Uncle Mo's Booty Call

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Footlick — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 03:31:54 GMT

Get over it everyone. This has gone viral on each blog in the Triple Crown Talk. It has nothing to do with the Triple Crown.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Draynay — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:48:14 GMT

Forbidden, Zenyatta loved dirt so much that even after Mike Smith hit her again and again and again with the whip for 300 yards she STILL couldn't get by Blame. Quality Road and Blame won the top races of the sport all year. Zenyatta won mare restricted races on a plastic surface in California... who cares?

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Forbidden Apple — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:00:40 GMT

Draynay,

Can you read well? If so, read my post on January 20 at 11:13 am. Look, I bet Blame to win and hit the exacta pretty good in the 2010 B.C. Classic. I also nailed the straight exacta Blame over Quarter Crack Road in the 2010 Whitney. I like Blame and think that he will be a very useful sire. But what you think about Zenyatta is disgraceful and flat out lies. You can not even except what I have written, and the material is fact and not my opinion. It's impossible to have a conversation with a brick wall! Oh, and as a side note, Zenyatta beat up on St. Trinians and Zardana in the Vanity. If my memory is accurate, Zardana was the second string Shirreffs horse that smacked Rachel Alexandra in the head in the spring. At least Zenyatta showed up for the B.C. Classic 2 years in a row. Rachel skipped the race both years, Q.Road could not even make it in the gate in 2009, and then in 2010 Q.Road finished so far back in last that the charts don't even list the margain of defeat(losing by more than 35 lengths). And your comments about Zenyatta's unliking of dirt is 100% wrong. I remember several times hearing John Shirreffs say that Zenyatta loved racing on dirt. His home base is California and it's not his fault that the state of CA switched all racing surfaces to polycrap. Zenyatta crushed Ginger Punch in the 2008 A.B., she won the A.B. again in 2010, and then beat 4 Grade I winning males in the 2010 B.C. Classic, all on dirt.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Draynay — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:55:08 GMT

Blame is the real HOY ask any trainer.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Footlick — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 04:32:59 GMT

This blog is about Uncle Mo, right?

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Mike Relva — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 02:42:54 GMT

DRAYNAY

You know that's a lie,when you talk nuts like that saying Zenyatta never beat males on dirt. WHAT ABOUT THOSE MALES SHE BEAT ON DIRT IN THE CLASSIC? YOU NEED A REALITY CHECK! YOU DIDN'T GET A VOTE FOR HOY.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 02:23:43 GMT

Draynay

Wear your shirt. Now everyone that goes to the track will know that you don't know what you are talking about.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Draynay — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:56:57 GMT

Forbidden Apple get a grip. She has G1 wins against mares in California on a plastic track who cares? She never beat males on dirt in her entire career. For 100 years we have graded racing based on G1 open wins. Zenyatta has just 1 on a poly track. BIG DEAL. She never did it on dirt. Comparing her to Quality Road and Blame and the races they won compared to the BS races she won in California is a joke. Blame was 2010 HOY and I have a shirt that says that on the back and I wear it to the track every Saturday and most agree. Blame won it on the track Zenyatta was a pretender that got exposed and lost just like I said she would.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Draynay — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:40:37 GMT

Zenyatta dodged the best competition again and again. She was a poly specialist and her record on dirt proves it. She never beat males on dirt. Rachel did it 3 times as a 3 year old. Zenyatta at her best was never close to being as good as Rachel at her best. Get over it.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Mike Relva — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:15:12 GMT

LAZ

Great points. last month BILLY'S EMPIRE said he "didn't care" when I told him Allen Jerkins said Zenyatta is a once in a lifetime. It's great he knows much more than a HOF trainer that's been in the business fifty plus yrs. lol

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Mike Relva — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:12:13 GMT

DRAYNAY

You keep saying Zenyatta didn't beat any Grade one horses. What do you think she did to the one's in Breeders? You act as if she came in LAST. That was your boy QR that finished last. Your opinion pales with the 128 that voted her HOY. Stop crying,it's over!

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

LAZMANNICK — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:14:03 GMT

Draynay…….It’s time to move on and bask in the glory of your new discovery, Uncle Mo (until he loses and you find another one). But before you do here are two quotes from two of the greatest trainers of all time…….John Nerud, 97 years old and the trainer of Dr. Fager and one of the greatest fillies ever, Ta Wee, said that Zenyatta if the greatest female race horse he has ever see……..Allen Jenkins who said he has seen Citation and Secretariat said that Zenyatta is just as good as any of them. I know their knowledge doesn’t begin to reach yours, but I think they’ll get over it. Get over it yourself. Enjoy perfection, something I guarantee you’ll never see again.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Forbidden Apple — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:13:12 GMT

Draynay,

You are the ultimate hater in this game. Without any research I can tell you that Switch was a Grade I winning horse that Zenyatta beat. She also beat Grade I winners Lookin At Lucky, Paddy O'Prado, Haynesfield, and Quality Road at 1 1/4 miles in the 2010 B.C. Classic, they are all MALES. What Grade I horses did Quality Road beat in 2010? The answer is NONE! He beat Dry Martini in the Donn and Mythical Power in the Woodward, that is a real joke. For some reason you can not accept the greatness within Zenyatta. She is a 13 time Grade I winner, Your thoughts are blurred by hate. And besides the B.C. Classic, the only Grade I winner that Blame beat was Quality Road in the Whitney. Zenyatta has a 2008 Ladies Classic win, a 2009 B.C. Classic win, and 2nd in the 2010 B.C. Classic. That is more Classic wins than Blame and Quality Road together, she also has more grade I wins in her career than both horses combined.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Draynay — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:29:37 GMT

All the races Zenyatta won in 2010 she didn't beat a single G1 winning horse. She didn't win all year past 1 1/8th and she didn't beat males. This makes a mockery of HOY. She earned nothing.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Forbidden Apple — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 05:25:36 GMT

Draynay,

When are you going to get real about Quality Road, take a look back at who he beat in the Donn and Woodward. He beat a bunch of allowance horses at best, his Breeders Cup Classic says it all about his talent level.

And just remember that Zenyatta won 5 grade I races in 2010, she is clearly a deserving champion. Let me know if you ever make it to Saratoga, maybe I can buy you a new pair of glasses and a muzzle.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Mike Relva — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 02:39:03 GMT

DRAYNAY

I'll give you this,like you've stated what RA did may never see again by a filly. I'm in agreement on that. She was one great horse.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Mj Hawk — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 01:12:52 GMT

So glad to hear that Zenyatta won HOY. Which was the way it should be.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Draynay — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 01:05:02 GMT

No Mike you are wrong. I just thought it was sad that they had to "give" her the reward because she didn't earn it on the track Blame did. Fact is if Blame won by 2 lengths he would have been HOY and many writers said so. But because he won by just a head it gave license to those who wanted Zenyatta to win so badly. RA is the best 3 year old male or female I have ever seen and Spectacular Bid is the best older horse I have ever seen and Goldie is the best mare I have ever seen.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Mike Relva — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:06:33 GMT

DRAYNAY

BTW last week you posted that Goldie was the "greatest mare you've ever seen". Remember? Didn't you say last year it was RA? Bet you didn't think I would catch that. lol

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Mike Relva — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 23:03:45 GMT

DRAYNAY

First,you WERE NEVER ON BLAME. Let's get that out of the way,ok? Second, Blame NEVER captured the fans interest like her. Third,let's don't kid one another I'm WAY AHEAD OF YOU cause if Zenyatta had beat Blame,your excuse would've been she only beat males once on dirt. Did you shoot your tv screen when they announced Zenyatta had won HOY? lol

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Draynay — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:22:47 GMT

Gunbow, Zenyatta's career is built on 2 races. She won on her home court in the BC because few could do well on the surface. Her last race she found the perfect track AGAIN. A sticky tiring track where speed was falling off all day. She lost. But many give her way too much credit for coming close but take no points away for her barley beating St. Trinians. The sport just rewarded Zenyatta for taking the easy path all year and then losing. It is a black eye to the sport and a disgrace placing Blame 2nd when he won it all on the track.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

LAZMANNICK — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:43:38 GMT

GunBow

Don't forget that Life Is Sweet ran a tiring third in the HGC. She was still a non-threatening third and was simply passing tired horses. You're right as usual. It is quite a feat and females do have much more success against males on turf than dirt.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Footlick — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:07:10 GMT

Thanks again GunBow

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

GunBow — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 10:45:23 GMT

Draynay is correct about one thing, it is much harder for females to beat gr.1 older males on dirt around 2 turns than it is for females to beat older males on turf(at any distance although turf females seem to do better against males at a mile than at 12 furlongs) or beat males sprinting on dirt. As for synthetics, there is just not enough data, but given that most synthetic surfaces play like a mix of dirt and turf, then one would think that it would be slightly easier for females to beat males on synthetics compared to dirt. Zenyatta aside, though, I cannot recall off the top of my head a female running well against gr.1 males on synthetic(St. Trinians' 6th in the Big Cap comes to mind as one of the rare examples).

That's why I find it hard to compare Goldikova to Zenyatta. Yes, Goldikova has beaten males repeatedly while Zenyatta did it only once, but it is common in Europe for females to race against and beat males at middle distances(on turf of course). Even in America it is much more common for females to beat males, even in grade 1s, at a mile on turf than at classic distances on dirt, as reflected by the results of the Breeder's Cup. In the history of the BC Mile(turf), 5 females have accounted for 8 victories. And even outside of the BC, over the last 3 years we have seen Proviso beat the boys in the gr.1 Kilroe(at a mile), and Ventura beat the boys in the gr.1 Woodbine Mile(while running 2nd in the Woodbine mile in 08') in addition to being nosed by Gio Ponti in the 08' Kilroe.

Even at longer diatnces on turf, it is not that unusual for females to beat males, as the names Zarkava, Dar Rei Me, Ouija Board, Pride, Vodka, Makybe Diva, Urban Sea, and All Along attest. Strikingly, females won the Arc 5 straight years from 1979-1983. And before the BC Filly and Mare Turf came along to steal most of the top female turf horses, Pebbles(85') and Miss Alleged(91') won the BC Turf.

As for sprinting on dirt, females have done quite well. 3 females(Very Subtle, Safely Kept, Desert Stormer) have won the BC Sprint and a number of have finished runner-up(Safely Kept 89', Meafara 92' + 93', Soviet Problem 94', Honest Lady 00', and Xtra Heat 01').

In comparison to all of these female triumphs on turf and dirt sprints, Zenyatta's performances in the BC Classic have few modern precedents. There was Shuvee in the Jockey Club Gold Cups and Princessnessian in the Hollywood Gold Cup, but that was the late 60s/early 70s. Lady's Secret and Personal Ensign both won runnings of the Whitney, but that was at 9 furlongs against modest competition.

There have been a number of successes by females in the Triple Crown races in recent years, with Genuine Risk and Winning Colors capturing the Derby, Rachel Alexandra taking the Preakness, and Rags to Riches netting the Belmont. However, those wins came in races restricted to 3 year olds.

The most recent example, prior to Zenyatta's 09' BC Classic, of a female winning a two turn gr.1 dirt race against older males was Rachel Alexandra winning the 09' Woodward. The victory by Rachel was historic and clinched a deserving HoY title, but it did come at 9 furlongs rather than 10 and against solid but not championship competition.

The Breeder's Cup Classic is the world's greatest open dirt race at a classic distance; over this there is little dispute. In the history of the Classic, females have only run in the money on 3 occassions, and 2 were by Zenyatta; and Zenyatta is the only female to finish first or second. Certainly, one can argue that the BC Distaff robbed us of many chances for a female to beat males; perhaps had Princess Rooney, Lady's Secret, Bayakoa, Paseana, Inside Information, Jewel Princess, or Azeri tried the Classic the years they won the Distaff, one might have been able to pull the upset. However, the connections of all of these great females did have the option of running in the Classic, but all except for Azeri in 2004 chose to run against females in the Distaff rather than the Classic. For as much criticism as Jerry Moss and John Sherriffs receive for being too conservative, the mere fact they ran Zenyatta in the Classic twice makes them bolder than any other owner/trainer has been in the Classic.

Even if we discount Zenyatta's win in the 09' Classic because it was on synthetics, her narrow defeat in 10' is by far the best performance ever by a female in the BC Classic(again, the lack of females to have ever even run in the Classic reflects a CHOICE on the part of owners and trainers to take the "easier" route and run in the Distaff). I think one can go further and make a solid argument that Zenyatta's 10' Classic runner-up was the best performance by a female in an open gr.1 dirt race

at a classic distance since the grading system was established.

For as much criticism as Rachel and Zenyatta have received from their detractors, if you look at their accomplishments historically, they truly are anomalies. 3 year old fillies just aren't supposed to win the Preakness and Haskell AND also beat older males in a gr.1 around 2 turns. And females of any age just don't win BC Classics or even run 2nd(by a nose), let alone do both. Rachel and Zenyatta have spoiled us, and forever altered the definition of what it means to be a great female racehorse in North America. I pity the next group of top fillies and mares that have to follow them.

re: Uncle Mo's Booty Call

Footlick — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 04:32:39 GMT

Dray-maybe you should learn to read. I already qualified that statement. When you have something knowledgable to say on the subject I'll respond. Otherwise, have a good Triple Crown.