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.

[Smooth Operator]

...Zenyatta's fans can make a reasonable claim that she should be considered the greatest U.S. filly or mare of all time.


Cannon may just fire bomb Andy's house after that one


So ends a truly great career for the most talented older race mare I have ever seen. -- SD


Think he already has a contract out on Davidowitz' life … lol


http://www.gradeoneracing.com/davidowitz.htm?read=74

[Dahoss]

lol

[CSC]

Originally Posted by 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.

This was essentially the point I was trying to make yesterday when we exchanged replies, it was a loss in the record book but it certainly doesn't detract from her legacy. For the record I never said she was the greatest, I think there is this misconception out there by some that if you cheer, admire Zenyatta you get lumped into a group that may or may not think she is the greatest, Beyer hit the nail on this one, anyone that wants to argue that she is the greatest filly/mare ever, can so now without being summarily dismissed. Greatest horse of all time, is a moot point, she is not. (I should have typed mute)

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Smooth Operator

...Zenyatta's fans can make a reasonable claim that she should be considered the greatest U.S. filly or mare of all time.


Cannon may just fire bomb Andy's house after that one


So ends a truly great career for the most talented older race mare I have ever seen. -- SD


Think he already has a contract out on Davidowitz' life … lol


http://www.gradeoneracing.com/davidowitz.htm?read=74

I think she is a very good horse. In a year everyone will have forgotten about her and moved on to the next horse of the century.

SD obviously missed the Mile

[10 pnt move up]

It amazes me the comparison of a 6 year old mare losing to a 4 year old colt as the defining race determining her talent and ability.

Its an unprovable opinion but I really think she was at her best as a 4 year old and had this race been run two years ago I am not sure she comes up a head short.

[randallscott35]

She's a useful mare. That win parlay is now zero on her.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I think she is a very good horse. In a year everyone will have forgotten about her and moved on to the next horse of the century.

SD obviously missed the Mile

Do you have an opinion why turf fillies/mares fare better against the males? We've seen it in Japan, France, England, here in the BC, however there are not too many dirt females that have any tangible success against male dirt horses. On the surface it would seem turf is a whole different ballgame that allows both sexes to compete on a level playing field, I'm not knocking anyone, I'm just pointing out when a female beats males on turf, I hardly bat an eye anymore.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by CSC

Do you have an opinion why turf fillies/mares fare better against the males? We've seen it in Japan, France, England, here in the BC, however there are not too many dirt females that have any tangible success against male dirt horses. On the surface it would seem turf is a whole different ballgame that allows both sexes to compete on a level playing field, I'm not knocking anyone, I'm just pointing out when a female beats males on turf, I hardly bat an eye anymore.

I don't know that it would be the case if it was tried more often here. The older horses the past decade with a few notable exceptions have been pretty awful. RA last year was simply better than the 3 yo colts and Z was probably better than the colts this year. You would have hoped that Zenyatta would have taken more chances against colts. Perhaps after her presumed success and the success of RA that more people would try to beat them with really good fillies. Of course if they vote Zenyatta horse of the year after cupcake city and a loss then that would pretty much give the connections of the next great filly precedent to not try to compete with the best horses.

[Port Conway Lane]

Personally she is the best stretch running filly/mare I have seen since Relaxing. Personal Ensign deserves acknowledgement as well.

Zenyatta's career was truly remarkable and until yesterday it was difficult for me to assess her because of the surface/competition issues.

At the very least we finally got to see her best.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by CSC

Do you have an opinion why turf fillies/mares fare better against the males? We've seen it in Japan, France, England, here in the BC, however there are not too many dirt females that have any tangible success against male dirt horses. On the surface it would seem turf is a whole different ballgame that allows both sexes to compete on a level playing field, I'm not knocking anyone, I'm just pointing out when a female beats males on turf, I hardly bat an eye anymore.

It helps that they try to do it on turf.

However, there are plenty of examples in the last few years of fillies/mares beating males on dirt.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I don't know that it would be the case if it was tried more often here. The older horses the past decade with a few notable exceptions have been pretty awful. RA last year was simply better than the 3 yo colts and Z was probably better than the colts this year. You would have hoped that Zenyatta would have taken more chances against colts. Perhaps after her presumed success and the success of RA that more people would try to beat them with really good fillies. Of course if they vote Zenyatta horse of the year after cupcake city and a loss then that would pretty much give the connections of the next great filly precedent to not try to compete with the best horses.

I'm sure it is tried more often, but I really think grass racing is the equalizer, all these great fillies have one thing in common, turn of foot. I was just thinking, there are not too many fillies that have dominated males, infact I can't think of one, on dirt anyway.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

It helps that they try to do it on turf.

However, there are plenty of examples in the last few years of fillies/mares beating males on dirt.

Yeah I know there have been a few, however I mean't races only at the highest level. Certainly not as frequent as in Europe. Someone mentioned Jolypha, her BC Classic is one of the best performances by a filly on dirt that is often overlooked. But that was still only a 3rd.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by CSC

I'm sure it is tried more often, but I really think grass racing is the equalizer, all these great fillies have one thing in common, turn of foot. I was just thinking, there are not too many fillies that have dominated males, infact I can't think of one, on dirt anyway.

There have been very few American turf mares to beat boys lately on the grass than there has been dirt mares. The fact that the connections of top horses seem to have an aversion to competition won't help. I would have loved to see Zenyatta on the grass (real grass I mean). Hard to believe she wouldnt have been one of the few american horses of the last 30 or so years that may have been good enough with enough stamina to have a shot in the Melbourne Cup

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

There have been very few American turf mares to beat boys lately on the grass than there has been dirt mares. The fact that the connections of top horses seem to have an aversion to competition won't help. I would have loved to see Zenyatta on the grass (real grass I mean). Hard to believe she wouldnt have been one of the few american horses of the last 30 or so years that may have been good enough with enough stamina to have a shot in the Melbourne Cup

Officially she isn't retired yet, now the Matriarch was shortened to 8 furlongs so that is out, Japan Cup? I would love to see it, but we know this isn't happening.