Informed Decision

pozzulirulz · i heard on espn radio that rachael will be named · 58 days ago

sidechoke13 · rachel 103 zenyatta 99 · 58 days ago

Rossington · I take nothing away from Rachael Alexandra. She's a remarkable filly that's accomplished remarkable thing's that your average filly just doesn't get done against the boy's. But that said, this is how I break down the debate, and this is just my personal opinion, I speak for no one else but myself. While Rachael has looked amazing against males, Jesse Jackson is careful to pick races where only about 2 or 3 real tough contenders are in any one race she run's against males. Zenyatta dove right into the deep end of the pool. First time ever against males, first time ever at 1-1/4, defending her undefeated record, and against one of the most loaded with talent male field's assembled all year. She faced, she raced, and she won overcoming all of these obstacle's. I kind of feel like Rachael took the easy path at Saratoga this summer when she was working extremely well and had a choice to run against Summer Bird, Quality Road, Hold Me Back, and Kensei in the Travers and took the easier race in the Woodward facing very little other than Macho Again who is 20-6-6-0 lifetime, and Bullsbay. Or even moreover from a different point of view, if the Breeders Cup Classic would have been run back east on conventional dirt at Churchill Downs, Belmont, Monmouth, or Saratoga, take your pick, and you ask Jesse Jackson to race his filly against 8 Grade 1 winning, and most multiple Grade 1 winning males, plus Zenyatta would he have put her in the race doubtful. Even on dirt this field had more competition than Jackson is comfortable with in racing Rachael against males, imo. I think it would take her racing another 5 or 6 races to compete against every male that was in this race. Every one had R.A. already penciled in as HOY before the Classic because most of the people who cover horse racing gave Zenyatta little to no chance of winning the Classic. After the way she overcame the delay at the gate, broke on the wrong lead, and was last for a good bit of the race, then to explode in the stretch to go by Gio Ponti, which is not an easy task, not only did she win, she won impressively. IMO, if Zenyatta is denied HOY after her performance on Saturday, and Rachael as well was welcome to be in that starting gate, it will be absolutely CRIMINAL and will FOREVER be a DARK STAIN an the members of the thoroughbred racing industry who make the HOY decision. Remember, this is JMO. No one elses. · 126 days ago

ruby · This is an interesting debate, but I'm not sure why it is a close one. Rachel was exciting, but Zenyatta beat the best on Championship Day. End of Debate. · 126 days ago

Rossington · I really enjoyed this year's Breeders Cup race's, highlighted by Zenyatta's remarkable win in the Classic. But this really was a weekend that showcased a great deal of female talent. Other than Zenyatta, the next biggest performances for me over the weekend were Informed Decision winning the F&M Sprint, Goldikova defending her Mile title, and Life is Sweet winning the Ladies Classic. Of the male's, I think Conduit repeating as champion in the B.C. Turf sticks out the most to me. A very classy and competitive horse that will have this championship as a great caper to a great career. But I'd also like to throw a shout out to a couple of 2nd place finishers. In the B.C. Turf, I thought Presious Passion would run himself out of the race but he showed a ton of heart digging in a taking Conduit to the edge and hanging on for 2nd against two very good horses in Dar Re Mi and Spanish Moon. Also, imo, enough can't be said about the game performance that Gio Ponti put up in the Classic. Even though losing to a superstar in Zenyatta, Gio Ponti looked as tough over the pro-ride surface Saturday as he has in some of his turf races. So prop's to Presious Passion and Gio Ponti for their terrific efforts on Saturday. · 129 days ago

Rossington · I say now or never for Zenyatta. If she had been entered in the Goodwood Stakes, Gitano Hernando or not, she could have won that race. There really wasn't much there to beat, imo. MTB who hasn't won a race since the Ky. Derby, Colonel John who runs well on the surface but is a bit overmatched in the Classic, Informed and Parading, whom neither have ran to par for some time now. So with Sea the Stars now retired, I say let Zenyatta run against the boys. Quality Road or Summer Bird are neither proven on the surface. Of the American entries, only Einstein may give her trouble. So let her run, so what if she finished 3rd to Rip Van Winkle and Midshipman. No shame in that. · 155 days ago