If Spengler taught us anything it was that with the proton packs it was suicide to cross streams while honing in on a ghoul. The results were disastrous, not to mention the verbal lashing one would get from the other three Ghostbusters — Ray, Peter and Winston. “There’s something very important I forgot to tell you,” Spengler says. "Don't cross the streams... It would be bad... Try to imagine all life as you know it will stop instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light."
Yes, even after those seemingly useless words, there is a point and it is a plea to the connections of Zenyatta to do the right thing: run her in the Ladies Classic.
To run her in the Classic against the boys, who have as much testosterone as Giselle and Perez Hilton combined, would be greedy and potentially fatal to her legacy.
The Moss’s and trainer John Shirreffs must be devising ways that they can wrest the presumed Horse of the Year title away from Rachel Alexandra, the only way possible being to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic. To compete with Rachel’s accolades would be foolish because Zenyatta’s portfolio stands on its own.
She has tied Personal Ensign’s record of 13 straight victories all while remaining unbeaten. Not only that, but she has a chance to retire unbeaten and in that last race break Personal Ensign’s record in bob at the wire. Why wouldn’t you do this?
Zenyatta’s best distance has proven to be eight and a half furlongs to nine furlongs. To ask the Street Cry mare to go 10 furlongs against horses like Summer Bird, Einstein, Mine That Bird and Quality Road — who are just heating up at eight a half — is unrealistic and unfair.
Zenyatta’s pedigree would suggest that she can get the distance, Street Cry having sired Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, but she would be asked to do it for the first time in the biggest race of the year with other horses who are proven at the distance.
Her wild card is that she loves the surface. But will her love affair with Mr. Pro-Ride carry that extra 200-300 yards? With the win streak on the line, she’d better stay home.
Should Zenyatta stay in the Ladies Classic, she will likely win and cement herself as one of the greatest mares of all time (isn’t she already?), a sure-fire Hall of Famer. Should she run in the Ladies Classic, it will not cheapen her legacy, rather it will strengthen it. Her legacy is on a separate track and on a separate tier, albeit a notch lower than Rachel Alexandra’s. Being a bride’s maid, in this case, is no slap in the face.
The worst part, even if Zenyatta won the Classic, it would not lock her as Horse of the Year. She’ll get votes, but she will not surpass a 3-year-old filly who won at Oaklawn, Fairgrounds, Churchill Downs, Pimlico, Belmont, Monmouth and Saratoga while beating sophomore colts twice and the older males once ... on dirt — a minute detail not lost on voters.
Zenyatta, win your 14th race in a row, cement your already Juno-esque legacy, and let us enjoy you for you and Rachel for Rachel. Let there be a two-horse town.
Egon would be proud and breathe a deserved sigh of relief.
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28 Oct 2009 at 10:47 pm | #
“To run her in the Classic against the boys ... would be greedy and potentially fatal to her legacy.
Her legacy is on a separate track and on a separate tier, albeit a notch lower than Rachel Alexandra’s. Being a bride’s maid, in this case, is no slap in the face.”
Actually, even if she came in second or third it would do more for her legacy than winning again in the Ladies Classic, because writers like you would diminish her Ladies Classic win as you do her other races now.
Her jockey Mike Smith has said several times she hit another gear at the wire and could have run farther.
I think the real issue here is the one implicit in your words, “...don’t compete with Rachel Alexandra; keep both legacies on parallel tracks...” It would appear it is Rachel’s legacy you worry about, not Zenyatta’s.
28 Oct 2009 at 10:50 pm | #
Street Cry has produced several male stayers. I don’t know if it means anything but I don’t see any females in his progeny that won at 10 furlongs. I think the best so far is his daughter Princess Haya finishing 3rd at 10f. I’m not an expert on pedigree but that worries me.
I’d put Zenyatta in the distaff too but I think we’re in the minority on that opinion. In 20 years very few will still be belittling her competition. Her legacy will be 14-0 and most of it in graded stakes.
I’m not saying she won’t beat the males but I agree with you - it smells like they’re trying to wrestle HOY from Rachel. That kind of thing often backfires.
29 Oct 2009 at 12:41 am | #
Horse of the Year is for people. The horses couldn’t care less. Nobody outside the racing world cares who got it a year ago. And most racing fans don’t remember who got it 6-7-8 years ago much less 20 (and don’t cheat by looking them up). Undefeated is so much more memorable.
I don’t know if these boys will beat her but it’s a crowded field, first time at the distance, etc. IMO it’s a needless risk in what’s probably her last race.
Zenyatta has always gone to the winners circle after her races. It’s so sad to watch a previously undefeated horse try to drag his or her jockey to the winner’s circle after their first loss. Zenyatta is a big ham, so she will try heading for that winner’s circle even if she doesn’t win.
So CV, I’ll wager that after you see that unpleasant spectacle you’ll rethink your position that it’s in any way good for that proud mare to come in second or third.
29 Oct 2009 at 05:08 am | #
Very amusing article!
Loved it!
I agree with you wholeheartedly!
29 Oct 2009 at 02:16 pm | #
Undefeated horses, especially undefeated horses that have raced more than a year or two, are a rarity in our sport.
Why then are we all clamoring for Zenyatta to throw that away?
She’s a mare! She could run against some of the best mares in the country for two million clams! Careless Jewel, Music Note, and Cocoa Beach aren’t exactly Moe, Larry, and Curly; they’re pretty damn good!
In keeping with the 80’s movie themes, the connections of Zenyatta need to be the reasoned, far sighted “Goose” to the media’s glory obsessed, fly off the handle “Maverick”.
Keep Zenyatta out of the “Danger Zone”, and in my book, she’ll still be “Top Gun”....
I know, I hate myself too…
31 Oct 2009 at 08:27 am | #
Yes, run her in the distaff. I’m curious to see her against Careless Jewel, who just may be too damn fast for her!
eric s.
31 Oct 2009 at 09:48 am | #
Welcome back Brendan, my friend, in the form of The Carryover 2.0.
I’ve read that Zenyatta will be the favorite if she goes in the Classic, and to me that makes her a definite bet-against.
I’m not saying she can’t or won’t win—and actually I would be rooting for her TO win, provided I hadn’t driven to another state and bet heavily against her. I just think first time at 10f and first time against males are two very tall hurdles.
Whichever direction she goes, good luck to her.
And good luck to you.
07 Nov 2009 at 11:19 pm | #
“Zenyatta has always gone to the winners circle after her races. It’s so sad to watch a previously undefeated horse try to drag his or her jockey to the winner’s circle after their first loss. Zenyatta is a big ham, so she will try heading for that winner’s circle even if she doesn’t win.”
Well, you were right about one thing, she sure is a big ham. And as of today, she’s a big champion. So much for the sad sight you predicted.