Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Mike Relva — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:48:42 GMT

RECHELLE

Why don't you get your facts straight? PP was 19-0,so Zenyatta would have to run several times more to tie or break her record. You said you are a fan of Zenyatta. If this is how a fan behaves would hate to see if you didn't like her.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Rechelle — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:35:37 GMT

Footlick, there is no chance of Zenyatta running in Europe next year. IF she goes through the breeders cup undefeated, they will try her for 3 more races to beat Peppers Pride's undefeated record and nothing more. How can you not have seen that she simply isn't the monster she was a year ago which is why she has had the easy, handpicked races she's had? Honestly, I'll be surprised if she pulls off a win this weekend, but I'll be astounded if it happens in the breeders cup. If she was the freak she was last year, there was NO reason to not ship her to Belmont for the Beldame especially after the officials at Belmont stated they would not use the detention barns since that's been the Mosses' excuse for why they don't ship to Belmont. They also upped the purse for her & Rachel to show up. Rachel is exhausted and has earned a vacation. What was the Mosses' excuse to not ship Zenyatta to Belmont? Quite simply, I believe her connections realize that they don't have the horse they did a year ago. But as I said, she will definitely NOT ship to Europe. After she's defeated, she'll be retired to the breeding shed.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Householder — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:43:42 GMT

Weaknesses..."Music not has yet to tackle the nations best older fillies and mares. She has raced exclusively on dirt tracks in New York, primarily around one turn."

Breeder's Cup Bios

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Tiznowbaby — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:08:52 GMT

Dray, it doesn't matter who Colonel John beat in the Travers. The point is that you called a whole field of horses nobodies. You slammed a whole field. That's what people would like you to stop doing.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Mike Relva — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:27:54 GMT

HOUSEHOLDER

Great point!

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Mike Relva — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:26:54 GMT

RECHELLE

Guess you missed her last race when she was thirteen back and came five wide. Right!

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Draynay — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:32:21 GMT

Tiz, thanks for the research. Ummm who did Colonel John beat in the Travers again ?

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Footlick — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:05:23 GMT

Rechelle- Zenyatta only is doing what she has to do to win. Smith isn't pushing her- he's hand riding her. Can she win the BC? I haven't seen anything that would scare her away, but that doesn't mean she will win. I personally would rathe see her in the Classic or with her breeding try the turf in Europe next year. One word of caution on Careless Jewel- she hasn't faced anywhere near the quality of the field she will face in the BC. I agree she's been impressive, but very green and erratic. Not the best way to run a Breeder's cup race. As for Music Note- I don't really see an improvement from last year. She beat a sub-par Indian Blessing, and she beat Unbridled Belle. I don't think that makes her any more formidable. And does she handle the track at Santa Anita?

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Householder — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:04:40 GMT

No Lady beats Zenyatta on her home track at equal weight. Not gonna happen.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Greg J. — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:39:03 GMT

Thanks Jason,

Everyone has to do a little growing up...

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

LAZMANNICK — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:35:20 GMT

Hey Draynay

If I wanted to get attention I would just call myslf Draynay. OUCH!

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Rechelle — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:25:29 GMT

Mike Relva, if Zenyatta pulls off the win, which I just don't see happening, not with Music Note & possibly Careless Jewel in the race, then she will have earned it and there will be no spin. If she can actually defeat either of those two fillies, then she deserves the win and the kudos.

However, I am not seeing the same Zenyatta that we saw a year ago. I am seeing a 5yo mare who is getting tired and is ready to retire and move on to a fantastic broodmare career. Zenyatta a year was a monster. Zenyatta this year is a great horse, but doesn't have the same quality she did a year ago. That's not a bad thing, but it is a sign that she is tired and she is defeatable now. I love Zenyatta, I think she's an amazing racehorse, but I don't think she's good enough to win the Breeders Cup race this year.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Shawn P — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:15:51 GMT

Well I guess the solution to that would have been to not print any of them?

First and foremost to not publish the initial disrespectful comments to the various people on the comments?

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Mike Relva — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:03:25 GMT

HORSWLD

You are welcome and I agree w/you.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Jason Shandler — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:40:35 GMT

Kevin: From your keyboard to mine. I agree wholeheartedly. I dont think I could have taken anymore bickering from Draynay, Mike and Shawn, so I've written another blog. Trust me, their little schoolyard fight wont be continued on the new one. Sorry everyone.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Kevin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:41:11 GMT

Jason,

No disrespect to anyone on this site but why not end the comments. Start over. The path to me seems to have lost itself between the "yellow brook road" and the "jackie robinson parkway".

I now realize I left out a few people who wished well concerning Pappy's demise and Mercy's fight back on the next day, for all of you, thanks for your good thoughts. But this site is hard to read some times with all the expert knowledge so freely given.

On a very lower level from the high heavens discussed, look for Mercy's Delight around the 23rd, Dominguez agent committed, so maybe some more good will happen.

Again, to ALL, thanks for good vibes.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Matthew W — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:35:24 GMT

If this is about being able to criticize a trainer's record--I mean, this is horse racing, where everybody has an opinion, it's where you go to be critical--of everything and everybody--Dray is like a blood relative on this blog! Kin to a fellow traveler and true believer--me! Pletcher is ice in Gr I's...things can change overnight in this sport, for example--Bobby.....and, wow, all I can say to the poor soul who thinks this is a weak year in racing--you won't see horses like Rachel Alexander, Sea The Stars, Goldikova, Zenyatta, Summer Bird, and a Kentucky Derby like Mine That Bird's---you don't get years like that but once, twice in a lifetime....

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Matthew W — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:22:45 GMT

Zenyatta won't lose to a filly not named Rachel---Music Note? She better get the jump on Zenyatta cuz Big Z will be rollin, and against fillies, she's just a big load....against males? Since no filly has beaten older on dirt at 1 1/4 since 68, I'd say they're taking a huge chance at defeat---I WANT to see them try---THAT is the filly who should try older males---Zenyatta is an amazon---I was/am critical of trying Rachel Alexandra, a three year old filly, with older males at Saratoga---but Zenyatta is as big/strong as a male, so it is something thet needs to happen....I'm sure someone or two will step up and challenge her, Zenyatta's a horse that always steps up.....

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

LAZMANNICK — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:56:04 GMT

Some of the horses in the DRAYNAY SLAM STABLE:

Secretariat

Ruffian

Zenyatta

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Theresa S. — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:09:03 GMT

Shawn P, I don't form my opinions on what Wayne Lucas says. I form my opinion on the cold hard fact that Pletcher has the worst loss record in Kentucky Derby history.

Did you ever stop and think that his loading the Derby field with multiple horses might be a bad thing? Do you like the 20 horse bumper car race that the Derby has degraded into in recent years? Do you like the 20 horse rodeo that's almost impossible to handicap and is probably dangerous to the horses and riders?

If you don't like it, examine Pletcher's role in the degradation of the Derby fields. Who else loads it with multiple horses year after year after year while usually finishing up the track? In case you didn't notice, he's had horses get hurt in the overcrowded Derby but he keeps it up anyway [see Bandini for example].

It looks to me like his ego is getting the best of him and all he's doing is embarrassing himself and those unfortunate horses he enters.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Horswld — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:08:53 GMT

LAZMANNICK,

I have to agree with you. I just can't see where a 3 yr old is considered incomplete when winning the BC Classic which has happened more than a few times. Where is the logic there?

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Horswld — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:03:27 GMT

Mike Relva,

Thanks for your feedback about Rick Dutrow on Jason's other blog.

Wow, I ended up getting a little upset over there!

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Draynay — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:54:21 GMT

Woolley is not concerned about the fact that Mine That Bird finished last of 12 on the Santa Anita Pro-Ride last year in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

“Last year, we got in late and he wasn’t ready for the race,” Woolley said. “He chased the pace five-wide on both turns and really didn’t have much of a chance. The horse likes the racetrack OK; he just needs a better trip.

Ummmm... did this bother anyone else or is it just me. I am still in shock.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Tiznowbaby — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:43:29 GMT

Draynay wrote: Maybe it would help if someone looked back and could copy and paste me SLAMMING a horse so I knew what SLAMMING a horse means.

OK.

Draynay 24 Jul 2009 1:30 PM

(In reference to an Eclipse award winner and BC champion) I doubt if anyone cares that Zenyatta could go undefeated. The path she took was the easy path and now she is little more than a state champion.

draynay 29 Apr 2009 10:52 AM

(Your thoughts on most of the horses in the 2009 Derby)This race has turned into a glorified allowance race. 15 horses have no business being in this race and the best horse left by far like it or not is Dunkirk.

Draynay 01 Apr 2009 8:55 PM

(In reference to Sham) Sham finished right behind Secretariat in the Derby... that is all I need to know because Sham was a nobody

Draynay 15 Mar 2009 12:50 AM

(In reference to Win Willy) Old Fashioned got beat by a nothing horse

Draynay 06 Sep 2008 8:22 AM

(Here's where you called an entire field nobodies) Col. John like last year beat NOBODY in the Travers.

and of course, my all-time personal favorite was when your wrote before the Travers that Colonel John couldn't find the finish line with a map.

re: Jockey Club Gold Cup Weekend Analysis

Draynay — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:40:50 GMT

Draynay

I know it is difficult for you to comprehend at times, but doesn't a 3 y-o defeating older horses on a regular basis negate your ridiculous claim that a horse hasn't really proven anything unless it races as an older horse?....Maybe I need a brain check, but I just don't get it.

Also, by saying what you are saying, Rachel hasn't really proven anything because she is still three......I guess that really does make Zen look good seeing that she's five.

LAZMANNICK 06 Oct 2009 5:41 PM

Lazmannick I felt it was important to post what you said so you can show me where I said "a horse hasn't really proven anything unless he races as an older horse."

Lazmmanick, for the sake of me and the blog please show me where I said that. Because it seems you are just posting nonsense to get attention.