as bummed as i am for Zenyatta,i am WAY MORE BUMMED for the connections of Rough Sailing who fell and broke his shoulder during a Breeders Cup race and had to be euthanized.This brings back memories of Pine Island-not an experience i wanted to repeat
I saw some quotes from Z’s jockey in bloodhorse.com that he blames himself for not getting in the race sooner. Also, Z was bothered by the dirt flying in her face.
Z should be Horse of the Year.
I am not bummed for Zenyatta, she ran the race she always does and closed at the finish like a bat out of hell! Wow, I almost thought she was going to win, amazing!!
I am saddened for Mike Smith, who has such an obvious true love for this mare, and must be feeling as though he failed the mare, her owners and trainer, and the millions of fans. I cried looking at the look on his face. Such a shame, she could have easily won given different circumstances (or maybe 5 seconds more?), yet it’s over in not much more than a minute.
What a great race, I wish it would have ended different.
Yeah, you gotta feel for Mike Smith. While I think she got beaten by a better horse on the day, I’m sure he will replay that race in his head a zillion times wondering about the what ifs about moving sooner and path he took.
I’m sure he has ridden a hundred races in the past where he may have cost a horse a race or a place, they all do, and they usually shake it off. But this one is different. It’s gotta hurt. This was history.
[QUOTE=EightBelles134;5207007]
as bummed as i am for Zenyatta,i am WAY MORE BUMMED for the connections of Rough Sailing who fell and broke his shoulder during a Breeders Cup race and had to be euthanized.[/QUOTE]
This. RS was owned by one of the nicest men I’ve ever met, who cares very much about his horses. He is devastated by the loss… Is it disappointing Z didn’t win? Of course. But she ran a great race and came home safe and that’s all that really matters…
the best races run don’t always cross the finish line first. Zenyatta was amazing. there just need to be longer races for horses of her stature!
I thought she they were sending her to Medaglia d’Oro? could be wrong, though
[QUOTE=haligator;5206865]
And, the Classic field made it home safely as far as I know. THAT is very important to me. [/QUOTE]
Me too. The best news all day was that Zenyatta made it around safely and can now be retired. 
[QUOTE=Mardi;5207138]
Me too. The best news all day was that Zenyatta made it around safely and can now be retired. :)[/QUOTE]
True dat! Looked like she ran out of time…not really like she was gritting it out. I need to watch it again.
is the race posted any where?
I thought Zenyatta was amazing today! I was so nervous she would lose- my stomach was in knots! At the start of the race, I was sure she was going to lose big and could feel disappointment creeping in, but she could not have been more courageous in defeat. I think she actually gained in stature today.
The amazing thing to me is that every horse has a bad day. Zenyatta shows up every time with her incredible heart making up for the bad days. In 20 races her bay day ended a head short in the toughest race in America to a VERY good horse. Wow.
I’m so glad I wasn’t home and couldn’t watch. But hey, except for a horse named Upset, Man o’ War would have been 21-0. Blame is gonna end up next to Upset in this history books under ‘aptly-named spoilers.’
I don’t think this makes the case to not make Zenyatta HOTY, and her owners need to be owners of the year-when was the last time the mainstream media cared about a horse who wasn’t the Derby and Preakness winner and trying for Belmont? They could have retired her pretty much any time but they brought her back and gave fans something to root for.
Now, of course, the big question–what stallion is she going to visit?
I have to say that I have NEVER shed a tear at the end of a race where all crossed under the wire safely, until today. This race was heartbreaking but that is horse racing.
Fabulous Mare! Blame ran a fabulous race and beat her to the wire. She ran out of track. Wish it had been different.
Glad she can retire healthy and sound. Glad I did not see the one fall and break its shoulder…was that the fall Gomez was in earlier in the week?
I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’m saddened by her loss, but I’m absolutely in AWE of what she did. Forget the 20-0 everyone was looking for. She came within one head of being the first 6 year old to win the Classic. And she’s a mare. And the way she did it! My Lord, I’ll never live to see another one like her. She is and will forever remain the Queen. When comparing other mares to her, I’ll always have to ask, “How did they do in the Classic?”. And I don’t mean the Ladies Classic. This is the one where the best dirt horses in the world put it all on the line.
Blame proved himself a star, but like most of the stars of this sport, we won’t see him again. He’s already been retired.
The first races I watched were Secretariat winning the Triple Crown. I’ve always joked that it’s been all down hill since. Well, thanks to Zenyatta, that has finally changed.
[QUOTE=Calena;5207246]
I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’m saddened by her loss, but I’m absolutely in AWE of what she did. Forget the 20-0 everyone was looking for. She came within one head of being the first 6 year old to win the Classic. And she’s a mare. And the way she did it! My Lord, I’ll never live to see another one like her. She is and will forever remain the Queen. When comparing other mares to her, I’ll always have to ask, “How did they do in the Classic?”. And I don’t mean the Ladies Classic. This is the one where the best dirt horses in the world put it all on the line.
Blame proved himself a star, but like most of the stars of this sport, we won’t see him again. He’s already been retired.
The first races I watched were Secretariat winning the Triple Crown. I’ve always joked that it’s been all down hill since. Well, thanks to Zenyatta, that has finally changed.[/QUOTE]
Ditto! Well Said!
No Doededo, Rough Sailing, the horse that fell in broke it’s shoulder fell in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf,which was one of the earlier races on the card.It happened right before another horse Atta Boy Roy was pulled up after the Breeder’s Cup Sprint with an injury.I saw Rough Sailing fall,it was NOT good.
Queen Z’s Future
I think that the Moss’s should hold off on putting Z in the breeding shed and instead put her in the show ring – hunters, jumpers, even (eegads) eventers. She would love a new challenge and isn’t ready to have a baby. She could become the poster girl for repurposed racehorses. They could put her in training with one of the BNTs and track her progress on her website.
Well, also, Blame was at home at Churchill Downs and had never lost a race there. If any horse was to beat her it was him and this was a factor…
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/videos/watch/B518EA92-0938-43EE-9AA2-D7871AACD9AB
Poor Mike!! 
Z may have lost one race, but she WON the hearts of millions. She ended the race closing in on Blame. Most importantly she had a safe trip and we can continue to admire her in the future. Oh, the possibilities!
What a mare! She has a piece of my heart forever.
Bloodhorse.com interview
The Bloodhorse.com interview brought tears to my eyes. Zenyatta ran an amazing race and would no doubt have beaten Blame in another 2-3 strides. Mike Smith undeservingly takes all the blame for her loss and it breaks my heart. She’s am amazing horse who didn’t have the perfect trip and overcame all of it to run second by only a nose. They are both stars in my book!
