On the fickleness of racing fans...
If Jess Jackson didn't own Rachel Alexandra, would she be reviled so much by Zenyatta fans? 'Cos they're fucking ruining Zenyatta's victory for me, and it's pissing me off. I've got to stop reading the forums. I wish both mares could have HOTY becase they both deserve it.
That said, I think Rachel has done more this year to earn it despite Zenyatta's brilliance today. I cried too when she finally get herself to the front. But...
* Rachel raced against males, both her own age and older, and beat them three times out of three. Zenyatta beat the boys, too, but she's five and a seasoned campaigner. It's a hell of alot more rare for a 3 YO filly to take on and beat older males.
* Rachel raced at 7 different tracks this year in 6 different states. That's a lot of travel for any horse, let alone a 3 year-old, and a filly at that. Zenyatta raced at 3 tracks, all of them in southern California.
*Rachel made history a number of times this year:
---owns the winning margin record for the KY Oaks (and ran the 2nd fastest Oaks ever)
---first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness
---only horse to win the Preakness from the outside post
---broke the stakes record and winning margin record in the Mother Goose
---one of only 2 fillies to win the Haskell
---ran the second fastest Haskell in history despite being a filly
---the only filly of any age to win the Woodward
---the first 3 year-old to win the Woodward in 15 years
---one of a handful of 3 YO fillies to beat older males in open company
* Zenyatta made history, too, though it pales in comparison to what Rachel has done when you break it down:
---first female to win the BC Classic
---was the first horse since 1977 to win carrying 129 pounds
Does one big win outweigh everything Rachel did this year? Really?
Damn Jess Jackson for not sending Rachel to the BC. And damn Jerry Moss for not letting Zenyatta run in open company all year long when she was clearly capable of it. Bastards.
Please forgive my crankiness.
And how crazy is it that HOTY comes down to a decision between two mares?!
That said, I think Rachel has done more this year to earn it despite Zenyatta's brilliance today. I cried too when she finally get herself to the front. But...
* Rachel raced against males, both her own age and older, and beat them three times out of three. Zenyatta beat the boys, too, but she's five and a seasoned campaigner. It's a hell of alot more rare for a 3 YO filly to take on and beat older males.
* Rachel raced at 7 different tracks this year in 6 different states. That's a lot of travel for any horse, let alone a 3 year-old, and a filly at that. Zenyatta raced at 3 tracks, all of them in southern California.
*Rachel made history a number of times this year:
---owns the winning margin record for the KY Oaks (and ran the 2nd fastest Oaks ever)
---first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness
---only horse to win the Preakness from the outside post
---broke the stakes record and winning margin record in the Mother Goose
---one of only 2 fillies to win the Haskell
---ran the second fastest Haskell in history despite being a filly
---the only filly of any age to win the Woodward
---the first 3 year-old to win the Woodward in 15 years
---one of a handful of 3 YO fillies to beat older males in open company
* Zenyatta made history, too, though it pales in comparison to what Rachel has done when you break it down:
---first female to win the BC Classic
---was the first horse since 1977 to win carrying 129 pounds
Does one big win outweigh everything Rachel did this year? Really?
Damn Jess Jackson for not sending Rachel to the BC. And damn Jerry Moss for not letting Zenyatta run in open company all year long when she was clearly capable of it. Bastards.
Please forgive my crankiness.
And how crazy is it that HOTY comes down to a decision between two mares?!