Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

brittney — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:55:06 GMT

it would kool to see the Z and Rachel run together

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

zenyatta13 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:45:41 GMT

I don't even know where to start. The fact that the Breeders' Cup is being run on synthetics is keeping the best from running with the best (Rachel vs. Zenyatta). If the horse racing world hasn't realized that synthetics are ruining our sport, I don't know where horse racing is going to be 10 or 20 years from now! I totally agree with Jess Jackson calling synthetics "plastic." The Breeders' Cup had been held on dirt and turf for over 20 years and that truly brought our the champions. In 2008 we saw horses, mainly European-breds, win most of the BC races. If they weren't European they were used to running on synthetics. European horses run mainly on the turf, and synthetics favor turf horses! The 2008 "Dirt" Mile made me laugh because it wasn't even run on dirt! Albertus Maximus, the winner, had run on synthetics before. To me, the winner was going to be Well Armed, clearly the best horse in the field who was raised on DIRT. Well Armed did not fire in the Dirt Mile. Fast forward to March. Well Armed dominated the Dubai World Cup on DIRT while Albertus Maximus did not fire. I agree with wowhorse that the Bluegrass and the Coolmore Lexington at Keeneland will prove to be the least useful of the KD preps because it is run on synthetic and the KD is run on dirt. It escapes me why anyone would prep their horse on a turf-like surface for a dirt race. Take Advice for example. He ran an absolutely beautiful race in the Lexington Stakes. In the KD he did not run well, coming in 13th. Some people will say "Oh, he had a bad trip and ran into traffic" or whatever. I just think he is a better turf/synthetic horse. In the Arlington Washington Futurity he ran a stunning race. He unofficially came in second by a head, but because of an inquiry, the 3rd place finisher was placed infront of the unofficial winner, bumping Advice back to 3rd. He runs well on synthetics. Overall, WE NEED DIRT BACK! Fake dirt is keeping the best from being and meeting the best!

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Dave the Draynay Fan — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:22:18 GMT

only 7 1/2 hours till we welcome back dray. We missed you.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Mike Relva — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:31:44 GMT

TO: 2:24

I've said this many times,the connections of Zenyatta are going to do what's in her best interest despite what "crybaby" fans think! She's the champ,why don't others come to Calif. to race her? You need to deal with it!

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Freetex — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:54:27 GMT

Matt H, now there's a race! Just to make it interesting, why not add Summer Bird who won the third leg of the Triple Crown?

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Greg J. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:25:59 GMT

Slyder,

lol, I wasn't going to say anything, So, Thanks!, And Good Idea, But, It probably won't happen, Just doesn't make sense for them not to meet...

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

slyder — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:01:48 GMT

Someone get out the Guiness Book of World records!! I think Matt H just set one for the longest run on sentance in history!! He may have set another for typo's too.

Seriously though, horseracing needs to find a way to get the best and most popular horses in training in a race together. Not just this year but for the future. The Breeders Cup was to be that venue but sadly and I blame alot of it on the advent of fake tracks is no longer able to do so. Rachael vs Zenyatta and toss in some of the others would draw a crowd if it was the only race on a card. Somewhere there is likely a sponsor who would put up big money to create such a race. Heck they spend billions sponsoring less appealing things. Hockey has gone to outdoor games that draw "world record" crowds why not create an event at a premier dirt track, put up some temporary bleachers, add a big name band or two and have the race of the year for all the marbles? You could even tie it in to a day honoring racing legends man/woman/and beast. I can't think of a better way to spend a day.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

draynot — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:44:52 GMT

Blame it on the fake crap!! If this isn't a wakeup to go back to dirt then the sport has fallen into a snow white like slumber. Who really pays attention to the Cali circuit and their typical 5 horse fields and 2-5 favorites anymore? The bigger races draw better but for the most part it seems they are all regional horses anyway. If they don't wake up on the left coast all their tracks will go the way of Hollywood Park and we won't have to have this discussion anymore.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Ali — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:53:10 GMT

Somethingroyal-

Yeah it would be a great race.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

MATT H. — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:19:07 GMT

i have gotten a interestong idea if you want to see who the best horse is put all three of them in one starting gate ther reason i three or maybe four if you really want ot descide who the best horsr id you would in vite not just rachel or zenyatta but mine that bird and well armed the reason i say that is well armed won the dubi world cup and mine that bird won the kentucky derby and zenyatta won the breaders cup then you would settle who the best was by the earning sheet or would that be to complicated as well the whole issue i think for jes jeckson and it applys to zenyattas owners but i rachels case is that jes is woried out synthetic because curlin didnt do well on it as far as zenyatta they are worried about going to belmont becasue of geocomo and i think jes jackson it really trying ot save his horse for next you he wants to run her against and as well a know in this buisiness its all about the money if you dont have a horse i sound condition you cant make the millions of dollars they are all use to making and i also think that it would be a publicity stunt i find it kind of add that people dream this stuff up if you notice that jes jackson hasnt made one coment about this happening at all some people were aperently that they would majically would run in the breaders cup together i would like to know how this whole thing got started was it zeyattas owners coments on sunday adn if it was they need to find a track adn put them on that they both agrea too and settele this before the breeders cup id really like to tell you what i think about zenyattas owners but i cant the dont like to use those coments on this blog i have read a guys coment on you tube that said it best rachel has nothing to fear when it comes to zenyatta in my oppion win or loose its just horse racing i however do think that rachel will end up having the better career becasue she hastime to accumulate races but i also know that she got to take it one race at a time i probably bet on zenyatta at the breeders cup she will always tower over the field becasue there is othing else to bet on and i like both but come on rachel wiht so her thinkg and zenyatta do hers why cant we for once have 2 good horses this season and just leave it at that

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Saratoga AJ — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:53:26 GMT

IAfter watching Zenyatta win again Saturday, and considering her come from behind running style, I am now convinced she's the only distaff runner in the country that may be able to get within 5 lengths of the great Rachel Alexandra.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Somethingroyal — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:53:03 GMT

Ali:

Either way, I think a race between the two would be great for racing.

Lady Ruffian & helsbelles:

I was looking for you on Sat. Were you there? Anyway, I was glued to the rail when Zenyatta was brought out to the paddock and got some great photos of her. What an amazing looking animal. I can't wait for her to race at Del Mar on Aug. 6th.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:42:25 GMT

Solider Course,

I'm not saying the Mosses aren't entitled to feel that way about the conditions at Belmont or Saratoga. I'm just saying that maybe we should stop beating up on JJ because he has strong feelings about track surfaces, just as the Mosses have strong feelings about detention barns.

Personally I don't blame one owner over the other for their choices. I feel it's unfortunate that the powers that be chose to run the BC at the same race course two years in a row. I'm sorry we won't get to see RA in a Breeders Cup race but I don't feel JJ should be pressured to run her there anymore than the Mosses should be pressured to come East with their horse.

They are the owners, they are paying the bills, if they don't like the track conditions for any reason, whether it be the actual track or the track barn laws then it's their choice.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Karen2 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:01:37 GMT

No reason to be upset with either owner/trainer of either party. They have no obligation to meet and race one another. Both fillies are proven and great in their own right. I can understand not wanting to run on synthetics. The Breeders cup should not be run on a synthetic surface IMO. Zenyatta doesn't need to come east to prove her worth so why do it? Enjoy both of these fillies for what they contribute to the industry.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Soldier Course — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:46:20 GMT

The Mosses are justified in their concerns about the detention barns at NY tracks. Look at the effect the detention barn had on Mine That Bird at Belmont Park.

I think it's a shame that the poor horses have to be so traumatized before a race because their people are inclined to be unscrupulous. There has to be a more humane way to keep things clean.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Ali — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:35:38 GMT

Somethingroyal:

If been around horses for a long time. And no, I don't need to read up on horses who were known for coming behind. And those horses were a few of the best horses ever. Zenyatta is very fast. And I did see her in the Vanity and the milady as well but I really don't think that she would be able to catch up to Rachel as fast as Rachel is.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Soldier Course — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:31:16 GMT

Katie:

I have read that the dynamics of a match race are different from those of a regular race, because both horses will run at full throttle, regardless of threat or consequence. Therein lies the increased vulnerability.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

sweet terchi — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:14:41 GMT

Wow. Took a mini vacation in which the highlight (to me!) was ZENYATTA!!! My lord, she is one beathtakingly beautiful mare. Seeing her run is simply awesome. Also, congrats to the amazing filly RA for her win! Seen her race on video when I got home. I am so glad I have seen Zen, I would love to see RA in person, and seeing the two of them together side by side I think I'd faint at the sight. Racing aside, (Zen would win:)), just the opportunity to witness that sight would be one for the ages!!

Any word on Cape Marco? To read that was upsetting, because horses do "tell" what's wrong with them, the connections choose to ignore the signs for the sake of the dollar. Just because he was not a "name " horse, he deserved consideration from the owners/trainer to be scratched. RIP to all the others who passed on.

Greg J. I ALWAYS enjoy your posts!! :) Keep it up, I like your links! LOL :)

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Janesville Liz — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:30:14 GMT

It was very disappointing to read that Zenyatta's people will now not consider bringing her out of California to meet Rachel. Maybe New York would be too far. ButFilly Fan's idea of the Spinster at Keeneland would be great. It is sort of middle ground for traveling. It is Poly-Track, and Rachel has a win there and Zenyatta runs over a not too dissimilar surface in California. The timing is also spaced for the BC. I hope the Moss's reconsider.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

2:24 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:32:10 GMT

I hope the Zenyatta folks don't complain when they lose Horse of the Year again. That's it guys, stay in California because that's what allegedly is "good for the horse." Refuse to go anywhere out of California to any dirt track anywhere because, hey, the Breeder's Cup is in California and that's the goal. Owners have become such wimps and hide behind statements like "for the good of the horse" so nobody criticizes them.

I guarantee you Rachel Alexandra's owners would meet Zenyatta anywhere in the country on a dirt track, Zenyatta folks just name the place. But we won't see that. Instead, Zenyatta will keep beating the same old California retread mares while Rachel goes and beats males again and older distaff runners at the greatest and most historic tracks in the country.

And I don't want to hear about the Breeder's Cup and Rachel should go. They might as well change this year's Breeder's Cup to Europe and they can do that whenever they have the bright idea to schedule it for a synthetic track.

Rachel Alexandra needs to now be considered amongst the greatest fillies ever. I think the Zenyatta folks know this and do not want any part of her.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

MATT H. — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:04:19 GMT

i wonder if the belmont is to difficult for her to run in october it seem to be no problem for rachel so why should it be a problem for her? oh wait churchhill was to difficult for her the fisrt weekend in may i forgot that she dropped out cuz suposedly to wet and she wasnt to comfort able with the track so she they said you had the oppertunity to sho case these 2 horses on the same track on the same weekend yet he chickend out but he keeps dropping out i dont see he doing it or offering to take her out of california

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

MATT H. — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:59:22 GMT

in that artical this morining i noticed that zenyatta owner said her was worride about he tight turns at saratoga correct me if im wrong isnt hollywood like that? i think he jsut doenst want to send her back east becasue of giacomo and i hate to ell him this horse is so much better that tha horse and i love that he said rachel has been on syinthetics well he also need to rmemeber that was under different ownership and differnt owners hav differnt plans and if he is so worried about it why didnt he jsut run in sasratoga he jsut had everyexcute not to that really jsut gets my goat if you she say that she is the best adn you want her to be the best and yo clam that the then why was she such an over whelming favorite

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

MATT H. — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:45:17 GMT

after this weekends coments anout zenyattas owner i think he really wants to face rachel essepcilly now that she is based in saratoga but if they wait till after the breaders cup the season is techically over i do find it funy she is racing at delmar it is a polly track i dont think we will see it anyway after this weekend preformance i ask you this do you really want o face a horse that can beat you rom 19 lengs i know that zenyatta can pick up the pace but know rachel can too but i think by the time you line her up rachel will be gone im waiting fo the coment about a match race witch we all know didnt work wit curlin and big brown but to me rachel is alittle more impressive i mena i realize she only had to beat a 3 horse feild this weeken and she probably thought it was only practice i personally think she is going to the jim dandy with quality road haskle invitaion the same weekend but my question is this if they go back to belomeont how many horse actually go its kinda wierd that her compition doenst want to face her here is and example ther was a 5 horse feild when i left my house saturday whan i got to the track there was a 2 horse filed besides rachel and i know the other two horses wernt majicaly injured in the hour an a half i took me to get to the track dont get me wrong it was an impressive win she broke a stake racord that hasnt been acheaved since 1975 and it was ruffin in the same race but i realize we have a long way to go to when i feel she need to be if you take her at the earning sheet at ntr.com zenyatta isnt even on the list unless i over looked it which i dont think i did but if people are expecting that to happen before the breaders cup they are delusional youknow i have a faster why to do this if they really think zenyatta is better put her in the breaders cup classic instead of the race before tahts how we would salve everything to many people whowats to know who is better who cares and there was no way big brown was better than curlin was people may not have liked how he got the earning record last yera but at leat he did it my question is this we alwas have 2 horse ever year we have two horse everyone want to face off and if you want to do that then maybe you should base horse of the year that way to instead of the fans but i like the fans way better i guess i though horse racing was more about wining the race and enjoying the sport then whos better who is better zenyatta or rachel but we know by looks that it is rachel who will end up haveing the better career she has won alot more major races on 3 triple crown tracks by the way no matter what she does the rest of the season i will be behind her the rest of the season GO RACHEL!!! part of me wants to get it over with so people will quit talking about it some body will win it somebody will always lose it doesnt mean they are always better than the horse the just beat maybe i care to much thats the problem i do think rachel is the better on of the 2 i know alot of people are going to have a problem with that i dont really care i just like what i see and i think calvin ad rachel are a good team im not sayin mike and zenyatta arnt a good team im just saying you can see how much he like her when he rides her he said ina coment on sunday and i quote she is not normal i have never heard a jokey say that next to edgar about barbaro and i think that is saying alot right there and i hope she wins the race of the year i know thats a pretty tall order she is goin to half to stuff the talk about there match up and you never heard jes jackson coment on that dn i think i know why he doesnt want to ge her hurt unnessisarly and i like that and putting her in a race that means absolutly nothing but if they want to do it i think it should be dont at churchill or better yet at a mutual site

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Katie — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:25:42 GMT

I'm not 100% for a match race, but I don't see why all of you think of the Ruffian match race. The end was tragic...yes...but do you remember that it wasn't the only match race in history? Sir Barton v.s Man O'war, Seabiscuit v.s War Admiral...

It's not because there's one accident one time that it will always happen. like Eight Belles loose her life in the '08 Derby but nobody say anything about having another Derby...or gerge Washigton in the Classic...and we still have the Breeders' Cup.

re: Rachel vs. Zenyatta? Dream On

Apache83 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:09:11 GMT

Last time I checked, Zenyatta went to Oaklawn a couple of years ago and cruised past the best the east had to offer in the Apple Blossom. Last time I checked that race was on real dirt.

A great horse can run and win on anything. Curlin lost on turf and then beat a bunch of bums in a couple fo races after that. That is why he lost the BC.

Jess Jackson seems to think that Curlin would have won easy at Santa Anita if the race had been run on dirt. The field in last years BC Classic was 100x deeper than the race in Jersey the year before. It's a shame he can't say that.

I hope the people at Oak Tree and BC just move on and forget about RA. Something tells me JJ is waiting for them start begging and then maybe he will change his mind.

Also, can anyone name any horse Jess Jackson has owned that he bought from a sale that was anything on the track?