Picks For Saturday BC Races

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

The Peacock — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:53:11 GMT

Pasture-limit. Watch where you step!

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Footlick — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:26:33 GMT

Sorry- my computer has a mind of it's own here at work. Lost-Ruffian set or equalled 8 stakes records and equalled two track records, so if that is your criteria, then she towers over Rachel. But speed is not the only criteria, which has been discussed at length.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Susan T — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:14:48 GMT

What a racing year! Two of the best females ever bring a new dimension of excitement and much-needed interest in racing. It's a shame that the HOTY award can't go to both Rachel and Queen Z. Both soundly beat the males!

Zenyatta is awe-inspiring. She's not only a superb runner but a beautiful specimen of a Thoroughbred mare. And who could not love her character? I rarely ever see a mare with that much presence, self-confidence and joie de vivre. She is awesome! I saw the race via a re-run and couldn't believe my eyes as she throttled down and ate up ground with her amazing strides. I believe firmly that had she not come from so far behind and had been closer to the pace when she made her move, she probably would have won by 15 lengths!

I'll always hold Ruffian first in my heart, but Zenyatta is about as close as you can get to claiming the Greatest Female award. I do think that Rachel Alexandra is a great filly and will probably be stronger as a four-year-old mare, but given the same field, the same track conditions, etc. if Rachel had been in the Classic, Zenyatta would have beaten her too.

More than anything else, I'm so glad there were no injuries and that Zenyatta retires with a perfect, unbeaten record. She has nothing else to prove and now she can contribute to the genetic strength of the breed.

Zenyatta, you are the Queen!!

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

jim — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:44:59 GMT

who cares what "lost in the fog" says, when the actual trainer of "lost in the fog" says zenyatta should be HOTY.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Tim G — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:34:06 GMT

Lost In the Fog, why would I need to see it on video? I was THERE. I was there for the Oaks, The Preakness and for several other races of hers. I've been at many of the major races over 50+ years and the reaction at SA was unbelievable.

NOT EVERY person at SA was cheering for Zenyatta, but when she won they all embraced her.

I watched the DVR of the race after I got back and Paul LoDuca, the biggest RA supporter on the planet, comparing her with Secretariat was almost ready to fight, saying that the people who think RA would wax Zen on dirt are CRAZY.

Basically for the Woodward? Everyone at Spa was there to see RA and no one else.

Yes there were less people there at the Spa, people who COULD have come out didn't and the attendance was inflated by spinners.

As far as the Apple Blossom in 2008?

I'm not sure which Ginger Punch you're referring to but at that point she was still one of THE best in racing.

That year she won the Sunshine Millions Distaff. June 08, won the GI Ogden Phipps Hcp in a five+ lengths hand ride. July 08 she wone the Go For Wand Handicap second year in a row, August 22, 2008, won the G1 Personal Ensign Handicap. Bob entered her in the GI Beldame she was 2nd by a neck to Cocoa Beach. He entered her in that race and the BC Ladies Classic to try and break the earnings record.

She was the premier East Coast/midwest runner. Along with Cocoa Beach and Zenyatta was considered the cream of the crop.

Like I said earlier and as Laz (hey, Laz I almost got the 1.8 mil, but did get a split of the Pick 5 of 6)

THIS is what the casual fans, and from the reactions I've heard, the hard core fans and racetrackers, those IN the game rank as more memorable than anything they've seen in years.

Most of the biggest trainers in the game who have seen both run and have RUN against BOTH, like Baffert, are saying Zenyatta accomplished something remarkable.

RA beat MTB, barely, She beat older horses barely and NONE of those she beat finished close to Zen as they did RA, and the last one she beat Macho,connections KNEW he wouldn't beat this class of horses.

But if you think you have one up on those in the game, those like Baffert, then apply that expertise as a trainer/owner.

I was going to tease Todd and tell him that QR (once I found out he only had a scrape on a hind leg) didn't want to go in the gate when he saw Zenyatta in there.

Funny so many of you were saying NO WAY Zenyatta would be a 'quality' field like this even ON synthetics. Don't think this poor loser, bad sportsmanship is very flattering to you folks. Man up and take your medicine. Jason has and HE publically stated it on a live blog etc.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Mike Relva — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:46:59 GMT

STARDUSTY ROSE

We told 'em didn't we for weeks! lol

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Mike Relva — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:45:43 GMT

MR PHANTOM

I don't hear you,since you brought up my name admit the fact that I SAID about a million times that Zenyatta would win yesterday.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Mike Relva — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:44:12 GMT

LAZMANNICK

Nice touch! I'm waiting for that loser RECHELLE to show up and admit all those neg. posts about Zenyatta were wrong. lol

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Jason Shandler — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:34:45 GMT

Kevin: Never said I was a know-it-all. Im paid to give my opinions; you dont like it, well then, so be it.

Cheer up Helsbelles, seems like you are sad about a lot of things.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

The Phantom — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:13:17 GMT

lost in the fog , your lost alright, who cares about a video of RA running 9 furlongs against a bunch of non hall of famers and happy fans, she's great up to 9 f but real Champions win at a mile and a quarter against the best comp. The phony onwer was scared to put her to the real test.Give Zen's onwer and trainer the credit she didn't duck the big one and she gave the field such a big lead then Swoosh 2 minutes later history was made.RA best 3 yr old but Zen HOY.Has Mickey Rev sent jesse the phony a box of kleenex , i'm sure he wasn't so happy watching the BC classic lol.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

LAZMANNICK — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:35:55 GMT

Afleetalexforever

I told myself not to get excited when out-of-touch people like you post their derogatory comments. If you look at my 8:07 PM post yesterday you will see how many races the Saturday BC winners raced in leading up to their events…..the answer, not many…..As far as the PADDY CAKE races Zen was in like the Lady’s Secret, the Vanity, Etc. and Etc…..they were all extremely tough…..WHY? Because the best horse in N/A this year was running in them…..Are you so daft that you can’t remember how her stable-mate crushed those fillies the day before? Get over it and celebrate the moment like all knowledgeable horse racing fans are doing.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Lost in the Fog — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:19:41 GMT

TimG,

It was breeder's cup day. Santa Anita can hold a lot more people than Saratoga.

If you want to see just how great the reaction was to Rachel Alexandra's Woodward, you can see for yourself here. You couldn't even hear Durkin. No matter what you may think is the truth or want to believe, you can't change facts. And here are the videos of the facts. And I believe this she will be your horse of the year.

www.youtube.com/watch

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

LAZMANNICK — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:19:15 GMT

For the Dray Sayers, I mean Nay Sayers, some facts.....

• Zen’s last quarter.....23.1.

• Zen’s last half…..47.0, which means her 5th quarter was faster than her actual 23.4, 4th quarter.

• The mile in the Classic 1.36 with a ¼ M to go.

• The mile dirt.....1.35.2, with milers going all out to the wire.

• Dirt Mile last quarter Approx 25 seconds, well off Zen’s time.

• The other dirt races were not particularly fast. Even the sprint. It should have been sub 1.08. Based on this, the time in the Classic was exceptional and could have been even faster if she needed to go faster.

I was particularly impressed by the fact that midway in the turn she looked like she would finish 2nd last….. she then hit the quarter pole and accelerated…..at the eighth pole she actually had to wait for a horse to clear and then another horse, before she could angle out…..Mike used the whip maybe three times to the 1/16th pole…..from the 1/16th pole home she was hand ridden……If she didn’t have to wait at the eighth pole to angle out she would have won by a lot more.

As far as this nonsense about poly specialist and synthetic specialist, that’s sour grapes. There are always those who will try and put a damper on things and look for a way to discredit, and that’s all right. We all do it at times when standing up for what we believe (I know I’m particularly guilty of that at times)…..It’s true that on dirt a few of her competitors would have moved up, but what people have to realize is that Zen would have moved up too. There is no doubt about that based on her demolishing performance in the Apple Blossom.

As far as HOY, many prominent trainers including Bob Baffert, Eoin Harty, Cristophe Clement and Jerry Hollendorfer have already stated that she should win it now based on the enormity of what she accomplished yesterday…..I was always staunchly in favour of supporting her if she won yesterday, but now I really couldn’t care less……She accomplished something yesterday that will be remembered long after HOY……For instance, years from now how many people will remember who the 2009 HOY was without looking it up…..I can assure you that for the most part, not many……But years from now if you asked the question what undefeated mare defeated defeated males in the BC Classic and anyone who knows even the slightest about racing will tell you in a second.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Lost in the Fog — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:58:17 GMT

TimG,

when Zenyatta beat Ginger Punch, Ginger Punch had already been well on her way in the wrong direction.

Draynay,

thank your lucky stars that QR didn't run. He stood no shot to win. NONE. That horse had been working so lame all week that his head was bobbing at the jog. I was praying to God to please let them scratch him. I can't believe that they were running after the way he trained all week. It may be a blessing in disguise that he was scratched. I wouldn't have wanted a breakdown to taint Zenyatta's win. Also, he has always been a bad horse at the gate, but I believe there was a reason that he wasn't going in yesterday.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Footlick — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:57:05 GMT

Euro- Classy post. I always thought Zarkava and Zenyatta were alike. they both lag back, they both run horses down and they both run only as fast as they had to to win. Zenyatta and Zarkava win their races easily and always had more in the tank. Everyone on this blog knows how much I love European racing. Congrats to you too. Imagine a turf Euro campaign for Zenyatta.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

LAZMANNICK — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:32:30 GMT

Euro The Conqueror

Unbelievable post on your part.....You showed a lot of class and heart.....Any time I go up against you I hope you realize it's all in good clean fun.....I respect your horses as much as I do ours....LOL and have a good day.

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

stardustyrose — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:23:46 GMT

Jason has CLASS! He knows when to be humble and admit that he was wrong. Takes a heck of a better person to do that than to make up excuses. :) Right ON Jason! We love ya.................. ♥

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

stardustyrose — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:19:46 GMT

MDFANOFRACING

I so agree. JULIEN is a very good jockey. Just like Prado, I trust him on ANY horse. :)

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

stardustyrose — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:17:50 GMT

Mike Relva

Some people don't know what the word class means. ;-)

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

stardustyrose — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:15:20 GMT

MimiG

QR is OK with a few cuts but nothing serious. He will be fine. :) THANK GOD!

The rest of you that are still arguing over this HOY stuff come on. Zenyatta could win on the moon. She is THAT GOOD! Some of you just don't want to except that although it is right in your face. Mike said he was only in 3rd gear at the wire that she had another gear to go. He had a lot of horse left. ♥Zenyatta♥ I would put her close NOT the SAME but close to Ruffian. :) That is how good I believe she is. RA would IMO have got beat badly. That is why IMO she did not go to the BC. Remember when Jerry Bailey said that RA had two choices at Saratoga and she was in shape to do the harder race on paper and they chose to put her in the easier race with the older horses instead? Remember that? That speaks volumes. :) Nuff said.....................

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

stardustyrose — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:09:26 GMT

Greg J. I know what you mean. Both days were like that for me. I lost all day long on Friday until Life Is Sweet ran. I put a lot on her and got my purse above what I started with. OK then yesterday, same thing happened. I hit the 8th race 2.10 cent superfecta but oh boy the payout was pretty whimpy. I was missing most of my wagers by one horse. Finally I just said to heck with this. Put the rest on Zenyatta and the 5 horse superfecta. Because QR scratched, I hit that. Took a payout right away and still have some in there. It was the last race that saved my butt on both days. :-)

By the way. Hats off to the man that handled QR at the starting gate. QR could have very well hurt himself had he got loose with that blindfold on him. That man that held him like his life depended on it deserves a medal!!! QR is fine. I talked to a jockey last night. A few cuts but nothing serious. ALWAYS listen to the horse!! QR did not want to run. They should not force them that hard. :(

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Mike Relva — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:08:20 GMT

STEVE S.(LAUGH)

So,what do you have to say now???????????????????????????

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Mike Relva — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:58:07 GMT

PASTERLANDS AND AFLEET ALEX

If you two losers had a ounce of class(which you don't) you would admit you were wrong. BTW if she lost yesterday you two and others would be the first to say"I told you so" well I've been on her from day one and shes' a "superhorse". Case closed!

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Greg J. — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:53:59 GMT

Euro The Conqueror,

I give you credit, Class Act, And yes, "It was an incredible day of racing."...

re: Picks For Saturday BC Races

Fish — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:35:00 GMT

Thank you Jason, Tom Lamarra & bloodhorse.com for making Breeder Cup weekend more enjoyable.