I continue to back him as an icon and call him a superhorse, despite the aversion here to the liberal use of the term. Anytime an athlete is the best of his/her time, he/she\'s a superstar. This guy is fresh cream, he\'s gourmet, and at a mile that would make him an eight-course meal (hungry rbee?--keep the cholesterol down as your bloodpressure will surely spike while you\'re backing Biofuel).
He beats a pretty good field by 10--maybe without getting hit.
Leamas
Leamas--
Brilliantly fast and lightly raced, the prototypical 21st Century thoroughbred
superstar.
QR needs to beat RA and Zen before you can underscore \"best\".
Where\'s Cole Porter when you need him?
He\'s right here, Alan. I happen to be old enough myself to know who Cole Porter is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6oGytt0Hiw
Leamas
richiebee Wrote:
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> Leamas--
>
> Brilliantly fast and lightly raced, the
> prototypical 21st Century thoroughbred
> superstar.
>
> QR needs to beat RA and Zen before you can
> underscore \"best\".
This is precisely why I said \"of their day.\" Racing is different now, stars are different. I don\'t know about you, but I don\'t want to have a Babe Ruth/Barry Bonds argument or engage in stuff like: \"Marciano coulda given this Tyson bum a lesson...\"
Healthy QR puts those two away. If TG is a measure of speed, who has the highest fig? I think based on TG figs alone, QR wins by several lengths..
Leamas
Leamas
Yeah, that\'s Cole alright. Could imagine him penning lyrics about Whirlaway or Citation back in the day. Good job.
There was an indie film about Cole Porter 10 or 12 years ago. Kevin Kline starred as Porter. Can\'t remember the name of the film, but if you\'re a fan and haven\'t seen it, you might rent it--it was well done.
Leamas
richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Leamas--
>
> Brilliantly fast and lightly raced, the
> prototypical 21st Century thoroughbred
> superstar.
>
> QR needs to beat RA and Zen before you can
> underscore \"best\".
He also needs to beat Summer Bird (beat him twice) and Blame.
I give Warrior\'s Reward a chance today. The extra furlong is a definent plus. But QR is a deserved favorite and definently will be tough. You have to wonder what a neg-7 will do to an animal though.
Ok, I know QR is a very nice horse and a 1 turn mile is about perfect for him. But 1-9?
Good Luck to those trying to beat him.
133.11 is pretty fast and he did tap him once to put away MM. He successively and successfully put away LGC, WR, and MM without, it seemed, much urging. He waved the whip and then finally tapped him in the last pole, but I didn\'t see a horse under any duress.
He\'s the top,
he\'s the Louvre museum,
he\'s the top,
he\'s the colliseum...
Leamas
flat mile,
they\'ll never beat him,
10 furlongs,
he\'ll never see \'em....
Not sure what you meant. If you mean he would only win by more, agreed.
If you mean by that that he can\'t sustain his speed for another two furlongs, I submit that for a horse who can run a -7 fig at 9 furlongs, he could stop and look for daisies in the infield in the last furlong just to make sure that the rest don\'t get lost wondering if they missed a turn somewhere. Healthy horse wins BC classic convincingly. Anyone know if they offer HOY future odds?
Leamas
QR gets a rather generous Beyer of 114.Track was very fast after the early cheap races,fig a little lofty,imo.With the weight spot,TG for QR could be app neg-4 1/2ish.
No doubt who is the fastest dirt horse in the world right now.
Mike
Quality Road has thrown down the gauntlet to both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. Rachel still needs to regain last years HOTY form, but when and if ready, will probably again take on the big boys before the BC, like last year.
Zenyatta has to stop re-beating up on the same Cal fillies and face QR in the Classics at Saratoga, Churchill and Belmont, as well as Santa Anita, while both are in form. Thoroughbred form is fleeting and racing needs its top horses to meet whenever they can and not wait for a Nov BC showdown that may never happen - think last year.
Bob
Bobphilo wrote:
\"Quality Road has thrown down the gauntlet to both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. Rachel still needs to regain last years HOTY form, but when and if ready, will probably again take on the big boys before the BC, like last year.
Zenyatta has to stop re-beating up on the same Cal fillies and face QR in the Classics at Saratoga, Churchill and Belmont, as well as Santa Anita, while both are in form.\"
Was one of those \"gauntlet\" thingies around during last year\'s BC Classic?
One has to wonder what would have happened had Quality Road not freaked out and got scratched at the gate of last years BC Classic. Was he ready that day as a 3YO to do what he did this year as a 4YO, and would it have been enough to beat Zenyatta? We\'ll never know for sure, which makes a meeting of these 2 this year all the more exciting and important.
QR has the clear edge on the numbers, though Z has shown she can throw whatever number she needs to win. Should be interesting to see if she can match QR if they go head to head. I\'m guessing no.
Bob
\"One has to wonder what would have happened had Quality Road not freaked out and got scratched at the gate of last years BC Classic. Was he ready that day as a 3YO to do what he did this year as a 4YO, and would it have been enough to beat Zenyatta?\"
Shirreffs was ready to find out what QR would do. That\'s why Shirreffs threw down the gauntlet. Then his horse won the BC Classic. Seems like a decent place for a gauntlet, the BC Classic--though I guess one can throw one down anywhere.
bobphilo Wrote:
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> Quality Road has thrown down the gauntlet to both
> Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. Rachel still needs
> to regain last years HOTY form, but when and if
> ready, will probably again take on the big boys
> before the BC, like last year.
>
> Zenyatta has to stop re-beating up on the same Cal
> fillies and face QR in the Classics at Saratoga,
> Churchill and Belmont, as well as Santa Anita,
> while both are in form. Thoroughbred form is
> fleeting and racing needs its top horses to meet
> whenever they can and not wait for a Nov BC
> showdown that may never happen - think last year.
>
> Bob
Traveling from California to NY/Kentucky is a lot tougher than traveling along the East if you are already stabled there. Quite a bit more mileage.
I\'m not defending Z\'s campaign or anything like that. But it seems like some of you think all you need to do is hitch her to the back of a pickup and she\'ll be there in a couple hours.
She doesn\'t need to criss cross the country 3 or 4 times to satisfy anybody. The year is still young, let\'s see where she goes after the Vanity.
Let\'s see:
Rachel has won a bunch of Grade 1\'s at 8 1/2F, 9 F, and a mile and 3/16th.
Zenyatta has won a bunch of Grade 1\'s at 8.5 F, 9 F and that little 10 F race.
Exactly who has QR beaten, and what prestigious races has he won in the last 2 years that are more than a mile?
He pales in comparison to these 2 super accomplished females.
Maybe he turns the tide this year, but they\'re both still good enough to make him run a little bit.
Is QR fast? Damn right he is!! I hope he stays healthy, I hope Rachel can approach her \'09 greatness and I hope Zen\'s age doesn\'t catch up with her. Then we\'ll have ourselves a horse race.
I don\'t see him running away from Rachel at any distance up to and including 9F.
With Z, I watched his body language last year in the walking ring the first time QR laid eyes on Zenyatta.
Unless he\'s been retired, we shouldn\'t forget Summer Bird if he returns.
He owned QR last year as I recall.
Agreed P-Dub. The year is young.
If they chose to keep her out West, let\'s hope we see her in the Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. No reason to run the same campaign as last year.
No question about that MG.
Cannot run the same campaign. Gold Cup would be a nice spot with Rail Trip among others competing. A trip east doesn\'t necessarily have to be against males. A big Saratoga GR1 against females works too.
bobphilo Wrote:
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> Thoroughbred form is
> fleeting and racing needs its top horses to meet
> whenever they can and not wait for a Nov BC
> showdown that may never happen - think last year.
>
> Bob
I disagree. I think that seeing these 3 meet for the first time in the BC Classic
might give me one that lasts \"More Than Four Hours\", with apologies to the winner
of Belmont\'s 7th race yesterday.
You say that \"thoroughbred form is fleeting\", which is difficult to argue with.
But how does this statement apply to a horse who runs huge numbers and then seems
to need a minimum of 90 days to recuperate?
P Dub.
Could you head over to Hollywood on Saturday and have a talk with Sheriffs.
It looks like \"same campaign\" is the right answer. Entering Zardana as a rabbit for the Vanity and then looking for a \"three-peat\" in the Hirsch (i wonder if Phil Jackson gets royalties). Yawn.
Bringing Zenyatta back was a complete waste of everyone\'s time, and about as unsporting a campaign for a champion horse as I have ever seen.
She deserves better.
http://www.drf.com/news/article/113743.html
MonGuy:
I think this year Racing fans will get the big match up at the end of the year:
Quality Road, with one or maybe two races before the BC Classic. Rachel Alexandra
will have maybe 3 more races after Saturday. If she gets back in form, maybe one
of RA\'s BC preps will be against males. Whoever is the 3YO of the moment will
also add flavor.
My opinion is that TeamZen has only one obligation to Racing fans and to their
mare...to get her to the BC Classic to defend her championship.
I do not have any problem if Shireffs/Moss think the best way to accomplish this
is to race her in relatively easy spots, shipping her sparingly, and allowing her
to race and train over surfaces on which she has remained sound.
Let\'s hope that QR stays sound.
Would have love to see her chase down Rail Trip in the Hollywood Gold Cup.
How about Rachel facing four garbage can-etts,wow! Should have just retired her.
She should be running in the Phipps this weekend. No excuse there either.
Who cares? We have the Stephen Foster and a great turf race at Monmouth. Either one would be a nice ROTW.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MonGuy:
>
> I think this year Racing fans will get the big
> match up at the end of the year:
> Quality Road, with one or maybe two races before
> the BC Classic. Rachel Alexandra
> will have maybe 3 more races after Saturday. If
> she gets back in form, maybe one
> of RA\'s BC preps will be against males. Whoever is
> the 3YO of the moment will
> also add flavor.
>
>
I think Blame beats them all this year in the BC. I thought he would be a force after he won the Clark last November. His comeback win was very easy also..We\'ll see this weekend.
MonmouthGuy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> P Dub.
>
> Could you head over to Hollywood on Saturday and
> have a talk with Sheriffs.
>
> It looks like \"same campaign\" is the right answer.
> Entering Zardana as a rabbit for the Vanity and
> then looking for a \"three-peat\" in the Hirsch (i
> wonder if Phil Jackson gets royalties). Yawn.
>
> Bringing Zenyatta back was a complete waste of
> everyone\'s time, and about as unsporting a
> campaign for a champion horse as I have ever
> seen.
>
> She deserves better.
>
> http://www.drf.com/news/article/113743.html
My racing buddy and I were thinking about driving down to shi%^$ box (our name for that lovely racetrack) to watch Z this weekend so if I see him I\'ll ask him whats up with that.
Seriously, I am torn between the same old campaign (don\'t like it) and what Richiebee stated about planning a campaign aimed specifically at the BC Classic. I want to see her challenged. But as I stated previously, its a lot easier said than done shipping her between the East and West Coasts. Going from NY to Kentucky or anywhere between the major Eastern tracks is easier than flying across the country. And again, nobody is stopping anyone from shipping to California to face her.
The only obligation the connections really have is getting her to the BC Classic. If this campaign ends up with a successful defense of that race, then any criticisms of the campaign won\'t really matter
If QR wins Whitney and Woodward by a pole and Rachel \"gets well\" I would not be surprised to see a Ladies Classic showdown vs RA become the ultimate target for the big mare in 2010.
MG:
You really think QR is going to race 3 times in 90 days?
If he wins Whitney and Woodward by a pole, with imposing TG #s, wouldn\'t
you (as a bettor or as an owner of a competitor) want to take a shot against
him in the BC?
Absolutely.
I want to take a shot at him whenever he runs 10F next, whether it is the JCGC or Classic. However, I think Pletcher is only going to try once.
However, I think I will keep my money in my pocket at 9F. My overall point was that I could see both Z and RA targetting the Ladies Classic as opposed to taking on QR.
Summer Bird was retired last week. - Bloodhorse (http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/57320/champion-summer-bird-retired)
Zenyatta will be running in the Classic at 10f.
If, for some reason, Zenyatta loses her edge in the next 3-4 months, I give her a 5% chance of running in the Distaff. If, at her advancing age of 6, she somehow remains on top of her game, I guarantee you they are not afraid of Quality Road or anybody else at 10f on dirt, especially with the strict testing for the BC.
I can\'t imagine she can put together 3-4 great races this year.
Generally the 6 year olds have to step aside and make way for the 4 year olds.
Another reason they keep her in California is that she is so high-strung she does not ship well.
I don\'t like the way she\'s been training, I don\'t like that she\'s gonna pack 129#\'s again. I hope she wins every single out, but I will begin to play against her just a little because one day she isn\'t gonna fire.
None of us fans are ever gonna be satisfied until we have Rachel and Zenyatta in the same race. Quality Road is out there, but I\'m positive the Zenyatta connections are hopeful that those two mares hook up before one or both call it a career.
Rachel on the dirt against 4 or 5 horses....Zenyatta on synthetic against 4 or 5 horses....where\'s the excitement in that?
The excitement will be watching St.Trinians leaving her in the dust of the Hollywood cushion track.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
Do they even have \"dust\" on that surface?
Probably not. But that\'s OK as long as they have ST at 3-1.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
jbelfior Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The excitement will be watching St.Trinians
> leaving her in the dust of the Hollywood cushion
> track.
>
> Good Luck,
> Joe B.
What does leaving her in the dust mean exactly??
She beats her easily.
IMO, St. Trinians is the best horse Zenyatta has ever faced on a \"dirt like\" surface.
No way I would think the same at Santa Anita or Delmar.
Interesting that the last three to try for 17 (Citation, Cigar, Mister Frisky) did not get it done.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
When most of the important races in the country were run at 3 tracks in 1 state, there was never a question about shipping your horse around to prove a point. Unless you had a horse on the West Coast and you had to ship to NY.
Now that the scene is so geographically diversified, it\'s harder for an owner to discriminate between the choices. On the one hand, he has to make money to survive in the business. On the other hand, his ego can get easily bruised by critics who only want to know which horse is the best in some category.
I\'m wondering who among the Zenyatta-campaign critics have owned racehorses? Not just a fraction of a horse, but the whole thing? I can\'t believe you would criticize Jerry Moss at all if you had the burden of supporting a barn day-in and day-out. If you can win a string of purses easily, THAT\'S WHAT YOU DO.
Nice call on Blame. Hope you loaded up on him today.
drbillym Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice call on Blame. Hope you loaded up on him
> today.
After that Clark last year I had a feeling he was going to come back really good this year. HE went 3W and 3W and ran down a loose on the lead favorite who was going through slow splits..I think he\'ll continue to get better..
If everyone stays healthy (Blame, RA, Z and QR) and maybe throw in that UAE derby winner (Musir)- don\'t laugh- and I think we\'re gonna have some fun this year.-DISCLAIMER-I don\'t think anyone can beat QR up to 9Fs. So I\'m looking to beat him in the Jockey club and BC Classic.