Who is risking what? Zenyatta or Rachel

[spex4me]

Are you people for real?Gloating over a champions loss because your favorite didn't win HOY last year?
Geez, the horse cam off a 6 month layoff, has only a handful of works and you expected her to romp?
I don't know what world you live in but in mine that just happens to the unfit.
She ran a great race and if all is well she will be very fit in her next start.

Easy diomed easy... do you need some Calm and Cool? lol... I am more excited personally for the exciting races both threw out today...but yes I am over the moon about Zenyatta....as I suspect Rachel fan's would have been for her had she won!!

[ArchDandy]

speaking of pacemakers, I was watching Z's race online and the feed cut in the middle of the stretch to the gallop out...I FREAKED OUT! Had to watch the replay to get the result!!

[zinn21]

Are you people for real?Gloating over a champions loss because your favorite didn't win HOY last year?
Geez, the horse cam off a 6 month layoff, has only a handful of works and you expected her to romp?
I don't know what world you live in but in mine that just happens to the unfit.
She ran a great race and if all is well she will be very fit in her next start.

She got beat by a California 2nd stringer.... It's a travesty that she got HOY over Zenyatta and this race just proves it. They were all boasting about RA beating the boys last year. She was all out to beat those boys. Two of which Z met in the Classic and she toyed with them. I am sorry I am P*ssed but anyone who thinks RA is a better horse than Z doesn't recognize greatness. Look at Z's race today last to first in 3/16's of a mile... Enough said...

[Nancy T]

I am thrilled that Zenyatta won, and a huge fan of Rachel. The animosity of the "Rachel haters" on this board is getting hard to stomach. I think some are so unbalanced they would put razor blades in her oats if they could...that's sad

[ArchDandy]

Why would anyone on this forum want to do that to a horse? I imagine one of the only things members of this forum have in common is love of the horse. I may be a total noob, but talking smack is what makes a race anyhow- "my horse will eat your horse for breakfast" type of thing. You always feel more thrill when your watching a horse you know/ watching a rivalry etc, rather than watching a field you know nothing about run in a circle.

[Shergar]

I am thrilled that Zenyatta won, and a huge fan of Rachel. The animosity of the "Rachel haters" on this board is getting hard to stomach. I think some are so unbalanced they would put razor blades in her oats if they could...that's sad

I can't honestly believe you would think someone on this forum would ever contemplate that. I would hope it was a, "heat of the moment" statement.

While I am squarely in the camp of believing Zenyatta is the better horse, you will not find any comments of mine that were critical of RA.

Though you should have NO trouble whatsoever in finding some very nasty comments from posters on both sides.

Shergar

[zinn21]

I am thrilled that Zenyatta won, and a huge fan of Rachel. The animosity of the "Rachel haters" on this board is getting hard to stomach. I think some are so unbalanced they would put razor blades in her oats if they could...that's sad

I bare no ill will to RA. I just passionately believe Zenyatta is a great horse and superior to RA and I am upset that she won HOY over Z.. So don't take this "hate" theory where it does not exist.

[Nancy T]

I was being sarcastic, but really I have never seen so many nasty comments directed towards a horse...

[diomed]

I am thrilled that Zenyatta won, and a huge fan of Rachel. The animosity of the "Rachel haters" on this board is getting hard to stomach. I think some are so unbalanced they would put razor blades in her oats if they could...that's sad

I bare no ill will to RA. I just passionately believe Zenyatta is a great horse and superior to RA and I am upset that she won HOY over Z.. So don't take this "hate" theory where it does not exist.

I guess that depends on your take of the award.
HORSE of the year or horse of the YEAR.
Voters(and myself) felt it was the latter. Rachel accomplished more in 2009.
Anyways, that is last year.
Time for this year and I still don't see the logic in gloating over a loss by a horse who(at least to me)ran a great race at only 75% fitness level. If she had been fit for this race, it would have been a romp.
I personally feel that Jackson is rushing RA and they should have just trained their horse right and then determined when and where these two meet.
It might not happen now.

[diomed]

I really don't understand the angst here. So what if Rachel's field is easier on paper. The fact of the matter is that she was OUT OF TRAINING for 6 months. She is short for this race and does have an excuse if she loses. Zenyatta has been training since she won the BC so she is a FIT HORSE. It would be a much bigger shock if she lost even though she is in a handicap.
She won't lose though. LOL.
No matter if Rachel wins or loses the biggest thing is that she gets some fitness out of this race to have her in top condition for the AB.
I am hoping both Zenyatta and Rachel have good preps for this event no matter where they finish.

The HOY debate is over, let's enjoy 2010.

I believe you meant RA hasn't had a live race in 6 months. She certainly hasn't been out of training for 6 months.

Yes, Zenyatta was in an Inv. Hcp. and giving quite a bit of weight to her competitors. What was it, 6lbs between high and low weights in the NO Ladies?

Shergar

Rachel certainly was out of training from Early September through December. She didn't train at all for that time. Not even gallop. Then they got delayed by nasty weather in LA that delayed her progress even longer.
She was flat out sitting on her but for quite a while. LOL.

[dray33]

I hate the way RA came into this race. She meets Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom, same thing. I think they rushed the prep. One day, the big race was out, the next day, the extra week made all the difference? It's a rush job, I am sorry to say. That's what I believe. Then, and now. They sat her down for too long, while the Zenyatta connections kept her fit, and running.

You may or may not have seen the better horse today, but I believe you have seen the better connections, trainer and management. If RA runs against Zenyatta within the next 6 weeks, I'm betting against. HARD.

[winds]

I thought they both ran very good races, obviously RA wasn't tight but showed a ton of heart. Zenyatta gave away 12 to 18 lbs to the field and still won, WOW! The AB should be very interesting.

winds

[reenci]

I was being sarcastic, but really I have never seen so many nasty comments directed towards a horse...

nancy t........honey dont you get it ? all this smack talk and bickering one way or the other is...FANTASTIC for our sorry ass sport {which i love dearly}...this keeps the interest high. from the start i have been in Z's camp....even touted her stablemate in an earlier post...fact is RA needed the race badly....in fact if need be she probably could have won ...but would have been ruined...this race was not the goal....keep that in mind...RA will move up from this effort.....but she is not going to beat Z no matter how you slice it....people ..ZENYATTA..is the best horse since SECRETARIT....PERIOD.....maybe...MAN O' WAR.... .i know i sound crazy 3-4 more races and does she not have the record for victorys in a row ?... we are all watching a true LEGEND.

[reenci]

I hate the way RA came into this race. She meets Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom, same thing. I think they rushed the prep. One day, the big race was out, the next day, the extra week made all the difference? It's a rush job, I am sorry to say. That's what I believe. Then, and now. They sat her down for too long, while the Zenyatta connections kept her fit, and running.

You may or may not have seen the better horse today, but I believe you have seen the better connections, trainer and management. If RA runs against Zenyatta within the next 6 weeks, I'm betting against. HARD.

DRAY 33....you are quite right....fact is at the end of the year RA had to shut it down ...she was lighting up and was drained...SHE NEEDED AND DESERVED A REST....and you are so correct about the connections...no comparison. run to that window with both hand's.....i kinda think RA skip's the AB.....oh something will come up im sure.....I SEE A TRAIN WRECK.

[Tucumcari]

I am having doubts that this race will be a spring board for RA to the Apple Blossom. Call me crazy, but JJ, though willing push the envelope, also turtles when things don't go his way.
IMO the RA vs Z thing is equivalent to the Bulls vs Lakers or Celtics.... Affirmed and Alydar, Easy Goer and Sunday Silence... No malice intended, just pride in "your" team.
IMO any racetrack in the world would find a way to put together millions if it would draw BOTH of these ladies... It is my scepticism that says Oaklawn ain't gonna happen. Wish it would though...
I am neither an Asmussen hater or a Sherriffs lover.. just a lover of horse racing and competition. AND I was on the Z for HOY bandwagon.. is this vindication??? Who knows.