She was SO close! My DH watched with me and at the half mile he said no way can she make it, but I said just wait. I really thought she would take it in the last moments, but alas… Great race, maybe if she had not had so much traffic, but there are a million what ifs, I suppose. Glad everyone stayed safe!
Did the jockey wait too long to ask her to go?
No, he didn’t. She got outrun by a better horse. Yeah, a little less traffic and she might have got the nose up.
But had she been racing in open company the last 2 years, instead of beating up inferior fillies, then it’s highly likely she would have encountered a result like this before.
I’m much more impressed by her performance in this race than any other race she ran this year and all last year bar one.
Yah, it was a bummer- but good for Blame! Great for the sport too!
If there was the opportunity for 2 more strides, she could have won.
I can’t wait to see the video, wish she had won though ! I didn’t get the channel at my farm so I had to call my mom who was nice enough to watch it at her place so I could listen via speaker phone while I did chores…
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;5206790]
I’m much more impressed by her performance in this race than any other race she ran this year and all last year bar one.[/QUOTE]
I’ve never posted on the racing forum, but I believe that – by far – she was the best horse in that race. She came from dead last to losing by a nose. Her speed was still increasing at the wire. If that race had been 20’ longer, she would have won. She was on a surface she was not accustomed to, against the boys. Sure, it would have been great if she had won, but she has nothing whatsoever to be ashamed of in that race! What an incredible, awe inspiring mare!
I can’t wait to see her babies! 
I think Zenyatta did AMAZING and has nothing feel bad about whatsoever. She did Awesome. I am very proud of her. Maybe Blame will be the baby daddy?
[QUOTE=Mukluk;5206845]
I think Zenyatta did AMAZING and has nothing feel bad about whatsoever. She did Awesome. I am very proud of her. Maybe Blame will be the baby daddy?[/QUOTE]
Agreed. Man, thet would be an expensive ass baby! But fast as h-e you know what!
Zenyatta is a Winner!
Hi All,
As far as I am concerned, she didn’t lose. Zenyatta overcame a very late break (more so than usual), traffic, and more traffic. She ran a wonderful race given the circumstances she encountered.
Blame is a terrific horse and gutted out a victory. You can’t find better racing than what we saw today with those two horses in the stretch.
Hail Zenyatta! Go into retirement with you head high and thoughts of foals racing 'round your head. You are the best filly/mare I’ve seen in my lifetime and I can never forget you or the experience of wonder you gave me.
And, the Classic field made it home safely as far as I know. THAT is very important to me. And, RIP to to Rough Sailing from an earlier race - that is so very sad.
Viva Zenyatta, and Congratulations to Blame!
Hallie
Hallie I. McEvoy
Racing Dreams, LLC
Congratulations to Zenyatta, who ran an amazing race to end an amazing career, and to Blame and his connections.
I toured Claiborne during WEG, and the groom who was showing us the Claiborne stallions came to Arch and mentioned that he was looking forward to seeing Blame in the Classic. Somebody in the group asked him if he thought Zenyatta wasn’t all she was cracked up to be, then. His reply was that he was a huge fan of Zenyatta, thought she was one of the best racehorses ever, and rooted for her, but that IF anybody had to beat her, he hoped it could be Blame.
Well done, both. And enjoy your extra peppermints tonight, Arch.
Hallie, that is exactly as I feel. I am tremendously sad, and tremendously proud of the race she ran. And,
But had she been racing in open company the last 2 years, instead of beating up inferior fillies, then it’s highly likely she would have encountered a result like this before.
Yes. Her two best races were in the best company: one she won, and the other she lost by nose. I agree that in better company throughout her career, she would have had to be able to run from somewhere other than far outside in the stretch, or be beaten a few more times.
Her size giveth and her size taketh away. I believe her being unable or unwilling to run within traffic for any length of time, was a flaw not at all fatal – 19 - 1! – but a flaw nonetheless.
She is ready to learn something else.
It’s kind of ironic that the horse that finally beat her would be named Blame. Man 'O War was beaten only once also by a horse named Upset. Both names are “negative” one word names. Kind of fitting.
I shed a tear or two for that gallant mare. I could not imagine how she managed to make up that much ground and she came so stinking close to winning.
She really did run the best race. That’s racing luck.
She’s amazing.
I have tons more respect for Zenyatta than I did before the race. Not that going 19 straight before a loss is anything to sneeze at. But she spent a lot of her career beating up on fields of lesser quality.
Today, though, showed just how great she is. One more stride and it was hers.
I’ve never posted on the racing forum, but I believe that – by far – she was the best horse in that race.
No doubt. She got caught up in traffic but that has nothing to do with her quality. She was the fastest horse, no doubt. If there were a rematch between her and Blame, I would bet my life she would win it.
Big talented field, new track surface for Zenyatta, bedlam with the pre-race crowd, lots of traffic around the last turn, Blame had a pretty straight shot, Zenyatta had to run really wide. Lots going on to make it challenging.
Zenyatta ran her heart out and almost, almost made it. Just another stride or two.
Great race. Congrats to everyone running today.
She really showed us who she is in this race. She appeared to not hook up to the track early. She fell behind and was climbing the first half mile. When Mike Smith got into her neck early, I thought she would lose by a mile. But her heart kicked in, and she gave everything she had. Disappointed yes. But, she showed she is nothing but all heart. I probably am more taken with her in defeat than if she had won. She has earned a wonderful retirement. Thank God she returned safe. And if she is barren, she can come and live with me!
It would be fun to just run Blame against Zenyatta. I think Zenyatta would win it.
I feel sorry for her jockey. He looked so dejected. Anyone see an interview with him yet?
I heard part of an interview with another jockey that looked back and saw her jockey trying to get her to turn on the gas, he wasn’t taking it for granted, but I would like to hear what HE says himself.
Zenyatta was the best horse in the race. She came from behind by how many lengths to lose it by a nose. Amazing mare.
Who are the owners going to breed her to?
Thank you - you said it well!!
[QUOTE=haligator;5206865]
Hi All,
As far as I am concerned, she didn’t lose. Zenyatta overcame a very late break (more so than usual), traffic, and more traffic. She ran a wonderful race given the circumstances she encountered.
Blame is a terrific horse and gutted out a victory. You can’t find better racing than what we saw today with those two horses in the stretch.
Hail Zenyatta! Go into retirement with you head high and thoughts of foals racing 'round your head. You are the best filly/mare I’ve seen in my lifetime and I can never forget you or the experience of wonder you gave me.
And, the Classic field made it home safely as far as I know. THAT is very important to me. And, RIP to to Rough Sailing from an earlier race - that is so very sad.
Viva Zenyatta, and Congratulations to Blame!
Hallie
Hallie I. McEvoy
Racing Dreams, LLC[/QUOTE]
