No need for Rachel vs Zenyatta

[oliverstoned]

People comparing the two as if they are equals just takes away from the unique once in a lifetime greatness of Rachel Alexandra that they should be enjoying ( I guess Sham had his diehard fans too though). From what I have seen of Zenyatta thus far I consider her a really good consisitant mare who is still a notch below great mares like Lady's Secret and Personal Ensign. Now it may be that Zenyatta's true talent might be on the dirt at more of a distance but her connections have stilfled her for most of her career. I'd like to see her in the JCGC. I have not seen the greatness of RA thus far though. I don't care if Z has an Eclipse already the onus is on her to seek out RA if she wants to be considered the best.

[HR LLC]

It would be a disservice to our sport if these 2 don't run against each other at least once this year.

[Aug27]

In most sports, the Champion is still the Champion until beaten ...
I ahve to see RA win on a true fast dirt track against older horses, perferably in a race where she's not lone speed, before I'll consider her one of the greatest ever.
Nice horse, but not a "once in a lifetime" in my opinion.
Spectacular Bid ran during my lifetime, for example (as did Cigar, John Henry, Secretariat, Kelso, Affirmed, Forego, and Dr Fager ... in no particular order).

[oliverstoned]

Pretty funny how the Whitney H. winner won't commit to the Woodward S. until he finds out what a 3yo filly's next race may be. Can't remember that ever happening.

Aug27 when I said once in a lifetime I meant Fillies only. In a fantasy matchup with any of the horses you listed I'm going with the male, I'm not completely delusional.

[Aug27]

Oh.

Well I think we do need to see a Z vs RA match up in order to validate or disprove Z's claim to greatness.

Personal Ensign was the best I've seen in my lifetime, 13 and 0, with multiple Grade 1 wins.

Right now, Z is coming close, at 12 and 0 with multiple Grade 1 wins, but if she loses to RA, then Personal Ensign stands alone at the top, IMO.

If Z were to beat RA, then I think she'd have more solid evidence of her superiority. Until then, I'd say she's still the Champion until beaten ...

Interesting food for thought and discussion, that's all. I wonder how RA would fare in a race against Serena's Song or Lady's Secret, if each was at the top of her game? You can't use final race times to compare, that's for sure. Nor money earned, IMO.

[Joltman]

Well Mattress Mac has proposed a match race in fall at Sam Houston Park. for these two. I would rather see other horses involved, but this could work.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... e-proposed

leave it to Mattress Mac to step up

jm

[majxmom]

Match races very rarely resolve the dispute to anyone's satisfaction. We all know that the vast majority of match races are won by the horse in the lead at the first turn, so the whole thing just becomes a sprinting slugfest. One horse gets her heart broke, and they often aren't ever as good again. With Zenyetta being a come-from-behind gal, she'd be completely out of her game. They should both be in the Breeders Cup. That's the venue to decide this.

Better yet: both in the BC this year and next year back on dirt. Then if need be, back in the BC Turf for a tie-breaker!

[Toccet02]

why must they meet? why a match race? They are 2 years apart, with different styles and surface preferences. Why risk a hook up and possible breakdown? in 1990 when I saw Go for Wand and Bayakoa duel and accelerate, I knew the breakdown was going to happen. Knew it. And it did. They push themselves too hard under hysterical competition.
Why can't they each be queens of their respective niches?
JMHO

[winds]

I agree, why can't they be co-Horses of the Year?

winds

[Toral]

I don't think that match race will happen because it's scheduled before the BC. The Mosses have already stated many times that she won't leave Cali till after the BC.

I'd like to see a real race (not a match race) after the BC. Maybe the end of November/early December. Why not just race in the Clark Handicap? The distance is ideal for both, and it comes 3 weeks after the BC.

[karenkarenn]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hot ... 67868.html

[pokeyman]

First off, Rachel needs to beat older horses to even be considered one of the top fillies of all time. Until she can beat older fillies there is no point in even discussing her as "great".

Great horses race against all comers and beat them all. Period. They don't run against just their own age group.

Legends can beat everyone.......

Zenyatta needs to beat colts (3 and up) to be considered a legend. She is already "great" and in the HOF as it stands. Let's face it....she IS one of the greatest racemares in recent history. She fits nicely with the mares already in the HOF.

One horse is a poly and one horse is a dirt horse. I don't buy that great horses can run on any surface....not always.

As of right now, they are both Champions in their division. Applaud and enjoy them both for their excellence and the attention they have brought to the sport.

[Stevie Belmont]

Who cares if she runs against Zenayatta anyway? They are both champs anyway you look at it. If it's not in the cards, it's not in the cards. It's a business, if the two don't meet, so be it...

[Tucumcari]

It would be a dis service to racing if they don't meet. RA is HOY as it stands. I have no doubt she will meet older. Their goal is to be HOY. BC doesn't establish who is the king or queen of the universe. On earnings along Z is not even in the picture.

[louis finochio]

ANABAA'S CREATION (IRE) b. F, 2004 DP = 4-5-11-1-1 (22) DI = 1.93 CD = 0.45 - 14 Starts, 3 Wins, 2 Places, 4 Shows Career Earnings: $324,366

Owner: W-J Preston
Trainer: Julio C. Canani
Breeder: Prestonwood Farms
Winnings: 14 Starts: 3 - 2 - 4, $324,366

At 2:
Won: Prix Isonomy
At 3:
3rd: Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1), Prix Du Prince Dorange (FR-G3)
At 4:
2nd: Prix Andre Baboin (FR-G3)
3rd: Prix De Boulogne
At 5:
2nd: Clement L. Hirsch Handicap G1

2005 Goff's Orby Million Sale 2005 $120,140

AC was beaten in a photo by Z, AC gives us a class angle on her racing performance in (FR) Will Quality Road give RA a run for her money? I hope so so we can compare those fillies that Z beat VS those colts that RA beat. Lets get it on.