Who Is Horse Of The Year?

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

I voted for Zenyatta and wonder how many people voted against her just because they hate poly. The Classic was open to Rachel and no doubt was a far tougher field than the Woodward. Seeing Zen wait for Twice Over to clear and then going outside to catch Gio does it for me. That said I'd fully support co-HOY's.

I'm sure it will balance out the amount of people who voted against Rachel because of her connections.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

its funny that people are saying running in the Woodward instead of the Travers is a knock on Rachel. I mean.. she had already kicked the 3yo colts butts in the Preakness and Haskell.. I guess two times isnt enough? Had to chicken out and take on open company!

So you are saying that the horses she faced in the Woodward were better than the Travers?

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

This was the crux of Jerry Bailey's argument about seven seconds after the Classic on Saturday. Zenyatta is clearly the "establishment" candidate in that regard.

Jerry Bailey sometimes needs to put a foot in his mouth. I mean.. everyone who follows racing knows that pinheads are, well, pinheads. This guy happened to be great at being a pinhead, though a pompous ******* pinhead (from most accounts).. and now that he's a retired pinhead suddenly he knows all?

He belongs on TVG. Though I have always been a Bailey hater.. well at least since Smarty's Belmont.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by jms62

So you are saying that the horses she faced in the Woodward were better than the Travers?

she already trounced the Travers horses (minus a QR of course)

Yes I am saying a 3yo filly taking on open company is the tougher choice.. I said that back in September also.

I still dont get the whole "travers was so much better than the woodward". The unknown factor of quality road was the only reason that could possibly be said. I mean, look who won the Travers and look what Rachel had done to that winner only weeks prior?

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

she already trounced the Travers horses (minus a QR of course)

Yes I am saying a 3yo filly taking on open company is the tougher choice.. I said that back in September also.

They are not as tough as Lethal Heat and Aanaba's Creation!

[slotdirt]

If this poll is indicative of the actual Eclipse awards voting, it would be embarassing. If Jess Jackson is considering bringing back Rachel Alexandra for next year, why bother? You dance every dance, beat all challengers in an historic season for a 3YO filly, and it's not worth the horse of the year award? I'd stick her in the barn and send her to Curlin in six months.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

I voted for Zenyatta and wonder how many people voted against her just because they hate poly. The Classic was open to Rachel and no doubt was a far tougher field than the Woodward. Seeing Zen wait for Twice Over to clear and then going outside to catch Gio does it for me. That said I'd fully support co-HOY's.

Oh no Dell not you too....People who were there had a Jesus moment, I get it....Polytrack into wine.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

If this poll is indicative of the actual Eclipse awards voting, it would be embarassing. If Jess Jackson is considering bringing back Rachel Alexandra for next year, why bother? You dance every dance, beat all challengers in an historic season for a 3YO filly, and it's not worth the horse of the year award? I'd stick her in the barn and send her to Curlin in six months.

Basically you would take your bat and go home. Isn't that a tad bit juvenile?

[slotdirt]

Well, it's not like he's definitely bringing her back anyway. If he's leaning one way or the other, getting jobbed in the awards process would definitely be a deterrent to returning her to training. This is Jess Jackson, Mr. Anti-Establishment in horse racing, after all.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by kgar311

So what other 8-8 horse that raced outside of the box all year long in ultra impressive fashion did Ghostzapper have to go up against on the west coast to solidify his claim as horse HOY?

Smarty Jones

Originally Posted by Sightseek

6 or 7 countries?

Kentucky, California, New York, Chicago, Miami, Ireland, and London.

Weren't you paying attention?

[Antitrust32]

It would be interesting to get Phils, or Scotts opinion on this since he saw Rachel live in the Preakness and Zenyatta in the BC.. Scott was there for woodward, and BC..

What do you two think?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by jms62

So you are saying that the horses she faced in the Woodward were better than the Travers?

i think she and others (like me) are saying she'd already beaten the cream of the three year old crop twice, so they chose to cover new ground. zenyatta may be the first distaffer to win the classic.. but don't forget that rachel is the first ever to win the woodward. she's also the first 3 yo filly to win a two turn gr 1 over older males.

[slotdirt]

Don't forget that the Woodward reads like a who's who in horse racing over the last 50 years when one considers that horses like Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, Forego, Kelso, Damascus, Arts and Letters, Seattle Slew and more recently Saint Liam, Ghostzapper, and Skip Away have all won the race. Advantage Rachel Alexandra in terms of historical significance.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

It would be interesting to get Phils, or Scotts opinion on this since he saw Rachel live in the Preakness and Zenyatta in the BC.. Scott was there for woodward, and BC..

What do you two think?

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[goodcopy]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

6 or 7 countries?

Canada,United kingdom,France United Arab Emirats,Irerland,United States and I believe Italy

[goodcopy]

Originally Posted by Danzig

lol
she ran vs colts three different times. but she still gets grief for what she didn't do. hilarious.

I love this fillie and give her all the credit due but the fact remains she did not face a field 1/2 as accomplished as Zennadda

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by goodcopy

I love this fillie and give her all the credit due but the fact remains she did not face a field 1/2 as accomplished as Zennadda

i would disagree. only zenyattas last race included horses that were worth much, and many of them had already faced and been beaten by rachel. the rest were on par with what ran in the woodward.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by philcski

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would you be upset about co-HOY of the year? By the way that was some great steak we had!!!! and Scott seemed OK w/HOY. You guys are great and this was the year of the females no doubt about it. Give them both HOY and make everyone happy!!

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i would disagree. only zenyattas last race included horses that were worth much, and many of them had already faced and been beaten by rachel. the rest were on par with what ran in the woodward.

That's almost RIOT funny!!!

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by CSC

It doesn't absolve why RA didn't run after Sept 5, why do so many of her backers choose to ignore this?

They don't like SoCal and/or Synthetic. Just vote, and forget this effort. One horse is drawing away (with gusto) in one of the 2 biggest purse races in the world. She showed up on the biggest stage, and romped. Simply fkn romped, and still what do you hear? "She didn't do enough." Neither did anything wrong, but R.A. didn't even run in the biggest race for 3 year olds this year( K Derby.) She's a 3 year old. If you want to match up with Zenyata, then you should at least have won the biggest race for a 3 year old, or won this race that Zenyata showed up for. Zenyata won the biggest race she could of been in this year. She's the only filly or mare to win this race. Hasn't ever been done (in the 25 year history.) Winning Colors won the Derby. R.A. didn't even run in it. She won a Triple Crown race. Then, she ducked both the Belmont and BC Classic. Hey, if you want to ignore the mare that accomplished the biggest feat (for her sex) in 25 years of horseracing, then you go right ahead. Surely, R.A. winning those other races was more important to ya. At some point, doing something your sex hasn't come close to doing in 25 years should get a little respect.