By my favorite turf writer.
Really interesting. Not at all surprised about the traveling. Figured that’s sadly why they didn’t bring her out here. Really interesting, and seemingly contradictory about the synthetic tracks. Cool to know.
And the lights? Only 15’ off the ground at Churchill? Geesh…
And of course, no, she wasn’t doing a little dance to humor everyone. 
The Zenyatta/Rachel years were wonderful.
And when someone asks that question “living or alive, who would you like to have dinner with?” Why Steve Haskin of course!!
Mebbe should mark my calendar for HOF day. 
I loved this article. Didn’t realize there were so many factors not in Z’s favor in her last race.
Was moved to revisit this article after the sad loss of another Zenyatta foal.:no:
I still think Mike Smith cost her that final race - even with all those other factors. They were too far back and he bungled it and was over confidant - especially when all it took to win was one or two strides.
She was beaten by a better horse on the day. Blame was a nice horse, and a multiple G1 winner in open company. He arguably beat better horses than she did over the course of his career. She only won once in open company, and that was on Polytrack where half the field were Euro and US turf horses. Also her running style was pretty consistent in almost every race she ran, not sure how you can point the finger at Smith.
She was an exceptional mare, as a mare, but I definitely think people get a little carried away with her place in the grand scheme. Let’s face it, she spent most of her career beating up on inferior fillies on the west coast. I would argue that Treve, Danedream, Vodka, Gentildonna, Makybe Diva and Sunline were all more accomplished fillies in the totality of their careers. In truth, I don’t think we can truly gauge how good Zenyatta really was because she was campaigned so conservatively.
I can point the finger at Smith because he was overconfident and had her too far back - even farther than usual. He would have known all the stuff he had to overcome and yet he screwed things up. Blame was a great horse - but she would have had him in her usual style at the wire - with a better ride. But then there would be no fun in downplaying her wins…
I have never understood the need to belittle Zenyatta’s accomplishments… she beat the boys in the biggest race of the year but that counts for nothing in many eyes. She almost made up for Smith’s bad riding and lost to Blame by a mere head bob - not on the West Coast, not on her home track, not against a weak field, nothing in her favor - and yet that must be diminished as well. Why not just appreciate her for what she did and how she did it? The way she did it drove me crazy and thrilled me - all at once.
You left out Goldikova, Ouija Board…
I understand what you are saying Drvmb1gg13, but she was incredible. It was thrilling to watch her.
I don’t have any doubt if it had been different type of campaign she still would have dazzled us all.
Thanks to the OP on the article. That was an interesting read.
[QUOTE=smoofox;8620033]
I can point the finger at Smith because he was overconfident and had her too far back - even farther than usual. He would have known all the stuff he had to overcome and yet he screwed things up. Blame was a great horse - but she would have had him in her usual style at the wire - with a better ride. But then there would be no fun in downplaying her wins… [/QUOTE]
In the three races in the run up to the BCC, she won by 1/2L, a neck and 1/2L, against much inferior same sex opposition. It’s hardly surprising then she would be beaten by a good male dirt horse on dirt.
I have never understood the need to belittle Zenyatta’s accomplishments… she beat the boys in the biggest race of the year but that counts for nothing in many eyes.
She won in her own backyard on a surface she had a known affinity for and a surface that most of the field, both turf and dirt horses, were trying for the first time.
She almost made up for Smith’s bad riding and lost to Blame by a mere head bob - not on the West Coast, not on her home track, not against a weak field, nothing in her favor - and yet that must be diminished as well.
You must have a reading comprehension problem.
I didn’t diminish it. I said she got beaten by a better horse on the day. And arguably a better horse overall when their careers are compared.
You’re blaming the jockey, as if it was inconceivable she could lose.
Why not just appreciate her for what she did and how she did it? The way she did it drove me crazy and thrilled me - all at once.
What she did was spend 90% of her career in SoCal beating other fillies. No doubt her running style was fun to watch, but it doesn’t change that fact. Facts are facts, take away the coming out of the clouds late run, and what you have she has two races in open company, one a win that will always have an asterisk next to it because of the surface and the other a narrow loss. I’m not saying she wasn’t great, she may well have been, but I’m saying we will never really know because she was asked to dance in the big dances enough.
You left out Goldikova, Ouija Board…
Two more that danced all the dances and racked up lots of frequent flyer miles. Can you imagine if the Wertheimer Bros and Lord Derby had kept those two in sex restricted races almost their entire career? That would have been sad.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;8620249]
In the three races in the run up to the BCC, she won by 1/2L, a neck and 1/2L, against much inferior same sex opposition. It’s hardly surprising then she would be beaten by a good male dirt horse on dirt. [/QUOTE]
But that is how she often won - getting there at the wire. Not sure why you feel this is a major issue… but whatever.
Many of the top horses in racing that year… so instead of seeing that was a great race no matter what location or surface, you make excuses for all the other horses!!! Same then goes for Z running on that surface at CD that she did not care for…
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;8620249]You must have a reading comprehension problem.
I didn’t diminish it. I said she got beaten by a better horse on the day. And arguably a better horse overall when their careers are compared.
You’re blaming the jockey, as if it was inconceivable she could lose.[/QUOTE]
Why so rude? A reading comprehension problem? Smith blamed himself as well after the race. And no, it is not inconceivable that any horse loses. If Blame was that far back, you would be saying he ran an amazing race to get there to lose by a head bob… but because the big mare did it, it is an example of how inferior she was. The race she lost was the best race she ever ran. No shame in that. Now here is the place were you can say how mediocre the field was etc. etc. etc.
Two races in open company. You make that sound as if they were $5,000 level claimers and not the biggest race on the calendar with many of the top horses of those years running. I think those dances were “big” enough.
Should all other big wins on certain surfaces have an asterisk next to it to diminish the performances of the winners? They are rendered meaningless and inconsequential?
Apples and oranges. It is common in Europe to mix the sexes. And OBVIOUSLY Goldikova and Ouija Board were good shippers. Zenyatta was not - so they campaigned her accordingly. How terrible that they managed a horse the best way for that particular horse - as that article clearly explains. If she had been a great traveller like those two, who knows what we might have seen?
[QUOTE=blue&blond;8620096]I understand what you are saying Drvmb1gg13, but she was incredible. It was thrilling to watch her.
I don’t have any doubt if it had been different type of campaign she still would have dazzled us all.[/QUOTE]
Well said, blue&blond. There has not been a horse in many years that had me screaming at the TV, riding every stride… I have always loved the come-from-way-back types.
As an aside to show how popular she was… I was at the track here one afternoon when Zenyatta was racing in California. Even though the CA races were simulcast, the track announcer kept reminding the crowd how many MTP for her race - I forget which one it was. They actually held up the live race a few minutes so that everyone could watch the Zenyatta race. They even put it up on the infield screen. I was standing next to a tough old horse player - short old grizzled guy who may have been a jock and had a backstretch pass around his neck. We cheered and yelled for every stride and as always she did just enough to win. That was her usual style. The old guy turned to me with tears in his eyes - and said, now THAT’S a racehorse.
How sad that old fool was as easily duped as me and all the others who enjoyed her races. Zenyatta (and Rachel) brought new interest to racing… new fans, new excitement. And old fans (like me) enjoyed her, too…
De Coronado, a full brother to Zenyatta, and Vertiginuex’s last foal, makes his debut in the last race on the card at the Curragh today. 1m4f race for 3yo maidens. Race goes off in about an hour.
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;8750036]
De Coronado, a full brother to Zenyatta, and Vertiginuex’s last foal, makes his debut in the last race on the card at the Curragh today. 1m4f race for 3yo maidens. Race goes off in about an hour.[/QUOTE]
Finished 9th of 12. I haven’t seen the chart or replay, so I have no idea how accurately the placing reflects on his actual performance.
[QUOTE=Mara;8750425]
Finished 9th of 12. I haven’t seen the chart or replay, so I have no idea how accurately the placing reflects on his actual performance.[/QUOTE]
He was well beaten. didn’t have much, was being urged very early in the race.
http://www.attheraces.com/atrplayer-replay-popup/VOD/947639
There were some nicely bred horses in that race, though being maidens in July of their 3yo season running for a $15k purse, doesn’t look like any of them are destined to be world beaters.
The winner might make a nice Cup horse. He was 3rd in the Queen’s Vase over 2miles at Ascot last out, and made all the running today, so should have plenty of stamina for 2m-2m4f races.
