Zenyatta has accomplished more this year than Blame did. She should be the one who is crowned Horse of the Year and maybe Older Female Horse too. She deserves it.
***Sharon, Liberty Racing Stables***
How can you say that? He won bigger races AND beat her head to head! HOY is not a popularity contest, its about this years campaign, and once again the Moss's chose to take the safe road and got outperformed. Its just a shame that only once did we get to see what this wonderful mare was truelly capable of! Here's a great article from the Bloodhorse about just that: http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/thoroughbred-bloggers-alliance/archive/20...
Zenyatta deserves Horse Of The Year. Don't forget, she beat, Blame once, so they're even. One win each against each other. I think the poor break caused, Zenyatta to be further back ( 21 lengths) than, Mike wanted her to be. I think it's ridiculous to state that her connections dodged competition. Ya know, they (the other horses) could have come to, California But, they chose not to. Hell, they say, Zenyatta's afraid of dirt. Can the same be said of them? They're afraid of synthetic?
Zenyatta ran three times on dirt and won twice, losing only by a head on that third try. And what an exciting race that was. One more jump past the wire, she took over the lead. Two great Classic races. Horse Of The Year goes to, America;s horse, Zenyatta.
When some folks say she (Zenyatta) dodged competition, aren't they aware of her win in the Classic last year against boys? Aren't they aware of her coming out of retirement to face the great, Rachael Alexandra? She didn't dodge anybody. Poor argument.
Btw, I think, Mike Smith rode the horse as good as any jockey could have under the circumstances. I know he blames himself for loosing, but I don't. At least from what I know now. I'd like to hear more from, Mike Smith, my favorite jockey.
they were supposed too... but Rachael retired already and zen is supposed to retire after the breeders cup... and I do think that mike is to blame.. my opinion... if he would have moved her a bit sooner and if he didn't try to go up the middle and got blocked though not for long... I think she would have won.. just my opinion.....
Well, ya know, Sheri, even grand daughters are welcome to their opinions. LOL When I saw her 21 lengths back at the 1/2 mile pole, I knew her work was cut out for her and, Mike.
Considering that she would have that usual wall of horses to go around as they turned into the stretch. She ran one hell of a race as she always does. I told many before the Classic, including our forum, that if I was the owner, I would retire her now and let her retire undefeated.
I agreed with her owner, that , Zenyatta would still win the Horse Of The Year honors. Of course, this was just our opinions. I still feel that she has a great chance to win that honor. Now that hse has that one loss, I wouldn't mind seeing her again. That's not going to happen though. I see that, Mind That Bird has retired after his B.C. attempt..
The Horse was caught in traffic at the home turn otherwise she will have won, no doubt still a champion horse
WOKE UP BREATHING, IT'S A GOOD DAY
Zenyatta should be horse of year not only because of her winning streak---She should not have lost the last race--Sorry to Mike Smith but it was his fault she lost!!!!
First of all, Zenyatta never raced against Blame before, so they are not even.
Second, if winning the BC Classic is grounds for being HOY, why did Zenyatta not win HOY last year when she demolished the boys in the BC Classic? Because HOY is very subjective and is at the whim of the voters. Do you rememember when Awesome Again was undefeated and won the BC Classic, defeating horses like Skip Away and Silver Charm -- was he HOY of the year, no!
Blame was a good horse, but he was trounced by Haynesfield in an earlier race, losing by more than a head -- it was four or five lengths, I believe. Zenyatta only lost one race by a short head and, in my humble opinion, she should have won. If I were a subjective voter (No, I am not a voter), I would vote for Zenyatta over Blame.
Speaking of Zenyatta, have you seen the YouTube video (mentioned by Blood-Horse and USA Today) where Zenyatta races against all-time greats and beats them? This was a HRF race so it was good publicity for the company. I would like to see this race as a pre-built race that we could buy. Anyone else in favor of this?
Lastly, does anyone have any idea when the 2010 race files will be ready? I hope soon, especially since we never got Zenyatta in the 2009 race files.
I stand corrected.Mangani, thanks for pointing out my error. I didn't have the past performance record of, Zenyatta in front of me. Sorry for the error. I must have mistaken, Blame for another horse. I still think, Zenyatta will win, HOY. And should win. HOY. JMHO
HEY!!!I think that we should look a little harder at the details. I think some of you all have overlooked the true horse that deserves HOY. Look at some others also. I know there is a better horse then Blame and Zenyatta. But I ain't tellin' cause it's best to figure it out and realize, hey! it's the underdog.
Ok, there is Uncle Mo, unbeaten 2yo colt, and Awesome Feather, unbeaten 2yo filly, but it is rare for a 2yo to get HOY, especially when you have such standouts as Zenyatta and Blame. Poor Quality Road doomed his chances when he lost 2 of his last 3. Goldikova was awesome, but winning only one race in North America is not going to get her HOY. Blind Luck also lost 2 of her last 3, so she will get 3yo filly, but not HOY. Lookin At Lucky was too far back in the Classic to garner many HOY votes, 3yo colt, yes. The sprint runners were not overwhelming. Steeplechase is wide open this year with no standouts. Any others to be considered?
Create a race with Zenyatta in mind. perhaps a purse of $3,000,000, or thereabouts. Have the distance be the classic 1 1/4 miles. Dirt, or synthetic. Santa Anita is replacing their synthetic surface and going back to dirt, imported from, Argentina.
I'd love to see such a race, back here in California on real dirt. There's always been too much controversy on the newer synthetic surfaces. A win here would be added insurance that she gets the well deserved, Horse Of The Year award. I'm not sure where the cut off date would be to have such a race considered for the award. As far as I know, Zenyatta isn't actually retired as of this post. At least, I haven't heard anything. I don't think it's etched in stone that the Breeder's Cup Classic was the end of her career.
Zenyatta is officially retired now and will stand in Kentucky. We will miss you, Zenyatta and wish you well at the breeding farm. I'd like to see them bring you back whenever there is a big parade and have you do your special dance. Wouldn't that be nice. Sine you're from Caliofrnia, the Rose Bowl parade would be a good parade to start. Hope my dea catches on.
Well said soundofrum
ALSO i can't wait for Zenyatta's Foal to come! I wonder who will be the daddy, anyone got a clue or know who they want the foal's sire to be? I want A.P Indy or Dynaformer
One suggestion I've heard is, Giant's Causway, because that's the same cross that produced European champion and classic winner Sharmardal. This is hearsay. I read this tonight. Zenyatta's connections haven't officialy said yet. There will be lots of suggestions, I'm sure. Geez, how bout, the horse that just beat her in the Classic? See, I've alreday forgot his name. That's why, Zenyatta deserves Horse Of Year. Who's ever going to forget her. Not me.
I stand corrected, Mangani. Thanks for pointing out my error. Zenyatta has never beaten, Blame. An error on my part. I didn't have the past performance records of, Zenyatta in front of me. Sorry for the error. I must have mistaken, Blame for another horse. I still think, Zenyatta will win, Horse Of Year. And should win, Horse Of Year. JMHO To the other member that caught my error. I'm sorry. It wasn't fact. It was nothing more than an error. These things happen.
Hi,
That last posting was NOT mine -- you already acknowledged mine and I understand completely. We are all human and we all make mistakes. But I, too, feel Zenyatta should win HOY. As I pointed out, past BC winners do not automatically become HOY -- Zenyatta last year, Awesome Again (who was undefeated and beat all the top contenders), etc.
Mangani
I believe the HOY debate is overblown. Zenyatta will receive the award. Having said that MY HOY is Blame.
I'm with you, my friend. Blame may have raced less this year, but her beat class horses. Including Zenyatta. Up to the BCC [Just like last year] She only beat Allowance fillies that did not have a G1 to their name. Yes she was good for racing, but this is 1 year. Not a whole career. Blame -Hopefully- Will win HOTY.
Zenyatta should be Horse of the Year. She had a bit of a bad break, and look at the comeback she had in the BC. She only lost by a couple of inches. Had she had about ten more feet, she would've easily edged Blame out.
Blame should be HOTY.
1) Blame won 3 open G1 races and beat 12 grade 1 winners in those wind. Zenyatta won 5 G1 vs FM and beat no G1 in the races she won.
2) She was beaten in a fair race.
3) HOTY should go to the best horse in that year and Blame deserves it. Is a shame if he does not win.
4) Zenyatta's should have been a HOTY in her career, but Rachel and Blame had better campaigns than her during these past 2 years. Rachel in 2009 and Blame 2010.
5) She deserves a career achievement eclipse awards, just like an honorary HOTY!!!!
Take care
THERE IS NO DISCUSSION !!!!!
THE MISS "Z" , BY NO DOUBT....... SHE IS A PHENOM AS A RACE MARE.
IT IS A SHAME THAT SHE COULDN'T RACE 1 MORE YEAR FOR THE FANS.
THERE AREN'T ANY CHAMPIONS IN RACING ANYMORE. THIS IS ONE OF MANY MAJOR REASONS WHY RACING ISN'T POPULAR ANYMORE.
P.C. Callender
Zenyatta should win HOY, no matter what. She could of beat Blame easily. Just one more stride and boom, she wins. If she would of raced him again she would win. Zenyatta all the way for me.
Btw. I can't help imagining Zenyatta's Foal to be like the next Triple Crown Winner and maybe a super horse. But I know that's probably not going to happen, but still, Im still thinking Triple Crown Winner.
Zenyatta is outstanding. No doubt about that. But HOY isn't a lifetime achievement award. Blame had the better year against tougher competition. Also, more importantly, he beat Zenyatta heads up in a clean run race. And from what I remember, I don't think Blame ever let her by even after they crossed the wire during the run out.
Zenyatta didn't pass Blame at the end of the race because Mike Smith stood up in the stirrups right after the wire, otherwise Zenyatta would have blown right by Blame...
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