal. Doesn't he want his prized mare competing against males on the East Coast? Lady's Secret did it. Personal Ensign did it. RA did it. Wait a second, I just mentioned the last three females who were Horse of the Year.

So when Z doesn't show up at the Apple Blossom I guess we'll know that they are ducking RA...

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

If the last two years are any basis, I think they fear leaving Southern California. I would love to see RA, Z, Summer Bird, and Quality Road all show up in the Stephen Foster at the top of their games.

Certainly Moss has tired of beating up on basically the same horses in SoCal. Doesn't he want his prized mare competing against males on the East Coast? Lady's Secret did it. Personal Ensign did it. RA did it. Wait a second, I just mentioned the last three females who were Horse of the Year.

Looking at personal ensign she definitely feared taking on males on the west coast!

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

If the last two years are any basis, I think they fear leaving Southern California.

As I'm sure you know, the BC was at Santa Anita the last two years. Since obviously its taken hold with many in the racing business as the end-all to every racing season and that to run outside CA is to not run on synthetics, one can hardly blame Zenyatta's connections for not shipping. I doubt fear was involved in her campaigning last year.

As far as Moss or her fan base being tired of her beating on the same old rivals, I think today's race reveals a somewhat disappointing possibility. Zenyatta faced the worst field of her career today, but because of a less than stellar trip, she made things quite exciting.

Is it possible that these "one hand tied behind my back" efforts will be enough to keep the public satisfied that she's an all-timer?

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

As I'm sure you know, the BC was at Santa Anita the last two years. Since obviously its taken hold with many in the racing business as the end-all to every racing season and that to run outside CA is to not run on synthetics, one can hardly blame Zenyatta's connections for not shipping. I doubt fear was involved in her campaigning last year.

As far as Moss or her fan base being tired of her beating on the same old rivals, I think today's race reveals a somewhat disappointing possibility. Zenyatta faced the worst field of her career today, but because of a less than stellar trip, she made things quite exciting.

Is it possible that these "one hand tied behind my back" efforts will be enough to keep the public satisfied that she's an all-timer?

The reasonable route is often not the most challenging or exciting path. I want to see Zenyatta stray from her comfort zone. If Moss has the best horse in North America, then he should prove it beyond all reasonable doubt by racing her against top males on a conventional dirt surface at least once this year. If Zenyatta runs in the BC again, it will be interesting to see whether she shows up in the Distaff or the Classic.

[copying]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

The reasonable route is often not the most challenging or exciting path. I want to see Zenyatta stray from her comfort zone. If Moss has the best horse in North America, then he should prove it beyond all reasonable doubt by racing her against top males on a conventional dirt surface at least once this year. If Zenyatta runs in the BC again, it will be interesting to see whether she shows up in the Distaff or the Classic.

Why face males on dirt? I thought RA already showed she is better than any of them. If you can't beat little Z, how you gonna beat big Z? Too bad Sherriff retired LIS, you could have shot for the moon and tried to beat his second string.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

Certainly Moss has tired of beating up on basically the same horses in SoCal. Doesn't he want his prized mare competing against males on the East Coast? Lady's Secret did it. Personal Ensign did it. RA did it. Wait a second, I just mentioned the last three females who were Horse of the Year.

No, you missed the West Coast-based Azeri, who never ran against the boys when she was HOY.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I'm not sure they would ship to NM to face Pepper's Pride Kev..

They fear Colonel Klink

Not sure how you run a short horse especially if it is the reigning HOY but that's what we got folks from team Asmussen yesterday. I for one am not convinced that what I saw yesterday was a short horse or a horse that may not get back to the level of performance we saw last year.

Rachel was just plain average at best yesterday and at 1-9 and should have easily defeated this bunch if she was short, missing one leg, etc.... Forget the Apple Blossom fans,,,you need to wonder now if you saw Rachel for the last time yesterday.


Scat OUT

[Danzig]

from bloodhorse:

There was some doubt from Rachel Alexandra’s camp after the race as to whether she would still be pointed toward the Apple Blossom.
"We'll have to be cautious. We want to do what's right for the mare," Asmussen said. "The filly's lacking fitness. It was my job to have her there, and I didn't do it.
“How tired she is off of that will be established in the coming days. She’s not where I thought she was and if I had thought she’d get beat she wouldn’t run. You take her back, you evaluate her, you see how her mood is, her diet, how she goes back to the racetrack, how she breezes. No crystal ball could see that far ahead."

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

No, you missed the West Coast-based Azeri, who never ran against the boys when she was HOY.

I always forget about Azeri. Probably because I was never a big fan of her.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by scat daddy

Not sure how you run a short horse especially if it is the reigning HOY but that's what we got folks from team Asmussen yesterday. I for one am not convinced that what I saw yesterday was a short horse or a horse that may not get back to the level of performance we saw last year.

Rachel was just plain average at best yesterday and at 1-9 and should have easily defeated this bunch if she was short, missing one leg, etc.... Forget the Apple Blossom fans,,,you need to wonder now if you saw Rachel for the last time yesterday.


Scat OUT

Maybe she was a bit short yesterday, but it might turn out that Zardana isn't a plug either. She might be a horse that just wants to run on the dirt. But some credit should be given to her and her connections, even if Shirreffs just sent her their to be a fly in the ointment.

[Phalaris1913]

I always forget about Azeri. Probably because I was never a big fan of her.

You forgot that, yet you remember Personal Ensign being HOY? (She was not.) Interesting revisionist history.

[Revidere]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Looking at personal ensign she definitely feared taking on males on the west coast!

Yes, defeating Gulch and King's Swan was the immortal equivalent of vanquishing Man O'War and Secretariat. Why go West?