I took that quote from Bloodhorse. I agree that it was insanely low! $60,000 is more realistic.
Zenyatta, HOTY for sure. A true athlete that overcame the gate debacle and finished as cool as a cucumber.
What class:yes:
Poor Quality Road was not a happy horse with the gate guys. I hope he is okay he looked like he banged himself up on the gate.
Actually, I think that article misprinted. According to the interview with Mr. Moss in the ESPN broadcast and the auction history on Zenyatta’s page on the Bloodhorse site, the auction price was $60,000. I think it light of her performance today, it doesn’t matter what they paid for her! :yes:
[QUOTE=War Admiral;4486466]
Awesome race! I’ve seen the replay but it did not show the whole thing w/ Quality Road. Can someone fill me in as to what happened?[/QUOTE]
He didn’t want to load. I think there was only one back after him and he just threw a fit. A few rears, kicking out…scary stuff.
Then they blind folded him. They were able to almost walk him all the way in (with the blindfold still on) and he went ballistic. He was kicking and kicking with both hind feet. The jockey jumped off. You could hear the clanking of shoes (I guess) against the gate.
Then instead of backing him out (I don’t think they could have) he pushed through the gate. Still blindfolded, he started to panic. He had one handler that had a hold of him but QR was just running in circles in a bit of a panic.
Someone else was able to get to his head (lots of people were trying) and got the blindfold off. He calmed down somewhat after that.
It was ugly and scary.
They ended up backing all horses out and re-loading all over again.
It was a bit nerve wracking for everyone I’m sure. QR has a reputation for not being an easy loader but I’m sure this was probably the worst he’s ever been. I hope he came through it unharmed.
Rachel Alexandra will be horse of the year. It’s a shame that you can’t give it to two horses, but it will go to the horse that has accomplished more this year, won more group Is, set records, beat the boys three times, and beat Summer Bird by the larger margin (on a track that he liked much more than the synthetic surface no less). She won twice after setting fast fractions on surfaces that she didn’t like against the boys (Preakness and Woodward). She was a tick off the stakes record in the KY Oaks and off the track record in the Haskell (on a sloppy track). She broke other stakes records and margins of victory. Her Oaks performance was one of the most brillant performances I’ve ever seen and she was never asked to run. She is like Secretariat. Only she likes to win more.
No doubt that Zenyatta’s performance was sensational. It made me cry. It was a historical moment that will go down in the history books. She is one of the greatest of all time. But so is Rachel. Summer Bird had not been working well on the synthetic surfaces according to my eyes and one of the best known and highly regarded clockers on the west coast. Before Summer Bird started racing, he was in the very capable hands of a trainer named John Sadler. Sadler sent the colt east. He didn’t think he was very good because he showed nothing on the synthetics. He thought that the colt may would improve on the dirt. Like Curlin, he finished fourth off of class alone because he didn’t run his best in the Classic. He wasn’t grabbing the track efficiently in the stretch at Santa Anita. He hadn’t been in his workouts either. He didn’t run as well as he did in the Haskell.
There is no use pretending that Zenyatta will be horse of the year. It was written in the stars before the BC Classic was ever ran. But, we have something to look forward to. If Rachel stays sound, they are all running for second in the BC Classic at Churchill Downs next year. And I have a feeling that she will win by more than a length. Watch her Oaks, and you may agree.
Also Quality Road was lame before they ever tried to put him in the starting gate. He had looked awful all week. It was a blessing that he was scratched and I can’t believe that they wanted to run him anyway. He had no shot. He wasn’t 100%. He hasn’t ever liked to go in the starting gate, but he had never acted quite like that and there was probably a reason.
HOTY !!! No way RA wins after that incredible race. Plus, I think Pletcher sould get days for the worst training job in history, that is unless QR went to the gate EVERYDAY for the last month!
[QUOTE=Delaware TB;4486658]
HOTY !!! No way RA wins after that incredible race. Plus, I think Pletcher sould get days for the worst training job in history, that is unless QR went to the gate EVERYDAY for the last month![/QUOTE]
Good lord if they gave days for bad training jobs you couldn’t fill more than a few races in the entire country.
[QUOTE=Laurierace;4476027]
Are you sure? When was she in KY long enough to be mated to AP Indy and why has no one ever spoke of this before? I am sure it would have been huge news.[/QUOTE]
Yes, sure. I don’t know whether it was her trainer or owner, trainer I think, who said this in an interview. It was on HRTV. He said she was bred twice and didn’t catch, nothing wrong with AP Indy, probably she was too fit. He said Medaglio D’Oro next spring after a rest.
I hope it isn’t her–a shame not to get some nice foals out of her. Of course they could just race her a couple years more. But if she rests too long and still doesn’t get in foal, that wouldn’t be good.
Well I ate more than my fair share of crow today after talking down Zenyatta all year with my friends.
Her owners stepped up, took a chance and let the big girl put an end to speculation about what she may or may not be able to do running with the boys. Major kudos for that risk of spoiling her perfect record should she have pulled up short. Helluva race, and helluva mare. It would be hard to justify keeping her running, playing the odds of her getting injured. But as a race fan it’s even harder to think of her retiring to the broodmare herd instead of watching her charge down the track.
Do the great mares ever reproduce themselves? Or even an echo of themselves? It will be interesting to see where they go from here, and if it’s to the breeding shed, what they come up with as crosses for the big girl.
As for HOTY… I’m beyond glad that one doesn’t rest with me. There were two standout mares this year. Strong cases can, and will, be made for either. What a heck of a year it’s been for racing eh? I’m just glad they both ended the year sound and healthy. And wait with baited breath to see what next year brings.
That was a fabulous race. I cried- I’ll admit it. I’ve never been as choked up watching a race. You just wanted her to win for some reason.
I love Zenyatta- always loved her pre-race ‘stalking’. I’ve been fascinated by her since her campaign last year. She knows her job and not to many racehouses cross the finish with such enthusiasm- like she’s telling the crowd- bring it on!
In comparison to RA- both are superfillies. I just can’t compare them because they haven’t contested against each other- AND they both have beaten the boys. On an observation though- RA performance in the preakness seemed to take more out of her (I’m certain MTB would have caught her in just a couple strides) than Zenyatta who still seemed very fresh coming out of the classic.
Like all truly great athletes you wish they never stopped competing but I think her leaving now is best for her because honestly I’d be crushed if something happened to her on the track.
Magic!
[QUOTE=Horseforthecourse; There is no use pretending that Zenyatta will be horse of the year. It was written in the stars before the BC Classic was ever ran.[/QUOTE]
Hi All,
There is no doubt in my mind that Zenyatta will be HOTY. Written in the stars for RA? Maybe until today…then the Gods waved their hands over the sky and changed the history of horse racing.
Zenyatta beat the best colts, geldings, and horses the world had to offer this evening. Her run was pure magic, a bit of lyrical poetry that left us mere mortals gasping for air and wondering if we will ever see such a performance again.
When push comes to shove, RA skipped the Travers that had a tough, tough field and ran instead in another stakes. Zenyatta didn’t back down from one of the finest fields ever assembled for the Breeders Cup Classic - she and her team went full speed ahead. Kudos to all of them for sticking to the plan and letting the world see what a real horse can do.
There are just a handful of races through the years that have showcased such class. Off the top of my head I’d have to include Secretariat’s Belmont, Sunday Silence vs. Easy Goer in the Preakness, Affirmed and Seattle Slew engaging in a speed duel while Exceller soared past to victory, Genuine Risk taking the Derby, John Henry vs. The Bart, and several of Ta Wee’s, Forego’s, Dr. Fager’s, and a few other game horses’ great days.
But, I think all pales while watching and re-watching Zenyatta and Mike Smith get the job done today against all odds.
I am thankful that I’ve lived long enough to see the miracle that was shared with us today. I think RA is a wonderful horse - however, the tide has turned.
God Bless Zenyatta!
And, I hope Quality Road comes back A-Okay. I’ve been a huge fan of his and my deepest regrets to D, C, and E who have been a big part of his life. I know today was rough for them.
Hallie I. McEvoy
Racing Dreams, LLC
That was a fabulous race today. Love Zenyatta, SO thrilled she won!
However I think Rachel had the toughest year, and rose to the top on every occasion. Personally I feel if she does not win, it will be because people voted against Jess Jackson. Which would be a travesty.
I also think it’s pretty wonderful that the two leading horses are female. 
Wow. Just wow. What Zenyatta did today is beyond words. She won that race so easy, she’s such a magnificent horse. She had every excuse to fail, but she’s simply so much better than the rest. I’m just grateful I was able to witness that.
I love this video, it really sums it up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kauPGFkzjvM
Rachel was nothing short of fabulous winning the Woodward, but she’s only three and Ausmussen stated she was tired afterwards. Zenyatta has barely been tested. I’m glad the two never met up, though I have no doubt the big Amazon would have won. They both deserve HOY, but I’d also say that about Easy Goer & Sunday Silence or Affirmed & Alydar.
What a year for racing!!! Thank you God :D.
I think that regardless of who gets HOTY, 2 of the greatest fillies of all time are running right now. It will be a crying shame for years and years that they will never face each other.
Boy, does she not have the biggest personality ever? Prancing around before the race like a queen among peasants. She’s just regal.
I too am sorta glad she and Rachel never met. It just seems fitting that both had perfect seasons.
What a great race!!! 
I think everyone would agree that both girls are rock stars. Would the powers that be award a dual HOY? To me that would be the perfect solution.
When I read that they bought her for $6,000 I immediately thought, at that rate, I could have a couple of race horses too! :winkgrin:
Does anyone know where there is footage of them going to the start?
Found it… It’s not pretty.
http://www.youtube.com/user/CagneyLamaze
Zenyatta was AWESOME!!! Congrats to her and all her connections.
Seb
I agree. And remember, the best owner, despite his quirks, is Jackson. If he had not bought RA, she’d never have raced in the Preakness. If RA had not raced and beaten the boys, Zenyatta’s owners would never have pitted her against the colts. I hope both stay sound and race against each other in a big stakes race against the colts also. RA should be horse of the year. But Zenyatta did a great job yesterday and I hope she continues to race against the colts.
