Quality Road

[Rich Curtis]

Bobphilo wrote:

\"Quality Road has thrown down the gauntlet to both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. Rachel still needs to regain last years HOTY form, but when and if ready, will probably again take on the big boys before the BC, like last year.
Zenyatta has to stop re-beating up on the same Cal fillies and face QR in the Classics at Saratoga, Churchill and Belmont, as well as Santa Anita, while both are in form.\"

 Was one of those \"gauntlet\" thingies around during last year\'s BC Classic?

[bobphilo]

One has to wonder what would have happened had Quality Road not freaked out and got scratched at the gate of last years BC Classic. Was he ready that day as a 3YO to do what he did this year as a 4YO, and would it have been enough to beat Zenyatta? We\'ll never know for sure, which makes a meeting of these 2 this year all the more exciting and important.

QR has the clear edge on the numbers, though Z has shown she can throw whatever number she needs to win. Should be interesting to see if she can match QR if they go head to head. I\'m guessing no.

Bob

[Rich Curtis]

\"One has to wonder what would have happened had Quality Road not freaked out and got scratched at the gate of last years BC Classic. Was he ready that day as a 3YO to do what he did this year as a 4YO, and would it have been enough to beat Zenyatta?\"

Shirreffs was ready to find out what QR would do. That\'s why Shirreffs threw down the gauntlet. Then his horse won the BC Classic. Seems like a decent place for a gauntlet, the BC Classic--though I guess one can throw one down anywhere.

[P-Dub]

bobphilo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Quality Road has thrown down the gauntlet to both
> Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. Rachel still needs
> to regain last years HOTY form, but when and if
> ready, will probably again take on the big boys
> before the BC, like last year.
>
> Zenyatta has to stop re-beating up on the same Cal
> fillies and face QR in the Classics at Saratoga,
> Churchill and Belmont, as well as Santa Anita,
> while both are in form. Thoroughbred form is
> fleeting and racing needs its top horses to meet
> whenever they can and not wait for a Nov BC
> showdown that may never happen - think last year.
>
> Bob


Traveling from California to NY/Kentucky is a lot tougher than traveling along the East if you are already stabled there. Quite a bit more mileage.

I\'m not defending Z\'s campaign or anything like that.  But it seems like some of you think all you need to do is hitch her to the back of a pickup and she\'ll be there in a couple hours.

She doesn\'t need to criss cross the country 3 or 4 times to satisfy anybody. The year is still young, let\'s see where she goes after the Vanity.

[smalltimer]

Let\'s see:  

Rachel has won a bunch of Grade 1\'s at 8 1/2F, 9 F, and a mile and 3/16th.

Zenyatta has won a bunch of Grade 1\'s at 8.5 F, 9 F and that little 10 F race.

Exactly who has QR beaten, and what prestigious races has he won in the last 2 years that are more than a mile?

He pales in comparison to these 2 super accomplished females.

Maybe he turns the tide this year, but they\'re both still good enough to make him run a little bit.

Is QR fast?  Damn right he is!!  I hope he stays healthy, I hope Rachel can approach her \'09 greatness and I hope Zen\'s age doesn\'t catch up with her.  Then we\'ll have ourselves a horse race.  

I don\'t see him running away from Rachel at any distance up to and including 9F.

With Z, I watched his body language last year in the walking ring the first time QR laid eyes on Zenyatta.    

Unless he\'s been retired, we shouldn\'t forget Summer Bird if he returns.
He owned QR last year as I recall.

[MonmouthGuy]

Agreed P-Dub. The year is young.

If they chose to keep her out West, let\'s hope we see her in the Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic.  No reason to run the same campaign as last year.

[P-Dub]

No question about that MG.

Cannot run the same campaign. Gold Cup would be a nice spot with Rail Trip among others competing. A trip east doesn\'t necessarily have to be against males. A big Saratoga GR1 against females works too.

[richiebee]

bobphilo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thoroughbred form is
> fleeting and racing needs its top horses to meet
> whenever they can and not wait for a Nov BC
> showdown that may never happen - think last year.
>
> Bob


I disagree. I think that seeing these 3 meet for the first time in the BC Classic
might give me one that lasts \"More Than Four Hours\", with apologies to the winner
of Belmont\'s 7th race yesterday.

You say that \"thoroughbred form is fleeting\", which is difficult to argue with.
But how does this statement apply to a horse who runs huge numbers and then seems
to need a minimum of 90 days to recuperate?

[MonmouthGuy]

P Dub.

Could you head over to Hollywood on Saturday and have a talk with Sheriffs.

It looks like \"same campaign\" is the right answer.  Entering Zardana as a rabbit for the Vanity and then looking for a \"three-peat\" in the Hirsch (i wonder if Phil Jackson gets royalties).  Yawn.  

Bringing Zenyatta back was a complete waste of everyone\'s time, and about as unsporting a campaign for a champion horse as I have ever seen.

She deserves better.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/113743.html

[richiebee]

MonGuy:

I think this year Racing fans will get the big match up at the end of the year:
Quality Road, with one or maybe two races before the BC Classic. Rachel Alexandra
will have maybe 3 more races after Saturday. If she gets back in form, maybe one
of RA\'s BC preps will be against males. Whoever is the 3YO of the moment will
also add flavor.

My opinion is that TeamZen has only one obligation to Racing fans and to their
mare...to get her to the BC Classic to defend her championship.

I do not have any problem if Shireffs/Moss think the best way to accomplish this
is to race her in relatively easy spots, shipping her sparingly, and allowing her
to race and train over surfaces on which she has remained sound.

[MonmouthGuy]

Let\'s hope that QR stays sound.

Would have love to see her chase down Rail Trip in the Hollywood Gold Cup.

[miff]

How about Rachel facing four garbage can-etts,wow! Should have just retired her.

[MonmouthGuy]

She should be running in the Phipps this weekend. No excuse there either.

[jbelfior]

Who cares? We have the Stephen Foster and a great turf race at Monmouth. Either one would be a nice ROTW.

Good Luck,
Joe B.

[Lost Cause]

richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MonGuy:
>
> I think this year Racing fans will get the big
> match up at the end of the year:
> Quality Road, with one or maybe two races before
> the BC Classic. Rachel Alexandra
> will have maybe 3 more races after Saturday. If
> she gets back in form, maybe one
> of RA\'s BC preps will be against males. Whoever is
> the 3YO of the moment will
> also add flavor.
>
>

I think Blame beats them all this year in the BC.  I thought he would be a force after he won the Clark last November.  His comeback win was very easy also..We\'ll see this weekend.