[QUOTE=adamsmom;5207313]
Embryo transfer will kill the TB industry, just as over-breeding almost has done.[/QUOTE]
I realize that is true, however I think it is really too bad that great female lines and lives are put at risk through foaling. What a terrible shame to lose one of these great mares and their genes (Goldikova, Zenyatta,Rachel) through foaling. Just my thought.
[QUOTE=adamsmom;5207311]
You’re kidding, right?
She isn’t all that special?
She’s SUPREMELY special!!![/QUOTE]
It’s hard for any horse to stay perfect, let alone close to it amongst top class competition. I think what Z showed today was that her magnificent judgment was vulnerable; her lovely timing was impeachable with a full court. That’s OK. With what I think was a less than stellar ride, with history against her, she showed her mettle by getting up so darn close. She may not be unbeatable but she’s damned close, and that’s still special.
Maybe with a more ambitious career she would have been beat a few times, and we wouldn’t be batting an eye at her getting up close after a crap break for a heart-stopping second against the boys a second year in a row. Let’s appreciate the goodness of this great mare for what it is. 19 and 20 ain’t nothing to sneer at.
As she pranced off, it was obvious she didn’t know she’d lost. She doesn’t know how to lose. She was still the Queen in her mind, and in mine. Let’s send her to retirement with the accolades she deserves. We’ve been greatly blessed to see these great mares these last two years. Let’s be grateful and proud. The Queen is going to the shed a beast in her own mind. That is enough for me.
[QUOTE=DLee;5207321]
I realize that is true, however I think it is really too bad that great female lines and lives are put at risk through foaling. What a terrible shame to lose one of these great mares and their genes (Goldikova, Zenyatta,Rachel) through foaling. Just my thought.[/QUOTE]
That’s called “nature” and the more we try to circumvent nature with technologies such as AI and ET, the more screwed up the industry and breed become.
Mike Smith Press Conference
On Zenyatta coming up a nose short:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/watch/B518EA92-0938-43EE-9AA2-D7871AACD9AB
Not that special?
Leaving aside the win vs. loss, something truly amazing happened during the running of that race. My non-horsey boyfriend, who has been to the track with me and super into it, was leaping up and down in the middle of the living room screaming for zenyatta.
He talked about it for hours.
(Will say he was appropriately impressed by goldikova too!)
With racing in the state that it is, that a horse could win over so many new fans to the sport, and make people who didn’t care pay attention isn’t just special, it’s miraculous. 
I watched the video a couple of times again and those first few lengths after they are bunched, when yesterday I thought she took some bad steps, I think it was the dirt. She lifted her head in a way I thought was troubling, but with the dirt explanation, that part makes sense.
Poor guy…
Can’t imagine what Mike’s going through. The hardest thing will be – should’ve, would’ve, could’ve. 
I just hope she walked away thinking she won. I want to believe she did.
BRAVO. Exactly. And a filly against a field of colts no less. And over and over again.
Bad trip, good trip - the way she finished shows me the winner she is.
Zenyatta might not retire after all -
http://www.nypost.com/p/zenyatta_might_not_retire_after_4pc98Wmjdf7EZ21W6WDZlM
lol his comment about wifey
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;5207450]
Zenyatta might not retire after all -
http://www.nypost.com/p/zenyatta_might_not_retire_after_4pc98Wmjdf7EZ21W6WDZlM[/QUOTE]
Just my 0 cents worth, but I can’t see what more this mare has to prove on the track and do look forward to seeing some babies (esp. girls!).
[QUOTE=On the Farm;5207381]
That’s called “nature” and the more we try to circumvent nature with technologies such as AI and ET, the more screwed up the industry and breed become.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I know it’s called “nature”. Guess it just depends on how far you want to take that lack of circumventing bit. Maybe no surgeries or medications for sick horses either.
[QUOTE=caffeinated;5207430]
Not that special?
Leaving aside the win vs. loss, something truly amazing happened during the running of that race. My very non-horsey boyfriend, who has been to the track with me and not all that into it, and who usually is playing on his cell phone while I watch races on TV, was leaping up and down in the middle of the living room screaming for zenyatta.
He talked about it for hours.
(Will say he was appropriately impressed by goldikova too!)
With racing in the state that it is, that a horse could win over so many new fans to the sport, and make people who didn’t care pay attention isn’t just special, it’s miraculous. :)[/QUOTE]
AMEN!! Zenyatta brought so much positive attention to the sport and is responsible for racing having A LOT of new fans. She breathed new life into racing with her tremendous heart, and her last race made it easy for non-racing people to understand why we all do what we do. The question of whether she’ll be Horse of the Year is one that they’ll debate I’m sure in chat rooms, blogs, editorials, etc., but to me she is the horse of a generation, if not a lifetime.
So do we think the dirt was worth a neck in the final results? Mike Smith did think she was not particularly happy with the footing.
She is a magnificient beast, but I wonder if the connections would have done well to send her East for a race or two this summer. I do think the swaddling in California tracks might have been at least one factor.
And I do know she is a closer. If you want to see some heartstopping finishes against top competition, take a look at some of the Buckpasser videos on Youtube. She ran her usual race, but fired just a smidge late, and the surface was very different. Dirt may be faster than turf or polytrack, but it’s also more tiring.
How do her times and fractions in California compare to the Classic time and fractions?
I would bet that Z gets HOY, as much from a sympathy vote from last year as this year’s sterling results. Who would be credible competition for her. She did finish as the top US horse in the BC Classic, and she did win all her other races.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;5207542]
I would bet that Z gets HOY, as much from a sympathy vote from last year as this year’s sterling results. Who would be credible competition for her. She did finish as the top US horse in the BC Classic, and she did win all her other races.[/QUOTE]
What do you mean by that?
Made a mistake. I thought Blame was Irish.
It was a GREAT Breeder’s Cup for Kris S grandsons, wasn’t it?
Love Roberto.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;5207561]
Made a mistake. I thought Blame was Irish.
It was a GREAT Breeder’s Cup for Kris S grandsons, wasn’t it?
Love Roberto.[/QUOTE]
You really had me flummoxed for a second there. :lol:
He’s about as american as a horse can get… Claiborne home bred!
[QUOTE=VirginiaBred;5207450]
Zenyatta might not retire after all -
http://www.nypost.com/p/zenyatta_might_not_retire_after_4pc98Wmjdf7EZ21W6WDZlM[/QUOTE]
Dubai World Cup.
$10million would be a nice consolation to ease the pain of last night. On a synth surface too, plus she’d get to beat horses from around the world and could call herself a “World” champion. They could still have her back in the Kentucky in time to breed her in Apr.
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