NO Rachel - get used to it

[tbrace]

From the Bloodhorse headline:

"No Rachel, But Zenyatta's Show Goes On"

It says it all.






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[BargainBlueblood]

Why are people so down on Rachel Alexandra? She put on a magnificent show in 2009, racing in top-notch graded races at a variety of tracks...Churchill, Fair Grounds, Monmouth, Belmont, Saratoga, Pimlico...seems to me she deserves nothing but admiration and respect, especially at a time when most of our best athletes are treated like hothouse flowers or whisked prematurely off to the breeding shed.

[ArchDandy]

I don't think anyone is truly mad at the horse but rather the connections for letting millions of people get excited for a real showdown- which would have been great for racing. Instead a major let down- instead of a showdown, a paid workout for Z.

[zinn21]

Hopefully the two will meet before either gets hurt.

[ElPrado]

I, for one, am not down on Rachel.
I am down on certain of her connections. They insisted on making changes that would accommodate them, then backed down after the changes were made when it didn't scare off Zenyatta. To me, that was pure and simple poor manners.
If they weren't going to run her, they should not have led the other owners on, or for that matter, the fans. People changed hotel reservations to go to the race, then couldn't get their money back when Jones backed down.

[Dave C]

Nobody is taking potshots at RA. They're taking potshots at her fans. Standard group rivalry jibes is all that it is.

[karenkarenn]

Hello
The facts are :
Zenyatta can relax off the pace when comfortably when R.A. can't - she is difficult to control while racing which is either going to get her beat or get her another lose.
The trainer knows this. There is no way that R.A. can beat Zenyatta at all with the way shes running. She needs to relax, stay sound while racing.
and its the connections that should be getting this blame.
Thirdly its interesting how Jess Jackson needs to have the attention and be in the media all the time. No matter what it is. and the media are stupid enough to give it to him.
JUST WATCH HE WILL GET IN THE MEDIA FOR SOMETHING NEXT BECAUSE ZEN WON AND SHE IS GETTING ATTENTION THAT SHE DESERVES.SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOY NOT RA.
KAREN

[dray33]

There is nothing for Jess to say, and he has been thankfully quiet since RA lost. He did enough talking before he bobbled her career. It's time to let the trainer train, and hope the damage due to ego isn't of the more permanent nature.

As for historical reference, this year RA had a lot to prove if she was even going to be mentioned in the same breath as Zenyatta. They way it stands, RA was one of the best 3 year-olds, but not one of the greatest, ever. Zenyatta is. I still feel that the choice for HOY honors in 2009 was correct.

HOL honors however is clearly the big mare's.

[horsenuts]

Hello
The facts are :
Zenyatta can relax off the pace when comfortably when R.A. can't - she is difficult to control while racing which is either going to get her beat or get her another lose.
The trainer knows this. There is no way that R.A. can beat Zenyatta at all with the way shes running. She needs to relax, stay sound while racing.
and its the connections that should be getting this blame.
Thirdly its interesting how Jess Jackson needs to have the attention and be in the media all the time. No matter what it is. and the media are stupid enough to give it to him.
JUST WATCH HE WILL GET IN THE MEDIA FOR SOMETHING NEXT BECAUSE ZEN WON AND SHE IS GETTING ATTENTION THAT SHE DESERVES.SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOY NOT RA.
KAREN

In fairness no horse in the US last winter, spring or summer would have beaten RA at a mile 1 1/8 on conventional dirt tracks including Zenyatta. She was simply in a zone of her own during that time. Not only was she winning off by 10 to 20 lengths at times she was also putting up times that were incredibly fast as well. For these reason she was HoY in 2009.

Will she ever recapture that form? Doubtful, at least for any length of time. Can she beat Zenyatta if they were to meet down the road? Absolutely so long as it is on a tight, speed favoring track such as Belmont where RA ran an incredibly fast Mother Goose last year winning by around 20 lengths. Tracks that RA likes (tight and fast or wet fast) play against Zenyatta or any close for that matter.

[toadie]

As stated several times above, I have nothing against Rachel Alexandra either. I love her for the talented, phenomenal horse that she is. It's just unfortunate that Jess Jackson bought her, and that Assmussen trains her. I'm not fond of either one, particularly Assmussen!

I got to see Zenyatta at Oaklawn Fri.. What a presence she is! I don't think I've ever seen that big of a shoulder on any other horse. Can't wait to get my film developed! We took 2 rolls of film (digital camera is on the fritz), but didn't get home 'til midnight Sat. night, so haven't gotten them developed yet. Just in case they're crappy I bought 3 8x10's from Jeff Coady while we were there.

[ireneinwa]

I see her getting beat every out this year.

[FOS]

hi dray33...hi horsenuts

... They way it stands, RA was one of the best 3 year-olds, but not one of the greatest, ever. Zenyatta is.

Bingo...bull's-eye...

...Zenyatta is absolutely, positively one of the Greatest EVER.

I still feel that the choice for HOY honors in 2009 was correct.

I don't (as you know); but reality is the HOY eclipse was bestowed upon Rachel A. So be it.

HOL honors however is clearly the big mare's.

Zenyatta is (to my way of thinking) beyond spectacular...beyond amazing...beyond awesome...beyond mind-boggling...beyond unbelievable...beyond a once-in-a-lifetime...beyond a thoroughbred for the ages...beyond a dream come true...etc etc, to be continued .

Seems (to me) Zenyatta is representative of so much that's great as it relates to the past, present and future of thoroughbred breeding and racing.

I'd submit that those who love/appreciate the breed, thoroughbred horseracing, the history of it all, the greats, near-greats and not so greats of all time...are witnessing a rarest-of-rare great, the thoroughbred racemare known as Zenyatta.

... In fairness no horse in the US last winter, spring or summer would have beaten RA at a mile 1 1/8 on conventional dirt tracks including Zenyatta.

In fairness ...I COMPLETELY and TOTALLY disagree with your assessment.

Oh well...to each his/her own.

Best to ya.

Respectfully