2009 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)

ThePixiePoet, I guarantee you that all that lengthy list you laid out as to why Rachel Alexandra should be HOY was done in thinking that Rachel Alexandra would never race Zenyatta in her career. Personally, IMO, to the rest of the racing world, the U.S. must look like a bunch of idiots. Having a race-mare that's 14 for 14 to this point in her career, a 2-time Breeders Cup champion in two different divisions, and the only female thoroughbred to have ever, and probably that will ever, win the Breeders Cup Classic since the inception of the race in 1984. That, and she's still never been recognized as HOY. Truly pathetic on the part of the eclipse award voters. That said, now that Jerry Moss has decided to race Zenyatta as a 6yr.old, we'll find out if Rachel Alexandra should have been voted HOY in 09' or not. Obviously, Zenyatta should be retired, but I think Jerry and Ann Moss want to know as much as racing fans do who is the better filly/mare of the two. I'd be willing to bet, and I'm going to, that in the 2010 Apple Blossom, that Rachel will bolt out of the starting gate, setting blistering fractions, and hope that her accumulated lead will hold up in the stretch. But, IMO, that will be her undoing. About mid-stretch, she'll fade slightly, having ran those 22 second quarters, only for Calvin Borel to look over his shoulder and see that "here I come like a runaway locomotive" closing kick of Zenyatta's coming at them. But by then, it will be to late for Calvin to stop Zenyatta from surging into the lead and crossing the wire to victory. When Macho Again made that big move in the Woodward, Calvin was, as the announcer said, "imploring" his filly for more. Well, Zenyatta isn't Macho Again. She is, however, the best deep closer in racing, male or female, bar none. So Calvin can "implore" for more all he want's. It won't stop the behemoth mare from going right on by his filly. TMO.

Awesome, simply awesome! One of the great moments in Breeders' Cup, no make that, in horse racing, no make that, in sports history!

Even if Rachael Alexandra fan's deny that they've seen a very special horse win the Classic today then they're kidding themselves. These were the very best 3yr.old and older males in the world that Zenyatta beat today. This was a much, much tougher field than any that R.A. has faced yet, taking nothing away from her accomplishment's either. Given the fact that it was Zenyatta's first time against the male's, and all of the very best of them, and the first time ever going a 1-1/4, that can't be ignored. If you take the very best horse's from the 3 male field's that Rachael Alexandra has beaten, put them all together, this field is 10 fold tougher than the best of all 3 of her's. Given that Zenyatta went against all the best first time out, and ran further than she's ever ran to have to beat them, and is still undefeated, she absolutely deserves HOY. At the very least co-HOY.

Zenyatta is indeed the real deal as she rolled from off the past to spank the boys in the BC Classic. Gio Ponti looked home free for a fleeting moment and settled for the place. Oversaes invader Twice Over rounded out the tri. Zenyatta (1st) - $7.67, $5.60, $3.80 Gio Ponti (2nd) - $9.20, $6.60 Twice Over (3rd) - $7 Summer Bird (4th) Colonel john (5th) $1 Exacta - $43.70 $1 Trifecta - $596.20 $1 Superfecta - $3,417 $1 Super High Five - $50,038.30