I say we have a HOTY do over

[Boscar Obarra]

Zenyatta inhales them again.

Only good thing you can say about RA is if you like her it the matchup, you just got a much better price.

PS The NTRA site that was supposed to stream the two races today, was DOWN for the entire time.

[sekrah]

Because of 1 race where 1 horse, Zenyatta was fit, and the other wasnt?

Congratulations on Zenyatta inhaling those tomato cans again.

[Rick B.]

Yes -- a special do over for those that just can\'t get it through their heads that one race does not equal a whole year of achievement.

We\'ll call it the \"Horse Of The Sour\" award.

[P-Dub]

Do we have to go through this crap again??

[Rick B.]

An excellent question, Paul.  

Let\'s ask the guy that started it up again. Boscar?

[Uncle Buck]

I think one could argue perhaps the tomato cans ran in last year\'s Woodward. When Z inhales RA at the 1/8th pole in Arkentucky and Wide Mikey cracks a Coors banquet beer nearing the wire, RA\'s legacy will be cemented. A brilliantly fast 3 YO and that\'s pretty much it. Sherriff\'s has to be chuckling tonight

[P-Dub]

Rick,

Sounds like you know I wasn\'t talking about you. I love Z but its over with, looking forward to next month.

[nyc1347]

i really hate when anyone calls horses at a top level \"tomato cans\" ESPECIALLY giving an example like the Woodward.  in the woodward, rachel won BOUNCING.  any horse that bounces is vulnerable to losing to an overall slower horse

[Rick B.]

Paul,

I know you *shouldn\'t* have been talking about me, but I wasn\'t sure...so I responded coyly.

Look, I think it should be over, too, but I\'ve been powdering and diapering Zenyatta crybabies for so many months now that it\'s automatic -- I don\'t even realize I\'m doing it sometimes.

(And if you don\'t find the above offensive, congrats -- you know I\'m not talking about you.)

Rick

[Rick B.]

Uncle Buck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RA\'s legacy will be cemented. A brilliantly fast 3
> YO and thats pretty much it 2009 Horse Of The Year.

There, cleaned that up for you.

You\'re welcome.

[smalltimer]

Rachel has had 7 workouts since Jan, Zenyatta has had 8 workouts.  

I\'m sure both Asmussen and Shireffs felt they had their charges \"fit enough\" to get the job done today.  They both wanted (and expected) to win, but they also didn\'t want to fully extend today either. Rachel gave what she had today, without being abused, and probably needed another work or two in her.  

Today, Rachel was asked to get the job done at 8.5 furlongs carrying 123#\'s (career high), and Zenyatta had to get 9 furlongs today packing 127#\'s, but has carried and won with 129#\'s. When Rachel has a chance to pack SERIOUS weight and win against great company, then I\'ll jump on her bandwagon as one of the \"all-time greats.\" Until then, I consider her a great race horse with something yet to prove.  

Were they both on top of their game today?  Of course not.  They\'ll both be as good as they can possibly be in early April.  If not, one of them might get drilled with the whole world watching, then we\'ll have to toss the bullshit excuses.  If there\'s a legitimate pace in the race, it\'ll be fun to watch.

[Dana666]

You\'re kidding right??? That race at Fairgrounds was a complete joke. Zardana is a decent allowance/overnight stakes/maybe a grade III type runner (the others are barely horses); she looked Rachel in the eye and it was over fast. That was a pathetic effort with or without a layoff. They have no business even trying Zenyatta at this point, and I wouldn\'t be surprised if Assmussen makes up some excuse, and they don\'t even run at Oaklawn. Maybe Rachel can get back to her brillance of last year and maybe she can\'t, but in any event she\'s not even 50% at this point. It would be ridiculous even to try Zenyatta now. That race was a complete joke, and Zenyatta looks better than ever. Good luck with that one.

[nyc1347]

i think they WILL run her especially for a FIVE MILLION DOLLAR purse.. assmussen wouldnt be my concern for the 2 horses running together next month it would be if Oaklawn will be able to change their minds for the purse money they are putting up that race!  There should have been something said saying if both horses didnt win their debuts this year that oaklawn could change their minds IF they cant do so at this point. As I said in a previous post this could very well be a Flower Alley type situation with Rachel this year.. it happens sometimes but lets see how she comes out next time first cause it should be some kind of improvement.

[Leamas57]

That was nothing close to the Rachel we saw all last year. She looked like Roberto Duran in the \"No Mas\" episode. There is something not right with her and I can\'t imagine they run her in the Apple Blossom in this condition.

I am sure that within days we will hear:
      1) that she had a physical problem.
      2) that she is badly out of condition and can\'t possibly get fit in time

I bet they don\'t run her next month.

Leamas

[Boscar Obarra]

I\'ve seen lots of horses in my day, and few  were able to consistently produce the push button acceleration  Zenyatta has shown repeatedly.

 Not to mention the athleticism of being able to shift in and out late in the race and keep the momentum.

 I agree with Dana666, RA\'s performance was a disappointment.  Let\'s see what the #\'s tell us.