Countdown to the Cup: Beyond the Sea...a Bird

And the BC organization has no one to blame but itself. Remember when we all had a collective moan when it was announced that the BC would be held at Santa Anita two consecutive years? Our disdain for this idea is justified. I agree wth mdracing...what do the connections of Rachel have to prove. The only risk to the HOY honors is running in the BC and getting beat. If you owned/trained Rachel, what would you do?

And the BC organization has no one to blame but itself. Remember when we all had a collective moan when it was announced that the BC would be held at Santa Anita two consecutive years? Our disdain for this idea is justified. I agree wth mdracing...what do the connections of Rachel have to prove. The only risk to the HOY honors is running in the BC and getting beat. If you owned/trained Rachel, what would you do?

The HOY door is closed. Summer Bird and Zenyatta will finish a distant 2nd and 3rd behind Rachel regardless of what happens in the Cup. The award is for Horse of the Year, not horse of one race. I am bummed that Rachel is skipping the BC, but that decision should have little bearing on the HOY debate.

Medlocke, I think you've hit the nail right on the head. Rachael Alexandra opened this door as to whether or not she should be HOY by shunning the Breeders Cup races. I think if Summer Bird or Zenyatta either one (provided Zenyatta doesn't lose the Lady's Secret) win the B.C. Classic, that horse should be named HOY. I think the only way R.A. should win it outright, since she's not going to race in them, is if both Zenyatta and Summer Bird are defeated in the Breeder's Cup.

HOY is probably a done deal. Summer Bird has already been beaten by Rachel, and she went undefeated this year, so she will get HOY and he will get 3yo colt honors. Zenyatta went undefeated last year and won the Ladies Classic, but she still lost HOY to Curlin.

The '09 HOY chase is more than racetrack accomplishment. Rachel captured the imagination of the public and created a ton of buzz, and that, coupled with her stellar record, will get her HOY honors, regardless of what happens in the Cup.

Most Rachael supporters seem to think skipping the Breeders Cup races still entitles her to HOY, but I disagree. There's still some racing to be done. Take Summer Bird, aren't wins in the Belmont, the Travers, and the JCGC just as impressive as wins in the Preakness, the Haskell, and the Woodward. And if he were to win the B.C. Classic, it should be a done deal. But if Summer Bird loses the Classic, what if Zenyatta wins the Lady's Secret, running her record to 13-0 (tying Personal Ensign), and then won the B.C. Classic against the best males in racing, ending her season or maybe her career at 14-0. Shouldn't she then be considered in the conversation. Even if she goes the Ladies Classic route, provided she goes in undefeated, wouldn't beating a very talented group like Careless Jewel, Icon Project, Swift Temper, and Music Note get her at the very least co-HOY honors. I know Sea the Stars and Rachael Alexandra are both extremely gifted horses, but shouldn't horses looking to be crowned HOY be looking to run in championship caliber races against championship caliber horsers and not dodging them?