Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Karen in Texas — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:34:44 GMT

Bill Two----After clicking on the link, then click on 'photos' at the top right side of the page.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Karen in Texas — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:59:25 GMT

Bill Two----Try this link for pictures of Swaps. I think IHA does resemble him. (Of course these photos are not nearly as good as those recently taken by Steve while 'on location'!)

www.horseracingnation.com/.../Swaps_1

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

an ole railbird — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:33:34 GMT

as far as the comparesome of iha to swaps, i was a mere 9 years old but remember it all very well. because i had an old great uncle that was a friends with mesh tenny. uncle howard was an old race track gypsy that visited us every summer in the early fall. i have looked up pictures of swaps & i guess the 2 horses do look similar. how ever iha reminds me more of alysheba than any other horse. comfortmation wise& running style. steve i would love to see you do an articule on some of the old derby winning trainers. like mesh tenney. i cant find much about him in print. but have heard lots of stories about him setting around a wood stove. a story on rex ellsworth, mesh tenny ,& swaps.( and dont leave out his jockey johnny longden,) would be some good reading. the human interst stories of old , always help promote racing. "an ole railbird" said it .

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

taxistan — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:49:00 GMT

I am filled with joy!! TWO Haskin articles on the same day. Go I'll Have Another.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

GoldenBroom — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:58:48 GMT

Sir Anthony Hopkins said it best in character in the movie The Edge..."Never feel sorry for a man who has a plane". I think Zayat has enjoyed and should take pride in just getting to the derby and running that well. One of these days he'll get his winner... he's on the edge while most of us are in the bleachers. I think Bodie is going to be tough in all things a mile and a quarter and under the rest of the year...

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Shelby's Best Pal — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:13:23 GMT

Thanks again for a wonderful column. Onward to the Preakness! Loved the "no thorns" comment. Amen, Mr. Haskin.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Giddyup — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:45:18 GMT

I haven't the slightest doubt that Eskendereya would have won the triple crown had he not been injured. He simply toyed with the competition.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Steve Haskin — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:41:37 GMT

Anncat, thanks, I hate to admit it but its just a little Canon Power Shot that my daughter bought me 10 years. I dont even think they make them anymore theyre so old fashioned. But I love it.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Anncat — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:54:34 GMT

I really enjoy your writings, Steve. You mix in a wonderful combination of techie stuff with word pictures of beautiful horses and fascinating people. Speaking of pictures, I really am enjoying your photos - excellent quality. What kind of camera are you using? If you don't want to advertise its brand, just tell us - is it a digital point and shoot or a DSLR?

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

iceman92 — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:55:21 GMT

hope i"ll have another gets another back rub before the preakness. seems to be a durable sort that possesses the tactical speed to be in the mix heading for home at pimlico. with only 14 horses going to post, another great trip might be in the cards. he will be on top of all my bets plus a decent sized win bet will be made.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Linda in Texas — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:34:06 GMT

Steve, in the photo you took of I'll Have Another just before the comments section, i am just now noticing that Doug was scratching IHA's forehead and IHA has his mouth open in a smiling position!

You didn't by any chance say "Cheese" just before you snapped that great photo or did you???

Having you take the pictures up close and then presenting them with your articles really does bring reality to the whole picture.

I thought Bodemeister was going to

make Mr. Zayat a happy man, but he took defeat in a gentlemanly fashion. He is a caring owner and

very hands on with all decisions.

Thank you Steve. Will you be on

the grounds at Pimlico? Hope they let you away from your desk so you are.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Fran Loszynski — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:52:55 GMT

Beautiful pics of Bode and I'll Have Another. I told all of my friends to bet on the white horse and of couse I'm hiding out this week but I know Tapit as well as I know Afleet Alex and their breeding dictates Hansen is going to surprise!. So yes, folks the big white horse for the Preakness. You always take such awesome shots Steve. I'm on my third scrapbook with you! Hope you are feeling well, it certainly shows in your articles and pics. Go Hansen!

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

CHIEF PICAWINNA — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:41:20 GMT

To exotic bettors like myself Zayat is a good play and I played all three.Dale Romans has had a 3rd in 2010 a 4th in 2011 and a 3rd in 2012 all in a row.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Susan from VA — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:04:16 GMT

So now you've demonstrated your photographic talent! I love reading all of your blogs, and now they are illustrated by your photos, too.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Bill Two — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:19:16 GMT

I've heard that I'll Have Another looks an awful lot like the immortal Swaps. I go back a ways, but 1955 is before my time at the races. Anybody remember Swaps? How close a resemblance is there?

Just curious.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

txhorsefan — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:31:05 GMT

Wonderful, Steve!! You sure know how to evoke specific images with your choice of words - wow! It is so easy to picture Tevye shouting that - Tradition! Ok, enough of my mind enjoying remembering that great movie and on to saying thank you again for bringing up so much more interesting stuff for us to learn about these horses and their connections. Besides Bodemeister breaking with so many traditions long held in racing, the whole team has started a new page with creating excitement about their colt and keeping chins up in the face of such a close loss. With the website Go Bode Go they are keeping fans involved with the colt and enjoying his progress. No it isn't tradition, but it is in my opinion, one way to grow more racing fans. It is obvious that even if people are telling them that you can't do things that way, they are willing to give it a shot doing things their way whether it is traditional or not. Go Bode Go!!

Thanks!!

Celeste

txhorsefan

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

ksweatman9 — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:30:48 GMT

I heard that Mike Maker said after the Derby that Hansen "just wasn't good enough". Guess I could be taking his comment out of context, but most, if not all the horses were "good enough" to win the Derby. They simply didn't. Take the same group, run the same race on a different day and you very well could have a different outcome. That's the nature of the game. I felt all the ponies brought their own brand of talent, there were no bums in the bunch. Some had a better day than others. I'll Have Another ran a brilliant race, but I'm not convinced he's the second coming of Secretariat. Unfortunately, because I would love to see another triple crown winner before I croak. Anyway, any of these fine thoroughbreds had the ability to win the roses, even Hansen. If Maker truly feels that way, perhaps someone else should train the gorgeous colt.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Cassandra.Says — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:17:13 GMT

Paseana, you said it.

Imagine the frustration of owning Eskendereya, Nehro, Pioneerof the Nile, Bodemeister.

Tears come to my eyes. Like a Greek tragedy, innit?

To all those breeders, owners and trainers who are still waiting for their "horse of a lifetime" who is good enough to START in a Triple Crown race, count your blessings.

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Paseana — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:14:58 GMT

Steve, I just realized that I screwed up with my recent post. I was thinking that Zayat's horses were 2nd in the Derby three years IN A ROW....that's obviously not correct. It's three out of the last four. Ice Box was 2nd in 2010...Eskendereya's year. My Bad!

Makes me feel like a numbnut, but it happens sometimes when posting on these blogs. SORRY!

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Paseana — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:00:15 GMT

Nice piece, Steve.....thanks.

It just blows my mind that a Zayat horse has finished 2nd in the Kentucky Derby the last three years in a row! I actually didn't even realize that until I read it here!

I honestly didn't care for Nehro last year and tossed him, much to my wagering chagrin....especially because I had Animal Kingdom, Mucho Macho Man, and Shackleford boxed in a trifecta. That's ancient history now, but it helps to explain why I didn't even remember that Nehro was owned by Zayat. Pretty amazing, really!

Steve, can you tell me if that's ever happened before....the same owner getting a Derby 2nd three years in a row? It's probably not relevant to go back over all 138 runnings of the race, but maybe just since 1950 or so.....has it ever happened prior to 2009 (the start of Zayat's hat-trick)?

It's hard to even imagine how frustrating that must be for him! On the other hand, he certainly can be proud of that kind of success for his operation. Sure, 2nd in the Kentucky Derby isn't as good as winning, but this is the hardest race in the world to win, and to get three straight 2nds, especially in these gy-normous fields is nothing short of phenomenal!

And that's without even mentioning Eskendereya!

Thanks again for the piece, Steve. You remain, as always, the best!

re: Haskin's Derby Postscript: Zayat Marches On

Gate2wire — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:50:51 GMT

Steve,

Very nice article and BTW, I like how you have added your own pictures to your articles.

Great Job Again...