Ladies' Classic

Giacomo_05 · Postby **Giacomo_05** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:17 am

Barring Curlin showing up in the Classic, the Ladies’ Classic is shaping up to be the most intriguing BC race this year. From top to bottom, both the 3yo filly and the older mare divisions are loaded with talent. If they all stay healthy, picture this partial, possible field:

Ginger Punch
Zenyatta
Hystericalady
Proud Spell
Music Note
Indian Blessing
Tough Tiz’s Sis
Country Star
Little Belle

-and some others. (Just imagine if Nashoba’s Key and Eight Belles were still living.)

What's everyone's take on the possible field and their early predictions?

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:20 pm

I'm still so mad about it being the Ladies Classic and being on Friday, I can't even enjoy the race. :evil:

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:41 pm

that is free bingo square if there ever was one.

Zenyatta, and it's not even close. if it were on dirt I'd give hysterical a shot. but she has proven time and time again synthetics isn't how she

To ME the most interesting race is the TVG sprint. Especially if Lute races.

I don't think the turf races are going to be that great. that's not the thick deep turf turf horses really thrive on. it's more like my front lawn low cut grass out there that is basically running on hard green dirt.

The classic is going to be the most intriguing race because of all the European horses that will be in it. and there will probably be a good 4.

RuffianT21 · Postby **RuffianT21** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:58 pm

majxmom wrote:I'm still so mad about it being the Ladies Classic and being on Friday, I can't even enjoy the race.

Oh I know! I'll be at Caltech-- 10 minutes from Santa Anita-- but I have classes on Friday! Luckily, my last class ends at noon, but I'll still have to find someone with a TV...

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:49 am

I think the entire fillies and mares division is much hotter with greater stars than are anywhere to be seen in the male division with the possible exception of Curlin.

At routing distances (i.e. beyond a mile) I believe it is Tough Tiz's Sis (Ruffian GI) that has the highest Beyer (113) of the year - a Beyer in the teens is something Big Brown hasn't been able to achieve.

Giacomo_05 · Postby **Giacomo_05** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:27 pm

I totally agree Geowarrior-there's more quality fillies & mares this year than normally and I don't think they're receiving the full respect they command. That's also a very compelling stat about Tough Tiz's Sis and further illustrates the talent in this year's field.

I'd like to pose a hypothetical:

Zenyatta looks arguably the best on paper, but anything obviously can happen. Let's say she does prevail in the distaff and BB & Curlin both have trouble with the pro-ride surface in the Classic. Does Zenyatta then garner HOY honors? (Of course first she needs to get by Hystericalady in her next race.)

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:41 pm

Good question Giacomo - if Zenyatta beats Ginger Punch, Hysterical Lady, and Tough Tiz's Sis in the Distaff (Music Note is also a possible entrant), one might think she ought to be Horse of the Year but I don't think that's the way the press is going, even if e.g. Casino Drive or a Euro or Colonel John were to take the Classic over Curlin and Big Brown. Right now I think the press is leaning towards Curlin, but I'm thinking more and more that he has to go against Big Brown in the Classic. The surface may be against Curlin but the distance and his consistency as well as the overall likely quality of the field all favor Curlin over Big Brown. If they both lose or Curlin doesn't compete and BB loses (most likely IMO) then HOY is completely up for grabs.

HOY could be wide open but I don't think Zenyatta will get it unless there's something like a visually spectacular distaff win over all of those other with a huge Beyer for her (I refuse to call it the Ladies Classic).

Oh and btw, bdw, 'Lute' isn't going to get into the B.C. Sprint unless he recovers and miraculously wins a 'win and you're in' - he hasn't raced enough this year to accrue points to get into the race and the Sprint Division is pretty competitive.

Tairaterces · Postby **Tairaterces** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:26 pm

Tough Tiz's Sis was retired after her workout on Saturday, condylar fracture.
per Brad Free @DRF. Surgery is planned to put in screws. Then it's on to her being a mommy.

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:34 pm

still a tough race

Tough Tiz's Sis won almost a million and raced 20 times. what more do you want out of a top flight mare like that?

even the biggest complainers about horses retiring early can't say anything about that.

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:03 pm

Still I thought Tough Tiz's Sis was improving. I'm very disappointed to see her go, but glad she will survive.

Incidentally does anyone know what happened to Go Smarty Go, who won his debut in fine style then the jockey jumped off and the horse was vanned off?

Twingirl · Postby **Twingirl** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:11 am

geowarrior wrote:Incidentally does anyone know what happened to Go Smarty Go, who won his debut in fine style then the jockey jumped off and the horse was vanned off?

Everyone is asking, nobody knows. Worried.

About Proud Spell: " Proud Spell, winner of the grade I Kentucky Oaks and Alabama, will be turned out at owner Brereton Jones’ Airdrie Stud in Lexington, Ky., after which a decision will be made on whether to bring her back as a 4-year-old. We haven’t made any decision yet on what we’ll do with her,” Jones said. “She’s sound, but she is tired. We’ve run her every month since February against the best fillies in America, and she didn’t lose the Cotillion because she was tired; I’m not using that as an excuse. But in each of her last few races, she’s come out of it a little more tired, which is understandable, especially after such a grueling effort against Music Note. That was the premier race for our filly." Sept 22nd.

Sunday Silence · Postby **Sunday Silence** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:12 am

I'm still going to call it the Distaff. :wink:

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:13 am

I agree, I'm still calling it the distaff and I'm glad Larry Jones isn't going to push Proud Spell. I think at four she'd be a sturdier, less tired, more competitive distaff horse.

Giacomo_05 · Postby **Giacomo_05** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:29 pm

Well, as an update to the distaff, I think we still have the following contenders:

Zenyatta
Ginger Punch
Hystericalady
Music Note
Indian Blessing
Country Star
Little Belle

If anyone has any additions or updates, feel free to edit the list. This will still be an intriguing race IMO.

Codysmom55 · Postby **Codysmom55** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:56 pm

Giacomo_05 wrote:Well, as an update to the distaff, I think we still have the following contenders:

Zenyatta
Ginger Punch
Hystericalady
Music Note
Indian Blessing
Country Star
Little Belle

If anyone has any additions or updates, feel free to edit the list. This will still be an intriguing race IMO.

Everything I've read indicates Indian Blessing will go in one of the sprint races. The Zenyatta girl for me. :lol: