Rachel Alexandra-Zenyatta set for Apple Blossom confrontation

[tector]

Originally Posted by GPK

Great horses in the past never did such a thing, did they?

What would we do without the Golden Ages of Yore in every sport.....

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by GPK

Great horses in the past never did such a thing, did they?

no, but they are faster and they probably are for about 5 and half furlongs....then they can't run for months and months......yeah, this is way better.....lol

[dalakhani]

Ive certainly sided with Zenyatta camp on most of these issues but I dont think you can really blame Assmussen for his stance. He is preparing her for an entire campaign not just one race.

Besides, the longer he waits, the money just gets bigger and Zenyatta just gets older. The clock is on his side...Jackson's mortality not withstanding.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by GPK

Great horses in the past never did such a thing, did they?

not since I've been following racing since 1996 with a few exceptions

[Danzig]

regardless of where and how often we want these horses to race, we are at the complete mercy of the connections. hope you get to see them, but other than that, don't waste your time getting up in arms. all it'll do is raise your blood pressure.

[tector]

Originally Posted by Danzig

regardless of where and how often we want these horses to race, we are at the complete mercy of the connections. hope you get to see them, but other than that, don't waste your time getting up in arms. all it'll do is raise your blood pressure.

True enough, but I kind of resent the implication of some that the connections are being "arbitrary". In every sport people try to get leverage--teams try to get home field advantage, if possible, the "where and when" of boxing bouts are haggled, etc. But I think both camps here want to do right by their animals as well. One frigging race in April is not the whole ball of wax. Seems obvious enough, but....

[Indian Charlie]

Ass makes total sense.

I think the absolute worst spot for those two to matchup would be RA's second start back.

I've seen many fast horses come off a long layoff run really well first time back and then regress the next time out.

[Smooth Operator]

Bobby would've had her ready...

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by GPK

"Out of respect for the level of competition and then importance of this race, I have told Mr. Jackson it was not in the bet interest of the horse to race on April 3," Steve Asmussen, trainer of Rachel Alexandra, said in the press release. "Getting to this level of fitness after a six-month layoff takes time. If all goes according to schedule, and we don't have any further weather delays, the earliest we could have a prep race would be the middle of March. It is then not fair to Rachel to ask her to race again three weeks later."

Pretty funny considering the fact that Z's prep is exactly three weeks before the Blossom … and she's the one doing most of the traveling.

[Left Bank]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Bobby would've had her ready...

Bobby would have BEAT her already!

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Pretty funny considering the fact that Z's prep is exactly three weeks before the Blossom … and she's the one doing most of the traveling.

haha Z and traveling in the same post!

Hilarious!

Lets see her travel before we come to those conclusions!

[tector]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

haha Z and traveling in the same post!

Hilarious!

Lets see her travel before we come to those conclusions!

I am sure they will. Last year's approach did not work, and there is the genuine prospect of a monster in the handicap ranks. They can't try to play the same hand again.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by tector

I am sure they will. Last year's approach did not work, and there is the genuine prospect of a monster in the handicap ranks. They can't try to play the same hand again.

they only have to travel once out of state. zenyatta can take on tougher than she did last year without leaving california.

any year but last, zenyatta did enough to win HOY. they don't have to alter much of anything.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Danzig

they only have to travel once out of state. zenyatta can take on tougher than she did last year without leaving california.

any year but last, zenyatta did enough to win HOY. they don't have to alter much of anything.

really so do you suggest just shipping to the Classic at CD or do you think the Apple Blossom and a bunch Poly Races should be enough? Naybe she should go in the Zenyatta?lol

[Patrick333]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

Great...looking forward to more of the great sportsman Jess Jackson's press releases.

He's a piece of work isn't he. Did he bother the Moss's in his press release?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by freddymo

really so do you suggest just shipping to the Classic at CD or do you think the Apple Blossom and a bunch Poly Races should be enough? Naybe she should go in the Zenyatta?lol

hey, i'd like to see her ship all over. just don't think they plan to ship out of state other than to cd in the fall.
but i don't think they can keep her only in distaff company all year like last year, and expect any year end awards.

hell, why leave cali-it's the awesomest state ever!! just ask smooth operator, he'll tell you.

[Smooth Operator]

Forget about Z for a second … does anyone have a clue as to what the reigning Horse-of-the-Year's schedule is this season???


We know she's gunna duck Z in the AB … and QR in the MM … but does anyone know which big races she actually might be pointing to before the BC????

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by Danzig

hell, why leave cali-it's the awesomest state ever!! just ask smooth operator, he'll tell you.

Actually it's a dead heat … CA and HI.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Forget about Z for a second … does anyone have a clue as to what the reigning Horse-of-the-Year's schedule is this season???


We know she's gunna duck Z in the AB … and QR in the MM … but does anyone know which big races she actually might be pointing to before the BC????

I think is obvious, "The Lady Secret/Zenyatta and the other BS races Zenyatta barely won last year.. Then they can run in the BC Classic win and pander for HoY

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

Forget about Z for a second … does anyone have a clue as to what the reigning Horse-of-the-Year's schedule is this season???
We know she's gunna duck Z in the AB … and QR in the MM … but does anyone know which big races she actually might be pointing to before the BC????

neither schedule is clear. missing a race isn't ducking, but you know that.