You know, a few weeks ago, I was so mad at Jess Jackson and NTRA President Alex Waldrop, for having meetings concerning a potential 3-race series between Zenyatta and Rachel, and no one from Zenyatta's camp present to represent her. But now, the way this is shaping up, Jackson and Waldrop are almost "COMICAL" to me now. They're like "AMOS and ANDY," one's a steppin, and the other one's a fetchin. LOL. Jess Jackson talked up Rachel Alexandra and did all that "networking" to make sure she had the votes needed for 2009 HOY. All the talking done, mind you, under the assumption that Zenyatta would never return to the track, so there'd be no way to prove him right or wrong. A proposed 3-race series between the two, LOL, give me a break. I'd just be happy to see you show up with your "the greatest thing since sliced bread" filly at Oaklawn on April 9th. I'd say most of the rest of racing fan's across this country feel the same way. Time to put up or shut up Jess. Once again, you've let that big mouth overload your ass. LOL.
Isn't it ironic? Two days ago I confirmed by e-mailing Nalia-Jean Meyers, sports editor of the New York Times confirming that they had done a story stating that Jess Jackson was looking for some "wiggle room" to get out of racing Zenyatta at Oaklawn on April 9th in the Apple Blossom, with Jackson saying that he would prefer for Rachel to race Zenyatta a little later in the season. Ironically, 2 days later on this web-site, and on Thoroughbredtimes.com, Steve "Ass"mussen has concerns about her fitness. What a total crock of B.S. Can't have it both ways boys. Can't tout you filly as being the "greatest thing since sliced bread" and not show up to race the mare that many, myself included, feel was robbed of 2009 HOY. Spineless move on Jackson and Assmussen's part. Either that, or she'll show up for the Apple Blossom, get her ass dusted by Zenyatta, and they think they'll have a legit excuse for her losing the race. No excuses boys. Put up, or shut up. It's that time. The Moss's did the racing world a favor by bringing Zenyatta back to race as a 6yr.old. They, like the rest of racing fans across this country want to know who the better of the two is, one way or another. Why else would you bring a 6yr.old race-mare that's 14 for 14 lifetime, a 2-time Breeders Cup winner in two different divisions, and the only female race horse to win the B.C.Classic since the inception of the race in 1984, except to settle this matter? If Rachel Alexandra dodges Zenyatta in the 2010 Apple Blossom Invitational, they should take that trophy that's inscribed 2009 Horse of The Year, and put a new inscription on it that says 2009 Joke of The Year. Truly Pathetic, IMO.
Just today, after watching Misremembered win the 2010 "Big Cap", I was sitting pondering the likely upcoming return of Zenyatta in a week in the 2010 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita. I don't think anyone would argue that Santa Anita has been Zenyatta's most successful and lucrative race track. Provided she's as fit as the web-sites keep insisting that she is, I doubt the likelihood of her getting beat in that race. But given that she could have retired at her zenith, at the absolute mountain top for her, which was 14 for 14 lifetime, a 2-time Breeders Cup champion in two different divisions, and the only female thoroughbred to win the Breeders Cup Classic since the inception of the race in 1984, I really think Jerry and Ann Moss want the world to know that even though she didn't receive HOY honors for 2009, they want to prove on the track who the better filly/mare is. I just hope that the race happens, so we'll all know one way or another. But if Zenyatta has another undefeated season, or even a tremendous season with a loss, I wonder if given her size, stamina to run all day long, and her natural ability to close like a "runaway locomotive" if when she finally does go to the broodmare shed, if her offspring won't perhaps be the first in history that the broodmare giving birth's genes are even more important than the champion sires genes are?
After a very disappointing 9th place effort in the Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes won by Beethoven on 10-17-09, and a better, but still disappointing 4th in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf won by Pounced on 11-2-09, Awesome Act put it all together today at Aqueduct to win the 2010 Gotham Stakes in convincing style. The 3yr.old son of Awesome Again will make his next effort in the 2010 stanjames.com 2000 Guineas on May 1, 2010 at Newmarket. His effort today in the Gotham, could translate into a potentially good run in the 2000 Guineas. IMO.
Good to see another John Shirreffs trained horse doing well. Neko Bay ran a pretty solid 2nd in the "Big Cap" to the winner Misremembered. I do agree with Rossington though in that I'm really disappointed with Loup Bretons effort finishing 11th. Loup Breton is usually a pretty solid performer and generally lands a lot closer to the money than 11th. As to what to make of St Trinians running 6th, she's raced extremely well since coming to the U.S., especially at Santa Anita. Maybe she should consider continuing to just tackle the fillies. But I guess you really never know how well your filly will fare against the boys until you try. St Trinians may have gotten her answer to that question today. I do, however, expect her to keep running very well against other fillies and mares. JMO.
I'm sure glad I laid off betting on this one. I'm not sure I would've bet Crisp to beat Blind Luck in the Santa Anita Oaks or not.
Golden Sword, in 2009, raced for most of the racing season in the shadow of horses like Sea The Stars, Rip Van Winkle, Fame and Glory, and Mastercraftsman to name a few. But in the races that Golden Sword competed in over in Ireland and Great Britain, you could tell by watching him race that there was some potential for him to become a really good colt. He's since started his 2010 racing season at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai with a very game 3rd place effort in the Dubai City of Gold. He actually took over the lead late in the race, but Golden Sword's stamina just didn't quite hold up this time. So he settled for a show effort. But I really think it's just a matter of time before this colt's ability leads him back to the winners circle again.
Since he won the 2008 Irish Derby at Curragh in Ireland, Frozen Fire has become a colt that truly has lost his way. He's a horse that's not only struggling to get a Graded or Group win, but a win of any sort. This was a colt that was racing well enough in 2008 to beat Casual Conquest and Tartan Bearer, both top class thoroughbreds, in the Irish Derby, but every since, hasn't found the winners circle. He was a well beaten 7th in the 2009 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He's since, most recently, been shipped over to Dubai for the 2010 racing Carnival where he's already been well beaten in a couple of races at Meydan Racecourse. One of them being the Dubai Racing Club Gold Cup, where Frozen Fire raced at the back of the field for most of the race, and then absolutely went "flat to the boards" when he tried to start any kind of run to catch eventual winner Sabotage. He has yet to hit the board in any of his races at Meydan in Dubai. I'm not a trainer, so I don't really know what this horse may, or may not need to change in his training. But this is a colt that since winning the 08' Irish Derby is desperate for a Stakes win of any kind. JMO.
One of the most impressive colts at the 2010 Carnival in Dubai has been the 4yr.old Allybar. As a 3yr.old, he had three starts all on the turf. and all in France. With 1 win, 1 place, and 1 show. Since traveling to Dubai in 2010, he's had three starts all over the Tapeta surface at Meydan Racecourse. First, beating Presvis on 2-5-10 in the Al Tayer Motors Trophy Handicap. Then, in Round 2 of of the Al Maktoum Challenge on 2-18-10 beating 2008 Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House. Most recently, on 3-4-10, in Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge, in a race that featured both Cavalryman and Vodka, Allybar raced literally pinned against the rail as his only way through to grab 4th. But the photo for 3rd and 4th was so close, that it was initially announced that Allybar had beaten Mr. Brock for 4th. If this colt would have had any space at all to get through other than being stuck against the rail, I think it's possible he may have gotten up to win this race as well. Allybar, while in Dubai, has shown a lightning quick turn of foot in all three of his races. It appears as though Allybar is going to have a very successful Carnival before all is said and done. But don't count this colt out from moving on to bigger and better Graded and Group Stakes victories in other countries around the world as well in the 2010 racing season. JMO.
In his first race as a 4yr.old, and if I'm not mistaken, his first race since the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Desert Party looked like the horse that soundly beat Regal Ransom in the 2009 UAE 2000 Guineas. He took to the inside, stalking the pace and opened up on the field to win the 2010 "Mahab Al Shimam" at Meydan racecourse in Dubai. An impressive return to the races for a colt that before being sidelined by injury after the 09' Kentucky Derby, looked to have a bright racing future ahead of him. IMO.
