Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

John Horton, Jr. — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:56:32 GMT

Steve, speaking to your point of Quality Road, I, too, am a big fan of his. Going back to the pre-Derby preps I saw him in. Winning the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby. I only wish he had gotten to run in the Kentucky Derby. That said, I truly hope he's able to overcome all of the Breeders Cup trauma he experienced. This is a colt with a world of racing potential, and I really feel like his best race has yet to be seen. And that his best races lay ahead.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

NANCY PALMER - DREAMCATCHER THOROUGHBREDS — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:06:14 GMT

RIGHT ON EVERY TIME STEVE. LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES HAVE SO MUCH SOUL AND SENSITIVITY - THEY DESERVE RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING FROM US; SOMETIMES THIS GETS LOST IN THE RACE AFTER THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR!

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Kate — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:43:37 GMT

That Zenyatta, never mind synthetic, she could run on water and win ...

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Bob — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:02:01 GMT

Mary in VT hit the nail on the head.

It's the result of being either misinformed or naive to think that Zenyatta dodged Rachel when in fact it is the other way around.

The bottom line is that Jess Jackson got outmaneuvered. He was sure that Rachel had HOY locked up and therefore there was no reason to risk a confrontation with Zenyatta at the BC. Of course the one thing he didn't plan for was Zenyatta blowing away the toughest field assembled in North American racing this year in the BC Classic. In fact, many experts are calling it one of the toughest BC Classic fields ever.

How anyone could have witnessed Zenyatta's truly remarkable achievement and still think RA could have beaten her is beyond me, certainly not at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. On any surface, at any track, at any time, Zenyatta would have blown past RA in the stretch and beat her to the finish line at that distance and perhaps any distance.

RA is magnificent, one of my favorite horses ever, but she never beat a field that even remotely stands up to the top-to-bottom quality that Zenyatta beat in the Classic.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Debbie O'Connor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:31:45 GMT

Steve,

Great article! My heart bled for Quality Road, poor baby, he was so frightened, I read later that he also refused to go on the plane and had to be vanned home. I pray he recovers, I agree that he is a very talented athlete, who happens to hate the gate (I know how he feels, I'm claustrophobic).

I really liked the Breeder's cup coverage, especially the interview with Kent Desormeaux, I confess, I just love him...

Santa Anita really looks like a lovely place, someday I'd like to see "The Home of Seabiscuit" in real life. Until then, thank heavens for TVG!!! Thank you for all of your insightful, entertaining articles.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Suzie B — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:47:47 GMT

Quality Road needs a few sessions with John Lyons! Then he will be another perfect horse!

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

jim — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:45:35 GMT

Love your columns, nice to see a writer that loves the horses, the sport and does not get caught up in all the hype but rather sees thru it all. Keep up the great writing!

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

da3hoss — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:39:15 GMT

Mary in VT:

I love Zen as much as Rachel, but you said it perfectly.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

robinm — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:02:46 GMT

Lazmannick;

Could you please explain how Zenyatta's Classic win is greater than all Rachel Alexandra's races put together? It's a bold statement with nothing given to support it so I'd love to hear your reasoning.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

GeoRA — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:57:32 GMT

Rachel's connections were begging for a race on their terms, on their turf.

Zenyatta's connections said they weren't chasing after her, they had a specific goal in mind.

If you all trained or owned you'd know that almost all of us set up a game plan and try not to deviate from it too much. If we do it's usually because a monkey wrench got thrown into the works and we had to go back to the drawing board.

But if you recall, Jerry said he was considering running his mare once more, that would have been the match up. Then Rachel was put up for the year so why would he run his mare?

Let's just see if the filly is still running at 5 and how careful those connections are with her race schedule.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Ranagulzion — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:07:47 GMT

MARY in VT,

Bravo. Very well said.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

funnycideoflife — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:23:33 GMT

I have an idea. It's just an IDEA, so nobody better attack me and say it's ridiculous. Zenyatta is supposed to leave for Kentucky in a few weeks, right? Rachel Alexandra is currently at Churchill Downs, correct? WHAT IF, before Rachel leaves for the Fair Grounds, both of them jog or gallop around Churchill Downs together for one lap to show off for the fans? It wouldn't be a breeze or competitive, just something light and friendly. Wouldn't that be a great moment, the two girls that defined 2009 together on the track, especially for the public? Personally, I think it would be fantastic if both parties and Churchill were able to agree to do it. But that's just MY OPINION, so please don't bash it as being stupid or impossible, because I don't think it is.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

KYFan — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:49:12 GMT

defree, that's the problem with racing as a lot see it.

We cannot make it 'perfect', we cannot make it incident free or made for TV.

It's human beings with feelings and failings, it's unpredictable animals.

It isn't like the 'reality TV' that for the most part is TOTALLY unreal.

These guys whether it's trainers, gate crew or whatever, do the very best they can every day. If someone isn't going to watch it because something out of the norm happened? Chances are they wouldn't have watched it to begin with.

Whoever can't let this go as something that happens when you have a high strung animal having an issue and move forward with the GREAT things that followed? There's no pleasing them.

Not to start a controversy here, but it seems like the ability to tell all of us how to run our business, point out all the bad things and second guess us, mostly with the advent of the internet and the popularity of blogs, is what has really started to hurt horse racing more than anything else. The TV has focused on the feelgood stories in the past, but now when they show those the negativity always comes up for something else. Nothing is just face value and maybe it's the times we live in but people seem to always want to find something to criticize, demean or put down. Not sure if it makes them feel better about their own lives, but it's not just racing it happens in.

Many of the suggestions are great, even if they have some things we don't like to hear. But the random criticisms and constant complaining or pointing out ONLY the negative? In my opinion, THAT has been as or more harmful to racing than almost anything.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Matthew W — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:52:46 GMT

Mary in VT how can you say they were begging for a race with Big Z--The ONLY race va older was The Woodward, and they waited to announce their intent to go there, instead of Travers--no way could they have met--I agree with you that Rachel Alexandra had an all-time great season--I do not agree with your embelishment of that fact--begging for a race with Big Z, a full field of toughies around two turns? I never heard any mention of that--Rachel was a top filly--still is--no need to embelish that fact...that is the bias I claim exists: West Coast fans have nothing but praise of Rachel Alexandra---you try being a West Coast Fan, always seeing your horses getting the short end of the stick--always getting second--even when your horse never did!

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

LAZMANNICK — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:15:49 GMT

Mary in VT

Zenyatta's people did not exactly back away from a meeting with Rachel......If Rachel’s connections would have continued with their plans to race in the Beldame, Zen would have been there as she was already pre-entered. As soon as it looked like Zen would race in the Beldame, Rachel's people decided to commit to the Woodward……Whether this is a coincidence or not, who knows, but it’s not right to say that Zen shied away from Rachel………I think it would be safer to say that Rachel shied away from Zen and after her devastating win in the Classic it is not hard to see why. As good as Rachel has shown to be, at least in the 3 y-o filly ranks, she is not even close to being Zen’s equal on any track surface you want, especially dirt, because that is THE GREAT MARE’s best surface. That one race, the Classic, is tons greater than all of Rachel's races put together.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Tiznowbaby — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:06:38 GMT

Hank, I've never debated who should get horse of the year, so I don't know why you're addressing that post to me.

I will debate you 'til the cows come home, however, that Zenyatta should have traveled east just before the BCC in hopes of meeting Rachel. Again, how does it makes sense to make a 6,000-mile round trip for a prep if your goal is the BC Classic?

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Ragsy — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:05:16 GMT

Steve, I agree with all you have said, but I wonder... if final thoughts on the Breeders Cup Classic 2009 can be finalized until we know the final outcome of Quality Road.

Dear God, please help Bob Duncan rehab this magnificient horse...

All my prayers are for Quality Road and Bob Duncan with his ability to help Quality Road overcome this problem....such a beautiful horse.....

Rachel and Zenyatta will never be separated from their "Greatness" during the 2009 season...yes, we can add Goldikova.........

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Matthew W — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:32:32 GMT

Steve thanks for placating me--I know I'll always have the memories--I remember Ancient Title, Best Pal, Exceller, and others who never got a sniff of an Eclipse--That's what happens when some regions have more votes than others--it's ok...but I ask you, if it were reversed, and there were more votes out West, would it be ok with you to just have the memories of Rachel, cuz it's not ok to constantly hear Big Z only ran one good race, when she beat the Ladies Champ three times--it was not ok to hear her 7 for 7 season (last year) was not enough cuz she didn't run in Classic... if there ever was a time for the powers that be to step in and offer up a shared vote, this is that time....otherwise, Zenyatta will lose for the second time, and she never really did lose, did she?

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Karen D — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:19:21 GMT

I'm a little puzzled why they chose to start the Classic in the chute off the main track. I would think that contributes to problems loading with horses being boxed in on three sides. Thanks for the reminder that everything we ask these horses to do goes against their nature and instincts. It's arrogant and thoughtless to blame one of them if something goes wrong with our plans.

On a lighter note, in the search for Secretariats I would like to nominate Presious Passion as Big Red in the Belmont. He certainly knows how to open a gap on the field and he has the heart of a champion.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

hank — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:06:17 GMT

Tiz first of all I love both of these horses, have watched all of Zenyattas and Raceals races if possible through TVG, if that were, classic in mind, the case why enter in both races, and then realize that most of classic horse were out of their element,GiPonti is going to be grass champion, he wouldn;t even try dirt,Read article by UbiasedOpinon, not taking anything away from Zenyatta, achomplishments by each horse, and that is what HOY is relly about, are like and day, RA are way ahead of Zenyattas, probaly never duplicated Zenyatta's probably will be repeated next year by RA. If she is as good RA will run in BC Classic,shee would of ran this year if it was on dirt, give Jackson his due he didn't dodge any bullets with her, Each should be looked at own merits, RA dirt, Zenyatta Syn.Run on glass, rember Zenyatta was in Kentucky in to go but got scratched,why track conditions, not the case for RA, the only thing wrong was that both horses showed up in same year,Greatest thing for racing, now it is time for racing to step up to the plate and award both camps for their success. I will go with Mr Haskin on this one and I have to give him credit he is trying in the the nicest way to tell everyone here what is best for everyone. Love everyon here!

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

da3hoss — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:02:58 GMT

KYFan, you're right about the signs, etc. Even Zenyatta had to be pushed in for her initial loading as well as the reload...

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Mary in VT — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:31:10 GMT

Rachel will be Horse of the Year.

I'm nuts about both of these horses, and although Zenyatta's BC was visually very impressive, it was her only impressive race this year. If she was capable of more races like this, shame on her connections for keeping it a secret. They should have realized it takes more than a 5 race - 1 state campaign - with 1 impressive race in it after they lost HOTY in 2008. People keep saying how beautifully managed she was. Sorry. I don't see it. I think they lose it again for the big mare.

The BC could not have set up more beautifully for Zenayatta, Life Is Sweet, and Sheriffs. Home track, Rachel not coming, Sea The Stars not coming, Summer Bird and Mine That Bird struggling on the ProRide, Rip van Winkle's connections concerned, Gio Ponti had a long year and looked the tired horse he was, Music Note wasn't getting over the ProRide as lightly as she does dirt, everybody was talkign about Quality Road's oochy ouchy trot the day after a work so he was a non issue, and Zenyatta's people *still* didn't call it for the Classic until they had seen all the compition on the ProRide. Of course Zenyatta's race was visually impressive. How could it be anything else? The class of the field was in trouble giving a gigantic advantage to Zenyatta who was the freshest horse in the field and the only synthetic specialist. Similarly, the class of the field in the Ladies Classic was in trouble on the ProRide, advantage to Life Is sweet.

The '08 and '09 versions of the BC dirt races should be forever asterisked as run on a surface that clearly handicapped dirt horses. There are troubling issues, and a lot of lines have been blurred. "Horses who made their last start on the dirt were 0 for 21 at the Breeders' Cup this year, making the tally 0 for 43 in the two straight Cups on the synthetic track at Oak Tree, with 34 of the 43 finishing worse than third. .. Thirty of the 43 starters ran a slower figure switching from dirt to synth, 20 of them by 10 points or more:" - DRF

You all saw the top grass horse in the US come in a respectable second to Zenyatta on Santa Anita's version of 'dirt' with a Euro grass horse in third, and Summer Bird was the first dirt horse over the line in fourth place. The same was true on Friday. According to DRF, none of Friday's BC AWS participants finished better than third unless they prepped on synthetics. The lovely Music Note, who to my mind towers over Life Is Sweet, was the only dirt horse to get up to third place all day on Friday, and I forgot who managed Friday's soul fourth place. Sheriffs was merely the lucky recipient of the sythetic surface funneling the marquis races his way. All he had to do was recognise the golden opportunity before him and hold out his arms.

Zenyatta beat the winners of the KY Derby and the Belmont on *her* best surface, not theri best surface because they were taken out of theri game. Every tv commentator noted that the Classic winner's works over the ProRide were unimpressive. I don't care what Tim Ice said. Everybody else saw his horse wasn't the same horse on ProRide. If you want to know the truth, I think when Tim Ice said that his hiorse handled the track fine, he was just doing his best to stick a fork in Rachel Alexandra. Rachel Alexandra beat Summer Bird by six lengths in the Haskell on a surface that he liked and came within two ticks of the track record doing it. Zenyatta only beat him by 3-4 lengths on a surface that he didn't care for.

Whereas, every time Rachel ran she was asked to step up to bigger and better challenges. Every time. Every race. If Jess Jackson "cherry picked" her races it was to make sure that each one was tougher than the last. When they could no longer fill a race with 3 yr. old fillies to run against her she took on the boys again and again and still again. She stayed undefeated on seven tracks in six states and in whatever weather God cared to deliver. She was tested every step of the way while smashing through record after record. To be able to find a way to keep her neck in front in the Woodward after setting sprinter like early fractions took the strength and breath and voice right out of me. I will never forget it as long as I live.

Rachel's people were begging for a race with Zenyatta, while Zenyatta's people remained coy. America was begging to see them both in the same race, but Zenyatta's people could not be pursuaded to take on the 3 yr old filly. Zenyatta supporters now want to say that true dirt was really her best surface because of her one race on it lasy year. If that were true, we would have had our race.

This debate is not even close.... Rachel Alexandra had one of the greatest seasons of all time and is HORSE OF THE YEAR.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

defree — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:15:23 GMT

KY fan- I was just making observations- I think everyone involved minus the guy with the whip was doing everything they could, and following normal protocol. I think people crap all over racing far more than necessary, but this time I saw a few things that I thought were a little strange- again the guy with the whip once QR was already loaded. Just things that need to be considered- If I as a race fan notice them and disagree with them, then how is the general public who isn't as lenient or understanding as I am going to take it. Thats all. But I do understand your frustration. I agree with you that QR probably wasn't going to get loaded at all that day, no matter what. If we want racing to survive, we need to figure out how to appeal to the general public, and for most people, watching events like that isn't going to hook them. I grew up watching racing- I don't want it to go away.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

Mike Relva — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:50:32 GMT

HELLO STEVE

I agree w/you regarding Quality Road. The blindfold almost proved to be Quality Road's undoing.

re: Breeders' Cup Wrap - Final Thoughts

dan renzulli — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:23:21 GMT

as usual haskins writes and gives the best info all the time. simply put "the best"