Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

beef or salmon — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:19:02 GMT

i hope sts dont run in us we need our irish horses running in IRISH races not US 1s

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

ABZ — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:11:15 GMT

The euro's will no doubt have a strong contingent after last year's success and Sea of Stars is a fantastic 3-year-old, but if I had to pick one horse right now it would be Zenyatta. The powerful mare has a good chance to win on her home track if her connections take the risk.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

millreef43 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:06:01 GMT

if sea the stars goes in the classic it's all over.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

millreef43 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:04:34 GMT

if zenyatta is america's best chance at beating sea the stars in the classic then euros have it again

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

LDP — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:04:05 GMT

BobZ,

I think running 1 1/4 is relitively important, but if look at last year, to a lot of fans it didn't seem to matter, because Zeyatta, who was the favorite of many had never run the distance, and was still a finalist. This year she has only raced twice at the same dist of 1 1/8, and ppl still think she is one of the top horses. For a three year old i do not think it is as important as it is for a older horse to run at the distance, especially a filly. If you have a three year old it is more important to beat older horses and be dominant in your own class. That is why a win in the Haskel, the Woodward and Beldame would probably be enough to win RA horse of the year.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Sam — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:41:28 GMT

I love Zenyatta but I doubt she will go to the Classic. She will probably be kept on the conservative trail and although she might have a shot, I must agree. I would be crushed if Zenyatta went up against guys and didn't win. But I think it would be grea to see what would happen. She is such an amazing mare.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

afleetalexforever — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:23:53 GMT

People keep talking about what Rachel Alexandra needs to do to win HOY, good lawd i mean after 3 Grade 1's and 2 Grade 2 victories you would think she would need to go over and win the ArC to get consideration for HOY. Some people's thinking is very flawed and outrageous. Lets talk about Zenyatta and her lack of racing and the lack of competition. A Grade 1 and a Grade 2 win, tel me what else she has to do let me think, she needs to run against some real horses, maybe more than 1 Grade 1 winner in a race, second she would need to ask her connections to have the guts enough to run either against males or out of the state of California. This is the most ignorant thing I have ever heard, her connections are banking that she will win the B.C. and it will be well basically a 1 win HOY campaign, I am sorry there are going to be more impressive older males with resumes that look better than Zenyatta's this year. Please people open your eyes and understand that horse racing is not about coddling ur horse through the weakest schedule ever. I mean if this was BCS voting Zenyatta would be dead last right now, her strength of schedule is like ranked 10th right now in the list of top 10 horses looking for HOY voting. This is the same reason Curlin embarrassed her last year in HOY voting and apparently the Moss's dont mind, and to be honest I dont either, if your horse isnt good enough to be put through a HOY campaign. Please Please stop talking about the award, its not for the faint of heart. It is for true champions that take on challenges and give their all every time, not for horses that run on fake surfaces and against allowance horses. It is disgraceful to the sport!!!!!

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

StardustyRose — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:36:37 GMT

Man I sure have missed a lot LOL. Just put in my vote today. Wow Jason you have been just carrying on aye? :)

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

BobZ — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:07:48 GMT

I have a question for anyone who would care to answer...

I'm looking at the Fall schedule and Rachel can run against the boys in the Haskell 1,000,000 on August 2nd at 1 1/8...

The Woodward at Saratoga on September 5th at 1 1/8 for 3 y/o and up...500,000

and then the Beldame 600,000 at Belmont Park on October 3rd for F&M 3 y/o & up at 1 1/8

My question is... How important in the voting for HOY is having run at 1 1/4 miles?

What if Rachel just finishes the season having never run a race at 1 1/4?

If she does that schedule she could still be rested and ready for the Breeders cup on November 7 if her handlers change their mind...

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Racingfan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:03:31 GMT

I voted for Sea The Stars if he runs because he seems awesome so far and since the Euros did so well last year, I expect it to happen again.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:04:07 GMT

If he goes in the Classic....N/A pick...Einstein Euro Pick...Sea of Stars.

Draynay:

What side of the closet do you keep your pink dress in, the left side or the right side.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Mike Relva — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:31:09 GMT

DRAYNAY

You of all people saying that I "must be right" regarding RA not running in both races. That's a scream considering the source. lol

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Matthew W — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:37:30 GMT

dray if Rachel wins The travers and an obligatory race, like the Beldame v elders, it's "game over" for HOY---BUT the real prize would be The Breeders Cup Classic on pro ride, where they'll meet the best Euros, making this an international race of much prestige--just like last years awesome Classic----and yes, ther'll be another female in there, too....making it the biggest prize in her (already) stellar carreer.....they can PROBABLY win HOY back there...but it's over here in So Cal where she can reign "top of the world, mom"!

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Vince — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:02:05 GMT

I know I am late with this comment but here goes. I will be very disappointed and angry if rachel alexandra does not turn up for the bc classic. angry with the owner. sour grapes and childish! I know curlin didn't like the santa anita surface but that is no reason to boycott the race per se. ra looks tailor made for this race, the way she travels, the trip, her speed, everything about her screams bc classic at santa anita against the top horses in the world. anything less doesn't remotely enhance her alreday huge reputation. she is class and should be allowed to give it a go. let's face it, she won't be around next year. and she would murder sea the stars in my book.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Ragsy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:21:33 GMT

Monica V::::So right in all that you stated.......

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

LDP — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:40:01 GMT

PamS,

I agree the two races are close, three weeks apart. That is why i would actually go to the Woodward. It's at her best distance and she'll have a five week break. The plus if she win is that it is one of the bigger races for the hadicap division at Saratoga, and a grade one win against older males and in the Haskell would just about lock up HOTY.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

bird is the word — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:36:56 GMT

draynay says MTB was a fluke in the derby and won't win another race this year so if he's so bad that don't make RA look so good. On one hand he says RA is great because she beat the boys and in the next breath he berates the ones she beat. From what I've seen that's typical draynay. One day it's this way and the next its not. News flash draynay, it's not such a great year if you beat nobody (see big brown last year). If you want to continue to bash the ones she beat spare us the "greatest 3 yr old season in history" crap. If you want to give her credit for the greatest in history you'll have to man up and give some credit to those she beats.

HOY honors should go to the one who consistently faced the best they could find and consistently runs big races. Last year was a perfect example with Curlin coming out on top. If RA's competition doesn't add up then neither do her credentials for HOY. Which way do you really want it draynay? What color is the sky in your world?

Me I favor horses like Einstein or Gio Ponti who won't go into the voting on wins alone. They will actually face off against each other. In today's world it's not that difficult to become a million dollar winner of graded races with inflated purses. There are so many more big money races to choose from than there used to be and less talented horses taking home the big money. The more big purses the more big winners. Look at Big Drama, he's fleeing the RA scene in search of what his connections percieve as easier money. Kinda like big brown ducking Curlin last year. His connections knew he would be no match on dirt and they had plenty of opportunity to amass purse money against other weak 3 yr olds. Keep racking up money and wins against inferior competition and not having the risk of being embarassed again like he was in the Belmont.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Karen in Texas — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:06:43 GMT

MonicaV---Your next to last sentence at 1:42 P.M. is precisely right! The whole idea is ludicrous! HfTC needs to avail him/herself of the source materials on the family of pharmaceuticals known as "steroids" before making further assertions on their usage or ban.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

MonicaV — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:42:23 GMT

HopeforaTripleCrown,

What makes you think that Rachel's sire had steriods? Not every horse in racing received steriods as a routine. It doesn't take years for them to leave the system.

It's highly unlikely that Rachel's sire had any in his system when he sired her and even more unlikely that she had any steriods in her system when she was born. Her size cannot be attributed to steriods but to genetics. Believe it or not, the size of the horse depends on the sire and dam and how well the dam was doing while infoal. It has nothing to do with steriods. Steriods do not affect the size of the skeleton of a horse especially since the dam was not injected with steriods during her pregnancy. Do you think that Zenyatta might have been a "steriod" horse because of her size? She's even bigger than Rachel. The whole idea is ludicrous. If steriods are allowed, why are they testing for them?

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Karen in Texas — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:31:08 GMT

HfTC---The Thoroughbred Safety Committee recommended the elimination of steroids in racing and training in June, 2008. The rule was to be IMPLEMENTED by all North American racing authorities by December, 2008. Most racing jurisdictions implemented the rule by the fall of 2008. Enforcement will, of course, have to be on-going. (Please use the BH search site and type in "ban on steroids".) Enforcement is the key. Racing as an industry will probably be aggressive in testing and enforcement in order to avoid federal intervention. I think a pharmacology textbook could be helpful in accurately understanding the different groups of steroids, both natural and synthetic.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Pam S. — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:25:14 GMT

For those mentioning a start in the Alabama for RA after the Haskell, aren't they too close? What is it, two weeks or three? I know she did it in the Preakness but that was a one-time deal and much planning is obviously going into the second half of the year for her.

Since they have opted for the Haskell, maybe you won't see Rachel in the Travers. She can only run so many races, and I would think it is time to take on older, whether males or females. All dependent of course, on what transpires in the Haskell, though I do expect her to win. Will Munnings run with her? He's pretty fast.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

It aint easy being good! — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:57:28 GMT

Draynay is right there is no way that Mind that dud can catch big drama I cant wait for that race. The HOY is so far away anything can happen like last year when big brown went down and had no chance for HOY. Summer Bird is the real deal you guys with soon found out how great he is just needed blinkers and a hall fame jockey!

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Jason Shandler — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:39:42 GMT

lol Carlos...No, I wont be coming to Del Mar this season, unfortunately. But I do plan on doing an interview with Mr. Moss by phone.

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

HopeforaTripleCrown — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:25:49 GMT

QUOTE: "The Thoroughbred Safety Committee RECOMMENED the elimination of steroids in racing and training." So there not banned in all 50 states... Also steriods of any use take years to wear off if the horse was sterioded multiple times, so meaning that if RA's father was sterioded for racing and was then retired to stud when still testing positive for steriods then was bred to mares resulting in that foal having small amount of steriods. Yes they've more than likly worn off by now. How much did RA weigh when she was born?

re: Poll - Who Will Win the BC Classic?

Carlos in Cali — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:51:53 GMT

WOW!!...we should all be thankful that Draynay doesn't have a say/vote for year-end honors. Obviously,logic is not his forte.

Jason,are you gonna' make a trip to Del Mar this year?...Pacific Classic Day is crazy and maybe you can scrounge-up an interview with Jerry Moss,Julio Canani(that'll be fun),Jack Van Berg or your twin Jim Rome. lol