So here we are, the Eclipses will be announced tonight. I gave who I think will be the winners when the finalists where announced, except for Horse of the Year. The past couple of months I've been going through the 3 finalists: Blame, Goldikova and Zenyatta. Orginally I was going with Blame because he defeated Z. Then I went to Goldi thanks to her third win in a row in the Mile. Then I decided on Z because well she's Z.
However last week when I was getting ready to write a post onto why Blame should be HOY, but I can't. I know it's supposed to be Horse of the Year and not Horse of the past Three Years, but Zenyatta may have just enough to finally get HOY. While Curlin lost twice and Rachel was undefeated, Blame actually has a weaker camapagin then the both of them combined. Look at who Zenyatta defeated this year compared to Blame. With the exception of 2 (Haynesfield and Quality Road), none of the horses Blame defeated came back to win. Zenyatta meanwhile defeated Switch who finished second to Dubai Majesty in the F/M Sprint and won the La Brea to close out her 3yo season and St. Tritians who gave Zenyatta the toughest race to date was done for the year after her hard battle. Also Zenyatta once again won every major Southern California female race, along with the Apple Blossom which would have been the setting for the expected match-up between Rachel and her.
Blame also had the hometrack advantage, which is the same thing that happend to Z in 09 when it was held at Santa Anita which is near what was her true hometrack Hollywood Park. I think if Mike Smith had moved two seconds earlier, she probley would have been the Classic winner.
I would not be suprised if Blame wins, but I also would not be suprised if Goldikova wins either. That being said, my pick for Horse of the Year is Zenyatta.
It's going to be another close one this year!
ReplyDeleteIn complete agreement, if Mike Smith hadn't had her so far back for such a long time she would have won the Classic.
Go Zenyatta!