This past weekend, the two finalists for 2009 Horse of the Year, the two great females of the sport, the two stars of the game ran. Both won in their own signature way. Both delivered just want their fans wanted: a victory.
Rachel won with a sterling effort, sitting just outside the leader and spurting home with ease to win by ten & a half lengths under wraps at the end.
The next day, "the mare, the myth, the legend" Zenyatta continued her marvelous streak of perfection alive for another day, as she put in her typical devastating late kick to just get up over St. Trinians in the Vanity Handicap.
But this post is not to celebrate their respective victories. This post is a call to action to the fans of both sides. I do not know whether i should be the one to say this, as who am I but a simple fan. But i feel that is necessary for someone to speak up before it is too late to change the situation. Before, between and after the victories, there was a multitude of back-and-forth between the fans of the two horses. But it was not your typical tit-for-tat like you would see between fans at a bar debating who was better. This was a bare-knuckle brawl. Teeth were shown, attacks thrown, and all left with their thirst for blood unquenched.
But why? Why do the fans from each side feel the urge to attack the other horse? Why do they resort to nonsensical arguments? Why is it that one side cannot say that they believe their horse is better without the other saying that is nothing but "crap", then launching into a vicious attack about the other one's credentials. I have witnessed both sides do this time and time again. Is this the example you wish to show new fans? Is that the goal, to proselytize the new fans in this way, converting them into bitter, sniping fanboys unwilling to give any respect to a horse who is a serious threat to their favorite? What happens after their horse retires? Will they care about the sport to stay with it, or will they just move on? Will the actions of more than a few fans turn off those who might care about the game?
One of the main reasons I point out these questions is that it is not just the average fan who is doing the bashing. People who have a voice in the industry, people whose views are respected by others are doing it as well. People who should know that their voice carries weight and that they should be careful what they say. There have been numerous instances where people in the media have openly bashed one horse or the other. Whether on air, in print or across social media, these attacks are damaging to the sport. They may personally feel that Horse "A" is better than Horse "B", but to state it by negatively speaking about the other horse with such vile can do nothing but harm. By "negatively promoting" the horse, they are hurting the very game the care about.
What it worse is that the negative aspect of this rivalry between these horses is so vicious not because of the horses themselves, but more from outside factors. The horses have never faced each other, and likely will only face each other once, if ever. So the fans are left to find other ways to compare the two. This is where the "outside" hatred seeps in. It is not primarily where they reside, as many of the rivalries of this type in the past were, but what surface they run on. Rachel Alexandra resides east of the Rockies, where the surface is of the main tracks is (predominately) dirt. Zenyatta resides in southern California, where the surface of the main track is synthetic. This is a major problem, because most people are "for" or "against" synthetics. This is true no matter where the person resides.
The people who dislike synthetics need someone, something, some horse, to project their anger towards. Zenyatta, with her undefeated streak and flashy deep-closing style, proves to be the perfect target. She became the manifestation of every that was wrong with the synthetics. So all of the bad-talking about synthetics became bad-talking about Zenyatta. This further fanned the flames of hatred since the owner of Rachel Alexandra is a known opponent of synthetics. People used his stance as a reason to hate on Zenyatta. People who are a proponent of synthetics have taken up for Zenyatta, regardless of whether they truly believe the statements they are saying about the horse or not.
Both sides have their most vocal of fans dominating the conversation, making it more and more partisan with each day. This is preventing people who like both equally from even commenting on one side or the other, for fear of reprisal. Both horses have fans who take wild swings against the other, just to start the flame wars anew. "Team Rachel" is not afraid to snipe at any moment, and neither is "Team Zenyatta". Each side has gotten so touchy that even a factual statement, that is not meant as an insult in any way, has caused a fight to break out. I have witnessed forums go nuts with hatred over someone making a comment like "Rachel was the first 3 year-old filly to win the Woodward ever" or "Zenyatta did not break the North America consecutive win record", both of which are factual statements. Both sides will massively overreact to anyone questioning anything about their horse, whether the statement is truth or pure hyperbole, such as "Rachel ran the best three year-old season ever" or "Zenyatta has run the best overall campaign ever", both of which are subjective statements at best.
I admit that i am guilty of devaluing one horse over another, and even starting a flame war or two. But i do not play favorites. I may love both of these horses, but i have no problem pointing out the deficiencies in each side's resume. (The lack of travel, the quality of their competition, the avoidance of certain races) But I don't do it at the expense of the other, and i hope that other side of the conversation can admit that their horse has similar flaws. Honest discussions rarely lead to permanent hard feelings.
What i am trying to get across to everyone, and what i hope you take away from this, is that we all love horses. We all love the game. But sometimes we let our emotions get the best of us and ruin what a great time we live in, in which we have two wonderful, once in a decade - maybe once in a lifetime - horses running at the same time. There is no need to bash one to praise the other. Just cheer for both, respect both and take pride that you witnessed both of them run.
Showing posts with label Rachel Alexandra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rachel Alexandra. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Kentucky Oaks Card Stakes Selections - Building the Budget for Saturday
As the racing world prepares to turn to Churchill Downs on the 1st Saturday in May, the Friday card anchored by the Kentucky Oaks serves as more than an appetizer for the main course of the Derby. This card has full fields and 6 stakes in all, starting in Race 6, where we are graced with the return of the reigning HOTY.
Race 6: G2 La Troienne S. (10:26 AM PDT) - 1m & 1/16
This compact field of 6 is headline by #4 Rachel Alexandra, as she looks to avenge her loss to begin the season given to her by #3 Zardana. There are two need the lead horses in #1 Be Fair and #5 Unrivaled Belle, who should hook up on the front end. Right behind them should be #6 Distinctive Dixie, who has speed but can rate just off. Rachel should be sitting right here behind these 3, about 3 lengths off. Next will be Zardana about 4 lengths off, with the stone-cold closer #2 Morena bringing up the rear. Rachel, with all of her connections venting a major amount of frustration, opens up at the top of the lane and takes command with an effortless move. She wins as she pleases, with Distinctive Dixie passing the tiring front-runners and holding off Zardana for 2nd.
Selections:
#4 Rachel Alexandra
#6 Distinctive Dixie
#3 Zardana
Race 7: G3 Kentucky Juvenile S. (11:10 AM PDT) - 5 Furlongs
This is a hard race to figure out, as the race is for two-year olds. 5 of the 9 won last time out, while 1 of the others ran 2nd to one of the winners, one ran third and the other two are 1st time starters. While the betting will determine whom is "live", i like #2 Lou Brissie. Among every horse who has run, he is the only one who won from off the pace. He has a good maintenance work and his trainer is a ridiculous 6-15 1st race after the maiden win. His sire Limehouse won the race in 2003. #9 Twelve Pack Shelly is the only horse in the field that has run on dirt, demolishing a field at Laurel in a nice time. The jock follows the filly here in a sign of confidence and she has a good maintenance work in the interim. #7 Nina Fever won in a nice fashion and time has two works and maintains the services of Robby Albarado, who rode three of the horses, all winners, last time out. But she carries the "stain" of the 3f work as her first work back from her race. This blog never plays a horse in the top spot when their first work is 3f, when certain conditions apply. When young horses, anyone could improve quickly, so this is a race to spread. (This will be the subject of a future blog post.)
Selections:
#2 Lou Brissie
#9 Twelve Pack Shelly
#7 Nina Fever
Race 8: Grade 3 CD Turf Sprint (12:04 PDT) - 5 Furlongs (Turf)
I'm going to take a chance on #9 Formidable here. Last time out, in his first ever race on turf, he won in good time after ducking in at the start. He has great speed but does not have to be on the lead. He's had two good works in the interim and Jose Lezcano strings along. At 12/1 on the morning line, this looks like a live longshot. #7 Starfish Bay won in race horse time last out, is the fastest horse in this field and runs well fresh. A nice complement of works for this Pletcher trainee stamp him as one to keep an eye on. #3 Chamberlain Bridge is the class of field, but could be vunerable 2nd off the layoff. Moralist, Silver Timber and Central City are others to consider.
Selections:
#9 Formidable
#7 Starfish Bay
#3 Chamberlain Bridge
Race 9: Grade 3 Alysheba Stakes (12:54 PM PDT) - 1m & 1/16
#6 Bullsbay is the defending champ in this race and comes in off a 5 month layoff. He appears to be training well at his home base at Fair Hill. He is hoping for a good pace to run into, as he will probably sitting 5 lengths off the pace. #3 Macho Again is training lights out according to some people with some serious inside info on him. Half of his wins are on this track and has run huge off the layoff before. #8 Flying Private has always been a horse who has never lived up to the hype. But his two races since being out of action since the Belmont have been good efforts. He won first off the layoff, then closed into a tepid pace set by a lone speed horse, who looks to have a nice future, in Total Bull last out. He has two nice works at CD and may have finally turned the corner. Cool Coal Man will try to take the field wire-to-wire, but must deal with Southern California shipper Enriched. This 1/2 brother to multiple grade 1 winner Lava Man will be trying dirt for the 1st time, but will he have the same shipping issues his brother was notorious for possessing?
Selections:
#6 Bullsbay
#3 Macho Again
#8 Flying Private
Race 10: Grade 2 American Turf (1:47 PM PDT) - 1m & 1 1/16 (Turf)
This race might offer one the best values all day with the presence of #1 Setsuko in the field. With all the talk around him not getting into the Derby, his price should be much lower tha it should be. In this blog's opinion, the Southern California 3 year-old Turf division is very weak. The entire meet at Santa Anita, a main track horse would come over to the turf and win. Alphie's Bet, Make Music For Me, Line of David all did this. With this in mind, i say both Setsuko and Alfarabi are tosses. I fear the favorite #4 Lost Aptitude, as he is probably the class of the field, but the 10 week layoff combined with only one published work in the interim prevents me from picking him on top. #11 Workin for Hops has won 3 out of 4 races, never been out of the exacta and can attend the pace. This son of City Zip has won at the distance and comes in with a nice series of works. #6 Doubles Partner cuts back after not lifting a hoof in the Lane's End, gets back on the turf but has only work in the 5 week interim. He's proven his liking for turf and should be sitting mid-pack. With the classic third off the layoff situation, will he make the necessary improvement to win?
Selections:
#11 Workin For Hops
#4 Lost Aptitude
#6 Doubles Partner
Race 11: Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks (2:45 PM PDT) - 1m & 1/8
The feature on the card features a contentious field of 14 horses. The solid 6/5 morning line favorite is #5 Blind Luck. This daughter of Pollard's Vision looks to rally off what is expected to be strong pace. But this blog has never been very high on her and think she is vulnerable. The selection is #3 Quiet Temper finally reverted back to her stalk-&-pounced tactics last time out in winning the Fair Ground Oaks. She has had two steady works, and keeps Robby Albarado, who could have ridden Beautician as well. With her ability to sit off back, she will get first jump on the closers and hopefully hold on. #12 Ailalea is the other Pletcher filly behind Derby entrant Devil May Care. She struggled in first chance at two turns, but with the addition of blinkers and this being her 2nd race off the layoff, she could move up enough to challenge. With 3 nice "clockworks", this daughter of Pulpit should thrive at the mile and an eighth. (A clockwork is when a horse works with the same number of the days in between each work) Others given a shot are: Jody Slew, whose last race was compromised due to her training schedule being compromised after getting cast in her stall days before the race; Evening Jewel, who won the Ashland last out but has never run over a dirt surface; Joanie's Catch, who somehow finds a way to hit the board; and Tidal Pool, who will try to take them as far as she can under Calvin Borel.
Selections:
#3 Quiet Temper
#12 Ailalea
#11 Evening Jewel
There are the picks for the stakes on the Kentucky Oaks card. I'll be back with picks for the stakes on the Derby card some point on Friday afternoon. Until then, good luck and hopefully will be cashing together tomorrow. :-)
Race 6: G2 La Troienne S. (10:26 AM PDT) - 1m & 1/16
This compact field of 6 is headline by #4 Rachel Alexandra, as she looks to avenge her loss to begin the season given to her by #3 Zardana. There are two need the lead horses in #1 Be Fair and #5 Unrivaled Belle, who should hook up on the front end. Right behind them should be #6 Distinctive Dixie, who has speed but can rate just off. Rachel should be sitting right here behind these 3, about 3 lengths off. Next will be Zardana about 4 lengths off, with the stone-cold closer #2 Morena bringing up the rear. Rachel, with all of her connections venting a major amount of frustration, opens up at the top of the lane and takes command with an effortless move. She wins as she pleases, with Distinctive Dixie passing the tiring front-runners and holding off Zardana for 2nd.
Selections:
#4 Rachel Alexandra
#6 Distinctive Dixie
#3 Zardana
Race 7: G3 Kentucky Juvenile S. (11:10 AM PDT) - 5 Furlongs
This is a hard race to figure out, as the race is for two-year olds. 5 of the 9 won last time out, while 1 of the others ran 2nd to one of the winners, one ran third and the other two are 1st time starters. While the betting will determine whom is "live", i like #2 Lou Brissie. Among every horse who has run, he is the only one who won from off the pace. He has a good maintenance work and his trainer is a ridiculous 6-15 1st race after the maiden win. His sire Limehouse won the race in 2003. #9 Twelve Pack Shelly is the only horse in the field that has run on dirt, demolishing a field at Laurel in a nice time. The jock follows the filly here in a sign of confidence and she has a good maintenance work in the interim. #7 Nina Fever won in a nice fashion and time has two works and maintains the services of Robby Albarado, who rode three of the horses, all winners, last time out. But she carries the "stain" of the 3f work as her first work back from her race. This blog never plays a horse in the top spot when their first work is 3f, when certain conditions apply. When young horses, anyone could improve quickly, so this is a race to spread. (This will be the subject of a future blog post.)
Selections:
#2 Lou Brissie
#9 Twelve Pack Shelly
#7 Nina Fever
Race 8: Grade 3 CD Turf Sprint (12:04 PDT) - 5 Furlongs (Turf)
I'm going to take a chance on #9 Formidable here. Last time out, in his first ever race on turf, he won in good time after ducking in at the start. He has great speed but does not have to be on the lead. He's had two good works in the interim and Jose Lezcano strings along. At 12/1 on the morning line, this looks like a live longshot. #7 Starfish Bay won in race horse time last out, is the fastest horse in this field and runs well fresh. A nice complement of works for this Pletcher trainee stamp him as one to keep an eye on. #3 Chamberlain Bridge is the class of field, but could be vunerable 2nd off the layoff. Moralist, Silver Timber and Central City are others to consider.
Selections:
#9 Formidable
#7 Starfish Bay
#3 Chamberlain Bridge
Race 9: Grade 3 Alysheba Stakes (12:54 PM PDT) - 1m & 1/16
#6 Bullsbay is the defending champ in this race and comes in off a 5 month layoff. He appears to be training well at his home base at Fair Hill. He is hoping for a good pace to run into, as he will probably sitting 5 lengths off the pace. #3 Macho Again is training lights out according to some people with some serious inside info on him. Half of his wins are on this track and has run huge off the layoff before. #8 Flying Private has always been a horse who has never lived up to the hype. But his two races since being out of action since the Belmont have been good efforts. He won first off the layoff, then closed into a tepid pace set by a lone speed horse, who looks to have a nice future, in Total Bull last out. He has two nice works at CD and may have finally turned the corner. Cool Coal Man will try to take the field wire-to-wire, but must deal with Southern California shipper Enriched. This 1/2 brother to multiple grade 1 winner Lava Man will be trying dirt for the 1st time, but will he have the same shipping issues his brother was notorious for possessing?
Selections:
#6 Bullsbay
#3 Macho Again
#8 Flying Private
Race 10: Grade 2 American Turf (1:47 PM PDT) - 1m & 1 1/16 (Turf)
This race might offer one the best values all day with the presence of #1 Setsuko in the field. With all the talk around him not getting into the Derby, his price should be much lower tha it should be. In this blog's opinion, the Southern California 3 year-old Turf division is very weak. The entire meet at Santa Anita, a main track horse would come over to the turf and win. Alphie's Bet, Make Music For Me, Line of David all did this. With this in mind, i say both Setsuko and Alfarabi are tosses. I fear the favorite #4 Lost Aptitude, as he is probably the class of the field, but the 10 week layoff combined with only one published work in the interim prevents me from picking him on top. #11 Workin for Hops has won 3 out of 4 races, never been out of the exacta and can attend the pace. This son of City Zip has won at the distance and comes in with a nice series of works. #6 Doubles Partner cuts back after not lifting a hoof in the Lane's End, gets back on the turf but has only work in the 5 week interim. He's proven his liking for turf and should be sitting mid-pack. With the classic third off the layoff situation, will he make the necessary improvement to win?
Selections:
#11 Workin For Hops
#4 Lost Aptitude
#6 Doubles Partner
Race 11: Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks (2:45 PM PDT) - 1m & 1/8
The feature on the card features a contentious field of 14 horses. The solid 6/5 morning line favorite is #5 Blind Luck. This daughter of Pollard's Vision looks to rally off what is expected to be strong pace. But this blog has never been very high on her and think she is vulnerable. The selection is #3 Quiet Temper finally reverted back to her stalk-&-pounced tactics last time out in winning the Fair Ground Oaks. She has had two steady works, and keeps Robby Albarado, who could have ridden Beautician as well. With her ability to sit off back, she will get first jump on the closers and hopefully hold on. #12 Ailalea is the other Pletcher filly behind Derby entrant Devil May Care. She struggled in first chance at two turns, but with the addition of blinkers and this being her 2nd race off the layoff, she could move up enough to challenge. With 3 nice "clockworks", this daughter of Pulpit should thrive at the mile and an eighth. (A clockwork is when a horse works with the same number of the days in between each work) Others given a shot are: Jody Slew, whose last race was compromised due to her training schedule being compromised after getting cast in her stall days before the race; Evening Jewel, who won the Ashland last out but has never run over a dirt surface; Joanie's Catch, who somehow finds a way to hit the board; and Tidal Pool, who will try to take them as far as she can under Calvin Borel.
Selections:
#3 Quiet Temper
#12 Ailalea
#11 Evening Jewel
There are the picks for the stakes on the Kentucky Oaks card. I'll be back with picks for the stakes on the Derby card some point on Friday afternoon. Until then, good luck and hopefully will be cashing together tomorrow. :-)
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