Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Householder — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:09:29 GMT

How about a shout out to Indian Blessing! Perhaps a Indian Blessing/Ventura matchup is again forth coming. But come on...How deep is the Baffert Barn come BC time?

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Greg J. — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:40:32 GMT

Steve S.,

People are voicing their opinion on Lava Man, Regardless of where you stand on the subject, I wouldn't call it crying, It is called being passionate about the sport you love and letting your feelings be known. As far as you saying, "you people (betters)are the problem-no one crying about hunger and homeless in america or the mentally ill or uneduacated in america". First off, I am sure most here care about those causes, But, Do you really think this is the forum for those discussions?, I think not! Finally, A word of advice, If you are going to come down on people, A good start would be to use proper spelling(I.E., "betters" & "uneduacated")...

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

JZ — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:25:35 GMT

I am willing to bet anyone on this site, especially rick, 10 grand that zensational wins. Let me tell you i know this horse better than all of you do.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Shawn P — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:28:50 GMT

P.S. steve s? we know we're your betters, some of us happen to also be bettors.

Good grief this is a HORSE RACING blog.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Shawn P — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:24:40 GMT

steve s, I cry for you every time I read one of your posts.

If this was about those subjects I'm sure some would be crying.

Although I agree that the horse is probably fit to run and if not won't.

Dray, give it up trying to keep up a standard. It's a losing battle. Just focus on whatever horse you've decided to beat up on this week.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Caballotom — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:33:16 GMT

I'm not sure how I feel about Lava Man returning. They will write a race for his return and beg a few trainers to enter against him. It's like Better Talk Now. Still OK but, not great now. I wonder when he will come back?

As for Baffert, when he has a good horse he will take care of it. He's not really boasting about Zensational, he is being truthful. This horse is a fast sprinter and I'm not sure there is anyone out there to pressure him early at 6F.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

steve s — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:06:27 GMT

Quit your crying about Lava Man-you people (betters)are the problem-no one crying about hunger and homeless in america or the mentally ill or uneduacated in america

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Draynay — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:20:46 GMT

Good for you Draynot I am just trying to keep up with the high standards you set each time you decide to post.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Tim G — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:51:54 GMT

Mary, I'm not saying that "I" think Zensational is the best ever. I just said Bob is giving HIS opinion of HIS rankings of HIS horses with the MOST RAW TALENT.

Knowing Bob for a long time, he means what he says NOW. That doesn't mean it won't change if he gets some different horses that supplant some of these in RAW talent.

But I can't see why people that don't own, train or observe the horses every day think they should override the man's opinion of HIS horses or try to discredit what the man himself thinks about HIS horses.

By the way RAW TALENT means just that. It doesn't even mean that RAW TALENT will come to fruition or translate to a champion race horse. Some of the horses with the most RAW TALENT can never get their head in the game.

Draynot, LOL. Keep that handy, you’ll need to trot it out 10-15 times a day with him.

Actually Draynay, Cal is running out of horses for you to rag on so they're bringing them out of retirement to run.

Basically the gelding was off form, I'm not convinced he was injured as much as he began to disappoint and they thought he was 'tired' of running. Of course at age 8 some maintenance and care of ankles that have taken a pounding is beneficial.

I'm not much for bringing back a retired horse and they may not be to the same form they were before but there are a lot who HAVE had success. Look at the long retirement-like layoffs of DaHoss and Commentator. There are quite a few others who did so, came back and won some important races, retired for good and retired to a good life either in the breeding shed or farm.

Apparently Lava Man is one of those who doesn't make a riding horse and apparently doesn't like farm life. If you get one of those they can be totally miserable, especially one with the personality and bright eyed demeanor of LM who likes human contact. Maybe as he ages he'll get past that.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

draynot — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:39:11 GMT

nay nay,

"I read what I posted last night and it doesn't make any sense to me either." Lol.

Draynay 23 Sep 2009 1:51 PM

I'm savin this one to copy and paste after ALL your posts since it applies to them universly. You finally put some truth to one of your statements.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

berttheclock — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:59:10 GMT

Shawn P, you bring up good points about BB having to regroup after those losses of deep pocketed owners. The first loss of Thoroughbred Corp, when Prince Salman died, especially. But, have you considered there might have been curse placed upon him, when McNair bought a quality mare from the NYPD producer and trained by Canani? Her name started with a T. She ended up running second in the BC, with Canani winning. The curse may have been because when she was transferred to BB's barn, her favorite goat was not allowed to follow. Thus, another "Curse of the Goat", eh?

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

da3hoss — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:25:02 GMT

nonnonheinous, that was a really great post! and you're right, they will watch over him like a hawk...

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Matthew W — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:25:03 GMT

I think I read someone saying if Fab Strike goes in BCup--Baffert will skip a chance to run for a MILLION....on the WORLD STAGE.....with the probable FAVORITE??!! With a horse he calls The BEAST??!! And then this person says she KNOWS Baffert??!!

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Matthew W — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:16:58 GMT

I mean I'd love to see Ventura v Goldikova....Likely Goldikova wins---THAT'S what I LOVE about the Breeders Cup! You can get a nice price on a real nice horse, I'd put some presidents on Ventura, I'd take the price--especially when she's at home and fresh....

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Matthew W — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:08:04 GMT

Turf.....Firm turf.....BUT reach the top again---the top tier---or, PLEASE--let that beautiful brown horse Lava Man stay on the farm....

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Matthew W — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:05:19 GMT

Steve S you're a comic! I HAD Ventura on top, Mr "the REAL players know her REAL #'s"---FORGIVE me for beong so unreal in your prescense--I read that they prefer her around ONE turn, like the Woodbine Mile....or the F & M Sprint---I'd love to see her take your $$ again at a turf mi---haha--but, alas, the purse is sweet/the field is easier--and WE don't own her! (Too bad!)

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Mary in VT — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:33:14 GMT

Tim,

All my comments and quotation went to *credibility.* But I don't expect you to take my word or my intuition or even my quotation for it. Let's wait and see if the horse lives up to the hype. If he does, then we will know that you, and not I, was right. But if he doesn't, then you have to back off on the Kool-Aid.

Actually, I hope Zensational does do well, but he has a lot more to do to rank with Fabulous Strike.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Greg J. — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:08:54 GMT

Dray,

With you short, concise comment on Lava Man, Never thought I would say this, But we actually agree, Must be a full Moon...

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Draynay — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:37:36 GMT

Bringing back Lava Man ? Really? Why? Guess he needs to do more. Geez.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Householder — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:34:20 GMT

Lava Man. Can't we just remember the "King of California" at his peak...3 consecutive Hollywood Gold Cups and 2 back to back Santa Anita Handicaps (I think a Pacific Classic score as well). He is also one that did not "take" to synthetics well. When all 3 tracks switched over he started to go down hill.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Kat — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:39:56 GMT

Stem cell therapy is not particularly new. I had a friend use it on her dressage horse about 4 years ago for a soft tissue injury. The AAEP is reporting shockwave therapy is bringing better results (in general) than stem cell therapy, but on an individual basis, what works - works.

Zensational is going to be in deep water at BCC, there will be top class horses coming at him from start to finish - unlike the horses he has run away from to date. It will be interesting to see what he's got in the tank.

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Shawn P — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:26:12 GMT

“Tom (Magali farm manager Tom Hudson) said that once Lava Man was put back in training, he was so much happier than when he was just hanging out at the farm.”

Read the article. They won't bring him back if he's not back on form. Doug said he is honored to be the caretaker of a champion.

Does that sound like someone who doesn't care about the horse?

I don't think he'll end up anywhere other than right where he belongs.

Now in the world of all YOU trainers of RACE horses, who knows?

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Pam S. — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:25:51 GMT

Greg J.,

I forgot, thanks for the update on Smokey Stover. I was wondering what became of him. Also, it was you who said that Lava Man would have to adapt to retirement sooner or later. Judging from the comments on this blog, most everyone is hoping it will be "sooner."

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

Householder — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:44:57 GMT

Lava Man started his career at the San Juaquin Fair in Stockton. Let's hope he does not end his career there as well. Does anyone remember Ali in his later fights?

re: Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

LDP — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:25:22 GMT

JS,

The award say top 3yr old, not top Classic distance or sprinter 3yr old which means it should be open to ALL 3yr olds. Zensational has won 3 consectutive grade ones against older males, not particularly strong races, but times were fast and he is a speed horse winning on tracks where speed falls apart. No other 3yr old male has won a grade one in open company, and if SB win the Gold Cup I think he gets it, unless Zensational wins the BC sprint, while SB doesn't fair well in the Classic.