Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

craighorse — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 02:27:03 GMT

the fillies that zenyatta raced during the year such as switch, st. trinians, rinterval,gave her better direct competition than the likes of haynesfield, quality road, musket man, fly down did. if qr was so good, why does he do so terribly at the big dance?

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Jody pie — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:29:37 GMT

Blames HOTY campaign, The G3 Shaefer Hcp, "SERIOUSLY" Trounced by Haynsfield in the Gold Cup.That leaves ONLY three G1 wins.This is just not enough to be gifted with HOTY.Unfortunately for Zenyatta i'm afraid the Mosses did her a great disservice this year.Its just sad that the third best horse this year "Blame" will probably receive HOTY when the most deserving candidate will be insignificantly brushed aside, and that is the truly Great,"GOLDAKOVA"

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

pinewood — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:56:36 GMT

Anya,

You wrote:

"Not one person watching that race could say Blame was the better or faster horse, even though, yes, he did got to the wire first."

Precisley to the contrary! The entire sport is based on finding out who gets to the wire first; who gets their fastest. The horse that does is better on that day. Using facts, not emotion, no one could say that Zenyatta was the better horse. Blame's nose was on the wire first. Unless you want to toss out the most basic horse racing fundamental, Zenyatta was second best that day. (Try going to the window and tell the cashier "even though my horse reached the wire second, I'd like the money because everyone knows my horse was best.)

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Disgusted — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:47:02 GMT

To the genius who complained that Personal Ensign was unfairly robbed of Horse of the Year: Not one person of the hundreds who voted that year thought she deserved it over Alysheba. And people wonder why the Zenyatta Zealots in this argument have no credibility.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

pinewood — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:44:48 GMT

Joyce,

The fans can speak all they want. They talk about the 19-1 record, the bad ride, the track bias, Blame's luck, Blame's less than stellar competition throughout the year, Blame's likely limited place in history, Blame's lack of HOF credentials, etc. The problem is, the fans, as demonstarted by their comments on this blog, are speaking from their hearts and not with their heads. Blame beat Zenyatta in thier only meeting. Blame won all year agaisnt open company, Zenyatta did not. That's about all that counts in deciding the 2010 HOTY. The rest is just conjecture, sour-grapes and unbridled emotion.

She lost to Blame. She is second best this year.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

pinewood — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:36:13 GMT

Delmarken

The problem with using Baffert's view of track bias at Churchill is that his horse, Lookin' at Lucky, who was supposedly negatively affected by the alleged bias, ran next to Blame through the majority of the race. If there was a bias that hurt Lookin' at Lucky, it should have hurt Blame's chances as well. The point, of course, is since Blame ran on and won, he must be something rather special.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Lost Code — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:30:32 GMT

If Blame had trounced Zenyatta, that would be one thing but he didn't. He's a wonderful race horse but Zenyatta's performance in the BCC was spectacular compared to his, even if short by a head.

If I could, I would vote for Zenyatta.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Rick — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:13:19 GMT

Zenyatta, Zenyatta and yes Zenyatta, if it were my choice, she would be Horse of the Year. With that said, Blame is also a great horse as is Goldkova, however she ran in the Mile, not the Classic, therefore should not be considered? Wow, so many Questions.....Only on answer to settle the question and the vote..Bring all three together for one great Race to settle the question once and for all. Clearly with only three horses, not one of them could get in trouble, it would be simply Raw Talent that would win out, the winner would be Horse of the Year.....

After all, both Goldkova certainly could have run in the races Zenyatta ran in.

We would all love to see Zenyatta race Blame again at a mile and a quarter..

Will Zenyatta Retire? Should she be Retired, she loves to run and loves the crowd....

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Curlin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:08:50 GMT

Joani,

Yes, Blame won quite a few races over the Churchill surface and yes I guess you can say it's his home track. If we're using that argument, then holy crap, Zenyatta won 17 of her 19 races over her home track(s) so to speak including the Classic last year so we have to knock those, right? Discount anything Blame did over the Churchill surface and you have to discount anything Zenyatta did in So Cal. It works both ways.

As for your comment concerning the Apple Blossom this year, yes, Rachel did not show up. But you're absolutely incorrect concerning your other points. Her owner did not have the pursed up, he did not have the distance changed and he did not have the race set back a week. That was all Oaklawn Park's doing to try and attract both mares.

I guess here's my real question, Blame could not run in any of the races Zenyatta did this year other than the Classic for obvious reasons so why didn't Zenyatta go to them? I know, I know, she shouldn't have to, right? If I'm not mistaken, the Whitney and the Clement Hirsch were run on the same day this year (August 7th). The Whitney was even run at a distance that was 1/16 mile longer than the Hirsch which should benefit Zenyatta. Blame, Quality Road, Haynesfield and Musket Man were all there. If she shows up and beats them then, then Blame beating her in the Classic by a head might not carry as much weight because they would be even head-to-head. No, her connections put all their eggs in 1 basket and rolled the dice in this year's Classic. They lost. It's not Blame's fault so why should he be punished?

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Tai76 — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 05:45:57 GMT

Last year the Mosses said Zen would have a different campaign this year. She did not, once again running against the same overmatched fillies and mares as the last three years. Why not run her in the Pacific Classic? That would have been something. Shen probably would have won, but we will never know will we. The Mosses had also "retired" Zenyatta after the 2009, even thought she remained in training. Then when she lost out in HOY she was "unretired", and unfulfilled campigned promises were made. That is why she doesn't deserve HOY. She did not dance the dances, she ducked. Sure Life at Ten, Unrivaled Belle could have gone to California to race on the synthetic surfaces but why? Their owners had not made promises to that effect.

If losing to Haynesfield was so significant and Zen's beating him by 20 was so great what about Blame beating Zen. The head margin does not cancel that out. As for Zenyatta having to weave her way through horses....that is what deep closers do (unless they get lucky and have Calvin Borel get one of his rail-skimming trips). No one was shedding tears over RA when she was running D'tara, Pass the Point and Cool Coal Man into the ground in the Woodward. After putting those tree away here came Bullsbay and finally Macho Again. (Asiatic Boy was in the field as well) That was her running style. And I don't know what angle people were seeing the BCC at but Blame Never let Zen get past him. Was she catching him? Yes. Did she pass him? No. Look at old replays of Flanders and Serena's Song for horses that appeared that they would be passed, but refused. Lastly someone wrote about Rags to Riches beating Curlin in the Belmont. Yes she did, that was another great race to watch. Rags beat Curlin by a nose after that thrilling stretch drive. Curlin was not getting past her. He lost the Belmont to a filly and still won HOY. Curlin lost the Kentucky Derby to Street Sense and still was HOY. Two weeks later he turned the tables on SS in the Preakness and beat SS by a head after another stirring stretch drive. So just maybe his placings in all three triple crown races that year and wins over older horses and a BCC win is what got him the HOY. For his sencond HOY he did win the Dubai cup and the Stephen Foster. His owner did venture out and try the turf. they didn't just stay and run against "soft" fields all years. Also there is a movie out right now called Secretariat that has a lot of non-horse racing fans talking. Some have seen it more than once. That could have a little something to do with record ratings.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

MacKenzie — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 04:24:14 GMT

Delmarken-

Once more back at you.

With all due respect to Bob Baffert's reputation as one of the best in the game, his opinion on the condition of that track would, I'm afraid, be as biased as that of most trainers who've just experienced a major whuppin' to the star of their stable. I wish I had a dime for every time I've heard a trainer say " he/she just didn't handle the track today" (excuses invariably always fall back on the condition of the track)

Baffert brought over, what - only two this year: Lookin at Lucky ( I heard him as much criticize Garcia's ride as I did his bitchin' about the track condition) and Gabby's Golden Gal

( who's fittness for a Grade I after a 10 month layoff was somewhat questionable ).

That's why I referenced the track condition as being described as "cuppy - by most,( and I repeat "most" - Bob Baffert, notwithstanding )found the surface fair.

If the surface was as unkind to front runners,as you suggest was Baffert's opinion - then it was advantage - Zenyatta (and wouldn't that diminish the brilliance of her amazing run - with everthing in front of her backing up?).

Point is - the late pace in this contest came down to only two very fit combatents;and as I remember - she came up a head short.

She may have won the hearts of millions with her effort - but the battle for dominence is won on the race track.

The Champion and the most deserving horse for Horse of the Year is BLAME.

And that's my opinion -

Good Luck to you "Zenyatta fan"

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

wildblueroan — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 02:27:16 GMT

Zenyatta, hands down.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Dances WIth Hooves — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 01:14:44 GMT

P.S.~ Let's also not forget that in 2010 Zenyatta broke a WORLD RECORD for the most consecutive Grade or Group 1 wins. That is an accomplishment in itself and DID occur in 2010.

Zen's 2010 achievments:

5 Grade 1 wins, and 1 Grade 1 2nd, 5 different tracks, 4 different surfaces (yes synthetic tracks BUT Pro-Ride, Polytrack, and CUshion Track are all different materials and compositions), 3 of those races on dirt (outside of CA).

Set 2 NOrth American records, broke two others, and was the only mare to ever win the Clement Hirsch, Vanity, and Lady's Secret 3 consecutive times. If sentiment needs to be throw in there she was featured in the New York Times, 60 Minutes, Oprah, W MAgazine, and Sports Illustrated. She defeated Japan's Champion Dirt horse and manyother Grade 1 winners in the Classic, including the horse that beat Blame in the JCGC, all this after running over a tiring and cuppy track, being hindered by a stopping Quality Road and trying to chase down Blame who ran less distance with a perfect trip. Her accomplishments speak for themselves and some neighsayers just cannot respect those accomplishments because they fear too much sentiment (you know, the kind that brought MORE FANS to this sport and to the BC attendace than any other horse in recent history) would get in the way of decrying her accomplishments. Pretty sad when people have to argue against a good and viable thing at the risk of sounding like sour grapes.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

David — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 23:44:02 GMT

Once again,a great horse can run on any surface. The mare is a superstar. Once again we have a colt going to the breeding shed off a ever so slight win over a mare that I think ran past all the other colts in that race. Yes he beat her, but if they raced again a 100 times we all know what the outcome would be. She would beat him again and again. Yes the racing gods were with him on that day. We all know the promoters of stallions have already started and the voting system is not set up that great for west coast horses, but she is a great horse. I will take one of her over 1000 Blames. Yep you heard it here. Youy won't be able to find him with a search warrant when his offspring hit the track. Maybe Mongolia! sorry for the ramble I did not take my meds today. LOL

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Tai 76 — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:10:38 GMT

Again the Mosses went with the fluffy campaign. hurting their mare. If only they had brought her our to face the males in Open

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Joani — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:12:51 GMT

I say Zenyatta HOTY. Although she lost by such a slim margin I felt she was the best horse in the race and here's why. After such an awkward 1st quarter, her secon, third, fourth and fifth quarters went like this: 23 3/5ths,23 2/5ths, 24 2/5th, 23 3/5ths. For a horse that usually ticks off all 23+ quarters after her initially slow start what happened in that 4th quarter of 24 2/5ths? Ahhh, she came into a stopping HOTY candidate and had to search room to get around and outside of him, once clear again she let loose with her custom 23 3/5ths, only to have her head and neck up in the photo finish. If she had been in her long stride at that point her neck would have been down and her head out and she would have won by at least a long nose. It was the luck of the year that Blame won.But is he the better horse? No I don't think so. Unfortunately we won't see him race again as he has been retired.And please note, he won 4 of his 5 races at CD.

I also read above some references as to what has been raced against her this year. It was well publicized that Blind Luckm a possible starter in Zenyatta last race, the Lady's Secret, ducked her and instead went to the easier Cotillion. Hollendorger said he wanted no part of Zenyatta. Earlier in the year (another race on dirt that Zenyatta did show up for) Rachel Alexandra, pointing for the Apple Blossom ducked out of that one too, after her owner had the purse upped to 5 million and had the distance changed, and even had the day of the actual raced set back a week for his filly. And you wonder why Zen was running against what she was running against all year? She went East and the good horses went elsewhere.

One more thing about her competition. Of all the horses that these two ran against this year only one,Switch, who beat Blind Luck this year at a distance, was the only horse in a Breeders Cup race that got a placing.She ran second.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Curlin — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 05:43:19 GMT

Laura S,

Double standards work both ways you know. Zenyatta won 5 GI races, that's true. But didn't she barely get up in time to beat Switch who by her 2nd place finish in the F&M Sprint, pretty much confirmed herself as a sprinter? So if you're going to discount Blame's win over Quality Road because Quality Road appears to be a confirmed miler, then you have to discount Zenyatta's win over Switch as well. You simply can't knock GI wins regardless of the competition. If that's the case, then every one of Zenyatta's GI wins this year are irrelevant. Name another GI winner she beat in any of those 5 GI races she won this year. I don't know of any. There probably was 1 or 2, but I honestly can name any.

Zenyatta is a great mare. She's the best in the last 25 years and maybe even the best ever. She has captured the hearts and imagination of many racing fans and created many new racing fans. That's something that is invaluable to an industry that's struggling. However, I don't believe that's a criteria for HOY. It's suppose to be what happens on the track. Yes, it's a shame she will never be voted HOY. She should have won it last year. However, just because she didn't win it last year and she was denied what she probably deserved, doesn't mean you give it to her this year based on that and then deny another horse who also earned HOY fair and square.

Now if this were a case like say Lookin At Lucky vs. Fly Down, then I would say give it to Zenyatta. What I mean by that is, Lookin At Lucky won The Rebel Stakes, The Preakness, Haskell and finished 4th in the Classic. Fly Down finished 2nd in the Belmont, won the Travers and finished just ahead of Lucky in the Classic. Should Fly Down win the 3-year old Eclipse award this year? No, he hadn't done enough leading into his narrow placing over Lucky to deny Lucky that honor. You can't say the same for Zenyatta vs. Blame. They both had done enough, it was simply who was going to win and Blame did that.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Curlin — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 05:06:13 GMT

The Breeders Cup is suppose to decide Eclipse Award catergories. Personally, I thought going into the race, whomever won the BC Classic, whether it be Blame, Zenyatta, Looking At Lucky or Quality Road should be named HOY. Leading into that race, they all had done enough to be named HOY. It was simply going to be who won on that day. I still haven't change my opinion. Bad trip, track biased, etc shouldn't matter. Blame won, Zenyatta didn't. I take nothing away from her unlike some others who believed going into the BC Classic she was a synthetic wonder and that's all. She proved she belonged and anybody who still questions that after the BC Classic, in my humble opinion, simply doesn't know horse racing.

We are talking about 2010 so quite frankly, when it comes to HOY this year, Zenyatta's 19 consecutive wins doesn't matter. What does matter is her 5 consecutive wins leading into the Classic and was that enough to win her HOY with or without a Classic win. The answer is no, she needed a Classic win. Like I stated in the previous paragraph, there will be some who simply say it was a track bias and suspect trip that kept her from going 6-for-6 this year and she only lost a head. They might be right, but if you allow that argument for her, then you have to allow that argument for Blame in the Jockey Gold Cup when Haynesfield was loose on the lead through pedestrian fractions. You simply can't do that. Fact is that Blame got to the wire 1st in the Classic and should be voted HOY. Zenyatta should be a close 2nd. I guess you could say just a head back of him.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Jamesb — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:21:17 GMT

Why is it so hard for people to understand that Grade 1 races restricted to fillies and mares are not the same level of competition as Grade 1 races in open company?

No one is saying she had to come East at all. There are plenty of Grade 1 races in open company she could have entered and in Cali and her connections did not put her in them.

If she is supposedly one of the all-time greats, then why didn't they put her in the best races? Who wants to be the first one to say that the fields in the Santa Margarita, Vanity, Lady's Secret, and Clement Hirsch were as good as the fields in the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Pacific Classic, or Goodwood?

Her races sure aren't the equivalent of the Whitney, Foster, or JCGC.

And you can say Blame beat a breaking down Battle Plan, but the best horse Zenyatta beat this year (St. Trinians), raced against males at a 1 1/4 (finishing 6th) before meeting Zenyatta, has been on the shelf since that race in June and isn't coming back until 2011. So what's really the difference?

I hope that all the new fans Zenyatta brought to the sport take some time to learn about the sport so they can understand what they are watching.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Delmarken — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:46:46 GMT

MacKenzie,

"Fair Track", ask Baffert what he thinks of the track that night. Do you know who that is? He knows a little about training and Track Conditions. I believe he said all his Horses ran the same, "empty at the 1/8 Pole". The track was tiring, not conducive to winning from too fast early or too far behind early positions. Again, you said it yourself, Her style puts her at a disadvantage and thus Her record is even more impressive.

Thanks for the (not a fan of the sport) comment, However I am a converted Zenyatta Fan. Like most, I was highly doubtful of her prior to last years BC, then impressed but still apprehensive prior to this years BC. After this years Classic, I have no doubt She is the Greatest Race Mare to set foot on an American racing surface (other than Turf)and I have my opinion what She would on that surface as well. Had she won this years BC, She would have to be considered in every conversation about who is the Greatest Race Horse ever. Arguably, She still will.

Good luck, "Race Fan"

Delmarken

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Joyce — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:29:27 GMT

Blame will be the answer to a trivia question, while Zenyatta will forever be etched in our hearts. The fans have no vote for HOY, but they have spoken loud & clear!

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Dances With Hooves — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:05:17 GMT

The 2010 records speak volumes about WHO should get it...a GRADE 1 is a grade one!! It is NOT Zen's fault other horses (ala Blind Luck) didn't face her...she was at the emercy of who showed up. Yes, it would have been thrilling to see her in the the Hollywood Gold Cup or the Pacific Classic but she DID win 5 GRADE 1's as opposed to Blame's 3 Grade 1's and she CRUSHED the rest of the Classic field which is touted as being one fo the deepest fields in BC history. She had a horrid trip on a track that defied MANY closers all weekend and yet she still managed to come within a half a head of a desperately holding on Blame who had a perfect trip and saved a TON more ground than she. One stride past the wire Zenyatta was a half length in front of Blame. In fact, take a look at the head on photo and you will see that one stride past the wire Zenyatta is a half a length in front whiel Blame's back feet are still in the light from the finish line. MUCH the best horse cam ein second and while Blame's win qwas awesome for Claiborne, he will not be regarded in any history books except possibly as the ONLY horse to beat the Gentle Giant/Mighty Mare. Zenyatta DOES deserve HOY just as much as Blame or any other horse on the ballot. To deny Zenyatta this honor when she has done more for this sport and more for track attendance/handle than any other horse in recent memory would be an injustice. Let's hope the voter's use a slight bit of sentiment and rationally look at the records of the two biggest front runners before pushing the button. Zenyatta IS the horse of the lifetime and many of us will not liely see talent and brilliant and personality and character and UNDEFEATED in 19 starts anytime soon. DO the right thing voters....ZENYATTA in 2010!!!!

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Patricia — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:22:51 GMT

If the magnificent Miss Z loses HOTY, it will be the stuff game shows are made of. Example:

Who was on the only horse to beat Man-O-War?

Who was the only horse to beat Native Dancer in the Kentucky Derby?

Who was the horse that got Horse Of the Year after Zenyatta won 19 consecutive races getting beaten only in the Breeders Cup? Answer: ------

clock ticking. Alarm Answer: I don't know. By the way, what's a Breeders Cup?

LOL

For once, I hope the deserving horsee gets the award. I thought Zenny should have gotten it this year.

Pat

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

Bigjimboston — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:20:47 GMT

Although Zenyatta is a great race mare looking back a very short time (last year) tells us that there is not enough vote coming out of the West that can get her the HOY title so lets just hope she stays around a little longer. I for one cannot wait to see the foals Zenyatta and Rachel A. deliver.

re: Head Turner - By Eric Mitchell

bowlofflowers — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:32:11 GMT

Justme raises a good argument. Why aren't the Grade 1 races for fillies and Mares as historic as the grade 1 races on the east coast? Where is that written in the point systems for HOY? The east coast based fillies and mares never came to the west to meet Zenyatta in her races. They were head and shoulders, literally, less accomplished that Zenyatta so why does the reining top mare HAVE to travel east to prove herself? Curlin got his second HOY for his whole year campaign, so why not Zenyatta? Because he was a stallion (and therefore worth more money breeding 100 times a season not once) not a mare? Remember, if we do not have mares, we do not have foals.