Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

detox one day — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:25:03 GMT

I really appreciate your professional approach. These are pieces of very useful information that will be of great use for me in future. Thanks for it.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Cheap Tickets to Manila — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:25:15 GMT

Great work dude, u gave nice post to us. Thanks for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Flights to Casablanca — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 07:10:43 GMT

I was very pleased to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! This is a very informative post, it helps me more.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Judy Loves Zenyatta ~ California — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:23:05 GMT

To you Zen haters ~ picture this, she's enjoying her Guinness (sp) right about now, not worried one bit about what YOU ALL think! LOL

Jealousy is an ugly thing, ya know! Takes up a lot of energy, too. ;-)

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

bill — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:58:45 GMT

Keeneland is the U.S. distributor,not 50% shareholder of Martin Collins Int. manufacturers of polytrack..according to their website. You are not an objective writer Mr Shandling....

Despite calling this a BC blog,you refuse to address the issue that the only 2 BCs when there were no catastrophic breakdowns on track, were both run on synthetic...Whilst rejoicing in a surface that is single handedly responsible for all the negative publicity this sport receives...

There would be no need to keep bute legal if synthetic was mandatory.

After all it is illegal in every other major racing nation...none of whom race on dirt.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Bob Z — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:32:57 GMT

Jason,

I'm not arguing but I don't think I understand...

If she is a member of the class of the best fillies ever (How many are in this group?) ... but not in the Top 50 all time horses...

What fillies do you have in the Top 50 Horses category?

Just wondering where your cut off is for a filly that makes the Best Filly list but dosen't make it to the Top 50 Horse list...?

Not arguing, just trying to understand the thought process...

I have no problem putting her in the same categoty as some of the best fillies ever, but dont try to sell me on putting her in the top 50 of all-time.

jshandler 26 Aug 2010 1:47 PM

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Mike Relva — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:36:33 GMT

RICHARD

Agree with you,but will add Calvin had no business having her on the lead.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Richard — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:06:25 GMT

So, now that Rachel has lost the race she was eased into to win, where are all the Zenyatta haters who criticize connections wisely managing her career? One more time: fillies aren't colts and mares aren't stallions - unless they are named Zenyatta. Her consistency at her age is amazing. Rachel's year - and her inability to run 1 1/4 - is the proof. Have a Guinness on me, Zen!

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

jayjay — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:34:25 GMT

I've never thought RA will get the 10F, just like I didn't think QR would get 10F. They won't get the Classic distance and I think they're going to be in deep if they try. I think the Classic will have the best and true classic distance horses like Blame and Zenyatta and 3 yr old colts : LAL, FlyDown and Afleet Again. Hopefully the euro contingents will be top class again. It will be a great Classic.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

sodapopkid — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:32:37 GMT

Sherpa, Agree with you all the way,

I loved how you made the analogy into reality because some have a hard time with words when it comes to Zenyata. They are blind sided.

I'm speaking of her detractors.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

ruffianruns — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:40:38 GMT

sherpa - Your cream analogy is funny and a good way to explain the Zen team strategy!

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

sherpa — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:53:08 GMT

Thanks, Laz, for getting my silly little analogy. But that's exactly what Z did last year and I DO believe she can do it again BECAUSE she has the patient Connections.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

LAZMANNICK — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:21:14 GMT

sherpa

Right on! I'm still laughing.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Mike Relva — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:16:36 GMT

SODAPOPKID

Very,very good post!

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Mike Relva — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:10:56 GMT

JASON

Here's a question. Would your life be any better off if you had your way to push a six yr. old horse,just to say you had your way? You have amazing writing talent,don't turn into the "Skip Bayless" of racing.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

sodapopkid — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:01:15 GMT

Leon, I read the post way before you posted it on here. You have never heard me or Zen fans complain about what RA done last year, The only thing I have ever said is that all the males she beat that was any good or good enough to get entered in the BCC , Zneyata beat them all at one time.

My problem for RA is 2010, Everyone wants to milk this three year old campaign to death.

Its a year since her last grade 1 race, She has had plenty of time to recouperate from last year, So , that dont fly no more.

Zenyatta won the BCC, and has continued to win since. Ra had more time to come out of her problems than Zenyatta ever did.

I excused Ra after her first race, but thats the only one, this being a grade 1 race in almost a year is unbeleivable to say the least.

Zenyatta hasnt had a break, she ran and won the BCC and has been running and in training ever since, but yet, she is suppose to be problem free, and yet, Ra gets all the free passes with sympathy, RA deserves less sympathy in 2010 because she is younger than Zenyatta, and had plenty of rest.

So, this 2010, Ra has had a very lite campaingn compared to her last year's campaign, I agree with Crist all the way, No one can take away her 3 year old campaign, nor do they want to..But if you are going to have compassion for a four year old, then my goodness, how can you not show compassion for a six year old who hasnt lost a race and is even passed cigar and Citaition's record, and Eclipse himself..........

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

sherpa — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:01:06 GMT

"Zenyatta skips the Big Cap, skips the Stephen Foster, skips the Gold Cup, skips the Pacific Classic, skips the Personal Ensign, skips the Beldame, skips the JCGC, basically skips anything where she would have to face another horse with a pulse and you're just fine with the Moss/Shirreffs excuses."

I'm just wondering why Z should have to travel long distances - or even around the block - to beat the other top horses one-at-a-time when she can wait for the BCC and beat them all in one race.

It's like this: You take a bucket of fresh milk (races) and wait patiently to let all the cream rise to the top; then skim off the cream, beat it good and you've got whipped cream. yummm ;-)

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

jayjay — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:24:40 GMT

LEON : Here's something you obviously don't know about Zen fans. We never questioned RA's win last year. In fact, I've said many times in the past that she deserved it because there no spinning what she did last year. If you have some time, you should read all the Zen fans comments in ANY of Jason's blogs and 90% of them shows that it's all responses to people like you who likes to put her connections, her races and herself down. I commented about her 2 losses this year to Draynay but it was more to throw it back to his face that he can't predict anything. I have been wishing for JJ to run her in easy races all year because I want her fit and ready for the Classic if she makes it that way there's no excuse of "well, she's not the same horse, she's not ready blah blah blah". In fact, I was wishing for all top contenders to take the easy paths for the same reasons. I did comment about RA not facing males at all this year as a response to the naysayers asking why Zen isn't facing males. Of the two, who should we be asking to face males more, the reigning HOTY who SET the standard or Zenyatta, the one that didn't get the HOTY ? Be honest.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

jayjay — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:09:32 GMT

Good question LAZ, it seems that except for Zenyatta, it's OKAY for the other horses to take their easy path this close to the BCC. Everyone that claims Zenyatta is ducking has their head turned away when talking about QR's and Rachel's races. And all of the naysayers are pushing each other trying to get on Blame's wagon because he really is the only legitimate North American horse that can beat Zenyatta in the Classic (still don't know who the euro contingents are). I've accepted that fact, although it wouldn't be a big surprise if Zenyatta pulls away from him in track record time. It will be refreshing not to hold my breath from the top of the stretch to the finish line while slamming my desk screaming in my head "GO ZEN! GO ZEN!"

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

LAZMANNICK — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:03:59 GMT

Leon

I read the Crist article. I happen to think it was spot on. I have never had a problem with Rachel winning the HOY award. Her body of work was exceptional. So what if the Preakness was void of the major stars that had to bow out because of injury. It was after all the Preakness. The Haskell, Monmouth’s signature 3 year old race was what it was, not a bad race, but once again, other than the Belmont winner cutting back in distance there wasn’t a single other top 3 year-old male competitor. Like Zen this year, Rachel can't be faulted for the lack of major competition in those races. It was the same for the Woodward. It’s not Rachel’s fault that it happened to be possibly the weakest Woodward in terms of competition in recent memory, hell, in long range memory for that matter. It's just the way it turned out although I have a sneaking suspicion that if the Woodward would have come up with more legitimate competition, Rachel’s connections would have skipped it. I also think that in many other years over the past 20 Zen might have won HOY based on her campaign, not all but many, but of course, the writers would have to vote for her. I really don’t see, in going back over the years, where a horse has won four consecutive G1 races, finished undefeated and also stepped out of it’s sexual comfort zone and at 1 1/4M defeated the toughest group of male horses assemble in N/A that year and didn’t win the year. Zen has accomplished a lot of things during her career. Having a season like 2009 and not winning the HOY was probably another first. In any even, Rachel won, good for her, but I think that the trashing that both horses have been subject to has to stop. Let them race where theyu want, chose their opponents and hopefully they will mett in the BCC.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

jayjay — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:01:51 GMT

SODAPOPKID : LOL, nice posts! Thanks!

livesoutwest : Just like you're questioning Zenyatta and your babble about her not facing the tough horses, it goes both ways. If QR is that tough, regardless of what their plans WERE, the FANS have the right to see him run against the best and not DUCK them, isn't that what all you naysayers keep saying about Zen ?? All the east coasters and YOU who keep wanting Zenyatta to face the best, needs to be calling for QR to face Blame again to show that he is the best.

What was that comment from Jason and others...the BCC is not the end all be all right ??? Why would he wait for that race, a race that they say don't really make a champion. Now it's okay for QR to wait until the BCC to face his toughest opponent. Call it what you want, he is ducking Blame. JCGC is more prestigious than the Woodward IMO because it's at a classic distance. If QR is going to go to the Classic, he needs to have at least ONE race at its distance. You all call him the "beast", if that's true, he can run 2 10F back to back and win easily. Summer Bird did it last year and beat the "beast" twice. Some say, a horse gets better at age 4 so I don't really see any issues with him going after Blame in the JCGC, none, who's ducking who ?

Zenyatta's team have announced where they are going way ahead of the race they were pointing to. Anyone can come to her if they want to race her. Your comment about QR not being able to race in the female division races is dumb. QR is not the best horse in the east, that's a FACT. Why would Zenyatta go after him when he's not of any importance to their plan. At this point, QR's chances of winning the Classic is close to nil, let alone running in it. I will give it to him as being the best miler, but as far as the Classic, you have seen in the Whitney, when he faced a legit top horse, he couldn't sustain his lead. He folded. Whether it was the 5 lbs or he wasn't ready (even after a long rest), the fact is, he lost to Blame and at this point in time, common sense says he can't get the Classic distance. Your double standard is laughable.

LEON : Your rants about Team Z is ridiculous simply because you obviously don't care about the facts. If you are really an owner, then the things that Team Z "fed" the media should make sense to you. You of all people should understand what it takes to put the horse first, not the race. The fact that you are accepting JJ's excuses for taking care of RA this year because he ran her to the ground last year shows your bias. You want to see Zenyatta pushed at the age of 6 so that YOU can be satisfied. If Team Z did what you and Jason and the others have been asking her to do, fly all over and race against males and she loses, all of you would be celebrating and commenting how she was never great. There wouldn't be any admiration for taking risks, or going after the males, or giving credit to the connections. Your call for her to do all of that was just to see her lose so that you can say "I told ya, she was never that good".

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:06:58 GMT

Leon

What is Rachel's obvious excuse? Were at the end of the EIGHTH month of the year, 1 full year since the Woodward and her last G1. What's the excuse. If she's so ready to go now then why not the Woodward?

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Kay — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:59:01 GMT

Leon:

"Zen's camp is the best proof of what RA accomplished last year. They know perfectly well the toll those races take on fillies & mares, and that's why they take the soft route...And yet, people still cry bias & foul when they talk about the reason Zenyatta lost the HOTY award in 2009."

Here's the difference -- I don't. While I personally would have voted for Zenyatta had I gotten a vote, I had NO problem with Rachel being awarded HOTY. I don't know how many times I have to say that, although it's obvious that you detractors want to write your story a certain way and people not falling in line with your character development throws that off.

Think "excuses" all you want. I happen to not consider any of those things excuses. Difference.

And holy CRAP my posts are long. This one should be refreshing.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Livesoutwest — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:09:46 GMT

Kay,

First, you're right about Eclipse. The 19th win beats his record and ties Pepper's Pride's record. I stand corrected.

I only brought up last year in response to this statement from Richard:

Well, Jason, Zenyatta remains undefeated and, as in boxing, you have to defeat the champion to win the crown, and the champion usually chooses the venue.

And I wasn't willing to let it stand uncorrected (I'm funny that way) Again, Zenyatta's not the champion and it's irrelevant that she's undefeated. She COULD have been the champion two years ago. She SHOULD have been the champion last year, when she was clearly the best horse. But in the eyes of the voters, her pattycake schedule didn't make her as worthy of the award as the horses who won.

Zenyatta's a talented mare, but one thing she can't do is enter herself against tougher competition. (Actually she tried, but Shirreffs caught her and took her pen away. You can't slip anything past John, he's a sharp one.)

And yes, Shirreffs clearly cares about the horse, nobody can say that he doesn't. But if he and Moss wanted nothing but the best for her, he wouldn't have let her step within 100 miles of that embarrasing and hazardous excuse for a racing surface at Del Mar. For your run-of-the-mill stock maybe, but not for Zenyatta. Del Mar is Southern California's boutique meet and I just have the feeling it means too much to Moss to not have the opportunity to show off his prize mare to his well-to-do pals in the turf club.

re: Dirt, a Real Sportsman, and a Great Weekend of Racing

Leon — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:01:12 GMT

Sodapop,

My name is Leon. No need for name-calling.

I have called RA's 2010 campaign weak and unworthy of a HOTY. What else do you want? But, once again, the difference is she FACED males 3 TIMES. That's the new standard.

I never "throw stones" to Zenyatta, because I think she could run males down any day of the week, while Smith is reading the form...I also think she would be amazing on turf, because of that great kick of hers.

The stones are thrown to connections who settle for the easy, soft, no challenge, gut-less route. Zenyatta deserves better than that.

Steven Crist just posted this article on the DRF site:

www.drf.com/.../no-matter-what-rachel-alexandras-2009-set-stone

You probably won't like what he wrote, so you might not want to read it.

Mike Relva:

I will admire Zen if she wins the Classic, the same way I admire her every time she runs. I only wish she had connections who had a pair more than once a year.