Ferrari in the Cul-De-Sac
Zenyatta, all alone out there in California (Charles Pravata)
I’d hardly call Zenyatta’s plans “defending her title”, more like maintaining her undefeated record… although I’m sure those among you who also agree that there’s no reason to challenge her will be pleased as punch with the news of her “conservative plans“.
Zenyatta is likely to have a conventional campaign of major stakes in California through the summer and fall in defense of her title as the nation’s outstanding older female.
Some immediate feedback from twitter resonated with my reaction:
I don’t really understand bringing a mare like that back another year to win THE SAME EXACT RACES.
To me this is the equivalent of driving your Ferrari around the cul-de-sac, and what happens if Rachel Alexandra goes to the Classic? Will they stay in the Distaff division or respond to at least one challenge?
I LOVE Zenyatta… LOVE. But I seriously hope they take her out of the cul-de-sac at least once. There’s always hope that maybe they’re just playing coy… fingers crossed on that one! That or it’s going to be a long boring year of Zenyatta beating Life is Sweet over and over again until the fall.
Posted by dana on May 25 2009
Filed Under: 2009, Zenyatta, Charles Pravata, John Shirreffs, Racing
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Yes, what is the point? You’d think such a campaign would be boring even to her connections. I also love Zenyatta! (see, I can’t even write her name without exclaiming), but do so want to see her challenged this year, whether against males or Rachel Alexandra or at Saratoga.
This quote from Shirreffs slays me:
“The Gold Cup is a mile and a quarter,” he said. “She’s never run that far. It would be an ambitious spot and against the boys? Let’s make it even harder.”
Can’t wait for the “rematch” with Life is Sweet. UGH!
LOL. I told you! I knew that is the approach they would take.
You seem to me like someone who just wants the opportunity to see that girl in person…and I don’t blame you.
Anyone who feels like they have a horse that can beat Big Z can put their horse on a plane and go take their shot. The champion never comes to you, you go to them. Home field advantage baby.
I hate synthetic race tracks. So, anyone who says “we wont go out there because of those shitty race tracks.” More power to them. I agree 100% and maybe it will speed up the process of CA getting rid of those miserable tracks that have been nothing short of a colossual failure.
The ultimate goal for camp Zenyatta is Oct. In order to get there, you map out a plan. Appeasing people is not part of it. You decide the best way to give your horse the best chance at winning the ultimate prize. This is the path they are choosing. It might not make everyone happy, but it is the right one according to the people who know the horse best. Getting a horse to a race, any race, is a challenge in itself. Too many things can go wrong, on any given day. Most of the horses in the spotlight now, probably wont be racing in October anyway.(See Big Brown vs. Curlin. or more recently, I want Revenge, The Pamplemousse, Quality Road, etc)
Kona Gold ran in the BC Sprint 5 times (a record). Go check out his PP’s. He followed the same path to get there every year. If it isn’t broke, dont fix it.
Zenyatta is a great horse. She doesn’t need to face any particular horse or horses to prove it to me. She’s already proven it, just watch her run.
She’s quickly becoming an underachiever if that makes sense.
Damn you nature boy! :)
I definitely want to see her run and will be there for the BC fer sure.
I still stand by the Ferrari in the cul-de-sac analogy though… Kona Who? (just kidding, but you get the point)
Try this one on, you pointed out that you thought the decision to run RA in the Preakness was all ego on the behalf of wine bottles, but don’t you think trying to protect Zenyatta’s undefeated status is equally ego driven? I do. I think she could protect it all on her own, but earning it against some bigger competition than her stable mate (who’s nice btw, just not in the same league).
I won’t “love her any less” if she never gets a chance a to prove that’s she’s one the of greats by defeating any and all potential competition, but I’ll definitely think it was a damn shame and waste of talent.
I agree re: underachiever status… that’s a great way to put it.
Wow, what a great line.
I can understand East Coast horseplayer’s disappointment with the news that Zenyatta will stay in Southern California. But what is wrong with the “best of the east” traveling to face her?
Lets give some credit to Zenyatta’s connections for even campaigning her this year, now you want to plan out the campaign for her?
The Breeder’s Cup is the ultimate goal (and it will be held at Santa Anita), it makes some sense to stay here.
By the way, I would take my chances on a synthetic course any day over that slop that NY has to deal with.
PTP - thanks!
marquez - that’s a fine argument, with the exception of the fact that she’ll be running in restricted races. it’s not like Einstein can run in the Vanity.
No, you are correct that Einstein(or any other male horse) cannot run in the Vanity. I think Zenyatta’s connections are perfectly happy with her being the best filly or mare in the country. I was referring to the best of the F/M coming out to face her.
BTW, interesting blog you have. Nice job.
And that is the sad part to me. In most cases I think that’s a fine position to take (being happy with your filly/mare being top of her division), but I think Zenyatta is something special… she could be the best horse in training period, regardless of genitalia or geography but it seems like we may not ever know for sure.
My dream scenario for her would involve winning the BC Classic (by beating RA) and taking the Curlin route to Dubai, prepping once and then winning the Dubai Classic, retiring a perfect 17-17, tying Pepper’s Pride’s record and beating everyone… EVERYONE. I know, dream on… but I think she can do it!
And thanks! :)
East coast horses won’t ship to Ca. because of the surface. RA won’t even ship to the BC because of this issue. Zenyatta should race at Saratoga and prove how good she really is. I think she should run in and win the Whitney. This years handicap division is weak and there is no better time for her to really stamp herself as an all time great. The Whitney is August 8th. It’s a weak excuse from Sherriffs to claim that it’s too close to the BC. Nearly three months is too close?
this is great stuff. the beauty of the sport. Dana, I am sorry about the ‘ego’ comments. who the hell knows what any of these people are thinking. I have been exhausting myself trying to figure it out lately. maybe we can talk about it in person one of these days.
You never know, plans to keep Zenyatta in CA don’t necessarily mean that she will have a cake walk into the BC. She can get beat on any given day, stranger things have happened.
Jazzngas
Let me see if I got this right; East coast horses will not ship to face Zenyatta because of the surface, so she will have to hop a plane to face them, that sounds really fair.
You say that the handicap division is “weak” this year so Zenyatta should run in the Whitney and prove she is an all time great; by beating up on Grade 2 horses?
Zenyatta is already one of the all time great female horses, and East coast trainers should stop making excuses about the surface.
The Euro horses had no complaints last year :).
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The one good thing about Zenyatta staying in her “division” in SoCal….
It means we get a ‘free square” on 2 or 3 Pick 6 sequences this year. Here’s hoping that at least one of them comes on th e heels of some super-massive carryover situation. :-)
ha! hadn’t thought of that… I rarely play the P6 sequences in Cali, this is definitely a compelling reason to start!
I agree! Even if they run her in the Pacific Classic or the GoodWood atleast they proved she is the best horse in California period. She has got to run in the classic if Rachel runs. The Ladies Classic will be a Zenyatta runaway. I love Zenyatta too, but her connections are holding her back.