Note: This was written Saturday night, I've since calmed down quite a bit after avoiding both HRTV and TVG the past few days.
Wow! Zenyatta and Zardana, what a race by these two this weekend. Zardana upsetting Rachel Alexandra down at the Fair Grounds and Zenyatta finding a hole at the last minute to avoid the upset in at Santa Anita. Looks like dispite the retirement of Life is Sweet on Saturday, Team Shirreffs had a great day.
Of the two, Rachel was expected lose since she wasn't ready, and she did lose to the right horse (Zardana was the only other graded stakes winner). I'm a bit annoyed that she was rushed for one race. Also what if she's not HOY this year? She had one of the greatest 3yo seasons for a filly in a long time, and she'll still go in the HOF. Ferndinad lost his first race as the defending HOY, so did Kelso four of the five years where he was the defending HOY. Golikova takes a start before starting her winning ways as well. She's not the first HOY to lose her first start, and she won't be the last. So hopefully this doesn't deter Team Rachel, and it will be a huge learning experience for her. Keep in mind she hadn't lost since the Pocahontas in 2008, that was her final time she was riden by Brian Hernadez. As for Zardana, if anyone had to upset her, I'm glad it was her. Congrats to Arnold Zeltcher who gets a bit of revenge (Gabby's Golden Gal was run off her feet by Rachel in the Oaks last year), David Flores (who ironicly was Zenyatta's first rider, and wouldn't have riden Big Z if Mike Smith hadn't had to go out of town) and of course John Shirreffs.
Zenyatta, what can I say she's great! Had Mike Smith not found that hole, we could be talking about a huger upset then Zardana. I do think that if she gets a horrible ride by Mike in the Apple Blossom, she will lose.
However in reading some of the things that happend after Rachel lost, struck a nerve with me (and I appoligze in advance for saying this, but I need to get this off my chest). Apperently there was some cheering at Santa Anita after Rachel lost, yes I'm sure they where happy that Zardana won, but really? Everyone goes, thats rivalry talk, it's healthy for a rivalry. Really? What rivalry? The last time I checked they never met. I personally think a rivalry is formed once they meet a few times (Affirmed and Alydar, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer, more recently Indian Blessing and Proud Spell, Proud Spell and Music Note, Empire Maker/Peace Rules and Funny Cide, Funny Cide and Evening Attire etc.). Also apperently the Moss' basically called Zardana, the "better horse". Really? Today she was the better horse, but she has a long way to go to be mentioned in the same breath as Zenyatta AND Rachel. Also they don't own her.
I LOVE Rachel AND Zenyatta. However both of their connections are not the greatest. This is why I wanted to see a Co-Horse of the Year, that way everybody would be happy. I don't love horses for their connections (although Sackatoga horses are the exception ;)), I love horses for them. In a way Rachel Alexandra to me will be the horse I started following because she had Rachel in her name (afterall Rachel is my first name), and Zenyatta will be Balance's kid sister (I loved Balance when she was running). I love them for being well them. I hope in the future they meet up.
What about the Apple Blossom? According to DRF, it sounds like that Rachel will be skipping the race. I think it was more that she isn't going to be ready then that she lost. Hopefully we see her in May for the La Trioanne on the Oaks undercard. Afterall we know she loves Churchill!
The most important thing is that all the horses come out of this race safe and sound! To me this is more important then a win. And personally I'm glad that the buildup and races are now over and we can now move onto the rest of the TC season.
Once again I apploigze, but as I say this is the beauty of horse racing, anything can happen. We all have different opinons, but there are times where people don't always respect them. I do hope that if I respect your opinon, you will respect mine. Thank you very much.
And now back to your regularly reg. programming already in progress.
Lets talk about the three Triple Crown preps,
Odysseus got his nose to the wire first in the Tampa Bay Derby over Schoolyard Dreams with Super Saver in third. Uptowncharlybrown pretty much showed that he's a nice horse, but not Derby material. Meanwhile, Rule is the solid #1 horse for WinStar and the #2 horse in the Pletcher barn. Lookin at Lucky also won by a head over Noble's Promise in his first start of the year. My guess is the AR Derby is next for him, and last, but not least Sidney's Candy became the favorite for the SA Derby after going gate to wire in the San Felipe. The biggest disapointed of the weekend: Bell's Shoes ride. It's going to go down as the WHAT WAS HE THINKING? Catagory. She Be Wild scratching was also a disapointment of the weekend.
However the biggest disapointment of them all wasn't what happend to Rachel, and Zenyatta overcoming what was a really bad ride in the long run, is NTRA Live. They should have been better prepared for such a major event. IMO they where the biggest losers of the weekend. I'm willing to give them a benifit of a doubt for today, but if it happens again then... You get the point.
Tomorrow, a review of Sunday night's Undercover Boss episode featuring Arlington and Calder!
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