Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Saratoga AJ — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:37:58 GMT

Wow...I feel like a prophet....

sports.espn.go.com/.../story

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Saratoga AJ — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:35:35 GMT

Carlos,

There have been rumors that the NYRA may exempt Zenyatta from the retention barn and add to the $600,000 purse ($1 million?) in the 1 1/8m Beldame for F&M's 3 and up if her connections ship her in for a showdown with Rachel on the dirt at "Big Sandy".

It may be the only chance...Rachel will more than likely get a well deserved rest after that Oct 3rd race. By that time she would have been in training without a break for over 8 months and 9 straight stakes races. It may be the only chance to get them on the same track.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Carlos in Cali — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:10:04 GMT

Don't speak too soon AJ...the season is not over yet.Anything can happen.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Saratoga AJ — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:44:34 GMT

Carlos....give it up. Enough already. Enjoy a filly for the ages.

No matter how much you hate it, Rachel Alexandra will be HOTY, and will be back next year to add to her legacy. Zenyatta has been short changed by her connections...too bad.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Carlos in Cali — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:38:47 GMT

That's exactly what I'm talking about: A winnable Woodward @ 1 1/8m against weak older males(as you,AJ put it),and a race no filly has won,means another headline grabbing scenario.All they're worried about is HOY honors and keeping her unbeaten this year. That's fine.But,if anybody thinks she's the best filly of all time,then it's real simple. How about showing-up for the BC against the best there is for starters. That's why Gio Ponti and his connections should be rewarded with the HOY if he wins-out concluding with the BC. They'd have taken on all comers,no excuses needed. I just don't agree with people proclaiming her to be the best this early,it's stupid.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

LDP — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:20:54 GMT

Carlos,

Actually no she doesn't, a race in the JCGC where QR, MTB, and SB will be. You'll have your 1 1/4, an acid test w/ QR, so why not that race. Another plus, you'll have some of the top older horses in there too.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Saratoga AJ — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:08:07 GMT

Carlos,

Jackson will not run Rachel in the Travers because he also owns Jim Dandy winner Kensei, who will be co-favored with Quality Road...or a close second choice. Jackson will not run his two stars against each other.

Besides a win in the Woodward would be historic. No filly has ever won it.

And your constant rants of Jackson and RA "dodging" competition sounds dumber every time you say it. Give it up.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Cresran — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:21:36 GMT

Billy's Empire,

Thanks for the kind words about Tiz Miz Sue. Take it you've seen the yearling??

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Draynay — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:29:23 GMT

Carlos give it a rest. Let QR win a race at two turns before you claim RA who has been whipping EVERYBODY is dodging a horse who has ridden once in 5 months. Geez.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Carlos in Cali — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:46:56 GMT

Then RA should be in the Travers like the other top 3yo's you mentioned.I know her mission is getting HOY,but the older males or females out East don't compare to QR. They're carefully picking the spots to run her in from now on.Skipping the Travers & BC makes people wonder if they're 'dodging' something, like...defeat.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

LAZMANNICK — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:12:07 GMT

Just read about Zenyatta's 'Free Ride To The Donn'.....if they go there they are crazy because of the possibility of a speed bias.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

LAZMANNICK — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:10:09 GMT

Zenyatta's free ride to the Donn.....

DON'T GO.....All we need is another speed biased surface and the arguments will really be flying.....Go to CD or the Fairgrounds......at least those surfaces aren't nearly as suseptible to bias concerns. Frontrunners, mid-pack and closers all have an equal shot.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Saratoga AJ — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:16:29 GMT

I myself have no problem with a match race between Rachel and Zen. I know, everyone points to the ill fated Ruffian braking down. But in reality, she ran just as hard in some of her previous races..similar early fractions. It was a bad step, not because it was a match race.

And think of all the great match races in the past...Man'o'War-Sir Barton, Seabiscuit-Ligaroti, War Admiral-Seabiscuit, Armed-Assault, Capot-Coaltown, and Swaps-Nashua...all great match races inspiring great interest. Not one injury!

Truth be told...a fatal injury can happen in any race. When Go For Wand broke down, it was in the Belont stretch in the BC Distaff, not a match race. They have gotten a bad rap because of one unfortunate incident.

I say, someone get up $1 million and go for it!

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Saratoga AJ — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:16:02 GMT

Carlos in La La Land,

I have been going to the races before you were born. And I'm saying that a filly like Rachel is a once in a generation or two racehorse. By the time she's finished her career, baring injury, she will be considered one of the greatest of all time...perhaps ranked ahead of who is considered the best filly in history now (Ruffian, #35 in the Blood Horse Top 100 of all time, highest ranked filly or mare).

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

LDP — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:50:50 GMT

Carlos,

Why don't you do the math of how many miles total she has traveled this year alone. Sure it's more than Zenyatta. QR was the best but as i said in any sport if you were injured and taken out, then somebody new comes along and take your spot, you have to come and beat them out. Is it fair, no, but thats how it goes. QR is no longer the best and is now playing catch up. Right now he has to beat RA, SB, MTB, and Kensai. Those right now are the top of the division and have worked to earn their spots. Since he was out he has to work to beat them, and only then can he be considered the best. This goes on in EVERY sport, and horse racing is no different.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

ABZ — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:52:57 GMT

C in C,

Talk IS cheap and you have proven that.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

LAZMANNICK — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:29:32 GMT

Saratoga

Let's see.....first of I'm a hoot....then I'm from another planet.....then I don't know racing at all.....Wow.....and I thought this BLOG was supposed to be about horses.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Carlos in Cali — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:29:31 GMT

Draynay? aka The Big Hypocrite....weren't you the leading Smack talker regarding JJackson last year?...shut up Doofus,lol

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Carlos in Cali — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:10:33 GMT

ABZ,Saratoga AJ:

We all know about your infatuation with RA,do you follow her on Twitter too?..In your eyes she's the epitome of horse racing with the 'no one better dare say a negative thing about her' attitude. Sorry,but I'm not as Awe struck as you seem to be about her.I want to see her face QR in the Travers,who was one of the top 3yo colts going into the Derby,before we can say she's the best in her generation.Let alone the best of the 21st Century like ABZ hilariously stated. She better take on the "weak older horses in the East",(as AJ put it) in the Woodward to keep her streak going.They want no part of QR,trust me,she'll lose. The George Steinbrenner of Horse Racing,aka..JJackson's ego,would sell his soul for HOY trophies.Bring her to the BC where every top-notch horse will be is all I'm saying.Talk is cheap.

LDP:

Everyone knows to be the best,you have to beat the best,and with QR most would say he WAS the best before being injured.Any sports fan will tell you that a 'Star' will not,could not lose his starting position because of injuries.Their replacement holds the fort until they return.And traveling from AK to LA is not that far,AK to KY,not that far.MD to NY to NJ,a mere hop-skip and a jump away.Do the math!

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

LDP — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:02:07 GMT

Carlos,

QR was out, he no longer has claim to the best 3yr old at all, that is what happens when your injured and out, somebody who is new and has the talent comes and takes your place. This happens in Football, Soccer, Track, every sport there is, if you are a star player but get injured then somebody who is new but just as talented comes and does just as well or better than you would've you are no longer the best. You have to fight to regain that status. If QR, or any other 3yr old that was out and is coming back this year or next wants to knock off RA they find her. On your traveling bit, you act like RA has done nothing at all in that respect. Well in her ENTIRE career Zen has raced at a total of four tracks, three in the same state. This year all she has race at two big whoop. RA has raced six tracks in six states and when you hop from AK, to LA, to AK, to KY, to MD, to NY, then to NJ you normally have a pretty tired horse. Let you know that is the exact order in which she traveled in this year. When you try and say that isn't a lot of traveling you sound real stupid.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

LDP — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:51:32 GMT

Laz,

The PA Derby has been in the picture. And IMO JJ is going to the Woodward. RA has established herself as the best 3yr old of any sex and she has probably done more than most other horses this year. If any 3yr old wants to knock her off they have to come to her.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Saratoga AJ — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:38:00 GMT

"So far at the current Del Mar meeting in California, there have been eight horse fatalities. At Saratoga, a dirt track, there has been one, and that came in a turf race".

So much for the "safety" of synthetic tracks. What a joke!

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Saratoga AJ — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:02:16 GMT

LAZMANNICK:

What planet are you from?

The last thing Jess Jackson does is duck the competition. His ambitious schedule for Curlin the last two years and now Rachel this year bears this out. Who else would have put a filly into the Preakness on two weeks rest to face the colts for the first time? Then the Haskell. Next up probably the Woodward and try to become the first filly to win this great historic race for older males. Or perhaps the Travers, where no filly has won since 1915. If you think Jackson ducks anyone, you're nuts.

You want to talk "ducking the competition", look no further than Zenyatta's connections, who have been doing that for the better part of two years now. No males, no dirt, stay in the California on only 2-3 tracks, etc, etc. Give me a break.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Saratoga AJ — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:06:19 GMT

LAZMANNICK:

Now you're saying those allowance level mares Zenyatta is beating up on (barely) are better than the Triple Crown colts? You're a hoot!

Unbelievable.

If you don't think a 4-5 yr old mare should be superior to a 2-3 yr old filly in racing ability you don't know racing at all.

re: Arlington Million, Whitney Weekend Analysis

Draynay — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:45:25 GMT

Carlos in Cali you must be smoking the wild bushes. Rachel has taken on the boys in 2 G1 races and left them in the dust. She has not taken the easy path at all. Talking trash about Jackson is also out of place and has no place here. He has chosen a interesting path up to this point. Let it play out before you start trashing him again.