A True Debate: Zenyatta or Rachel!!

[dr j]

Some of you may realize that horseracing has had an incredible year. In a sport in which heartbreak is only a moment away at any time ( Eight Belles) and takes more than it's share of lumps from the "general" public, the devotees live for years like this. 2009 will take it's place with the Golden Era of horse racing - which is ( believe it or not!) the 1970s! This year we were blessed with not one, but two horses that would have been great in any era. Think about Ruffian or Secretariat, Affirmed and Alydar, Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid. Right up in that league are Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra.

It is rare to have one in a decade, let alone in the same year.... and even more rare, they are females. Who have beaten the boys.

So from now until the end of the year the debate will rage as the voters who have the huge job of voting for the Eclipse Awards ( racing's year end awards) decide who to vote for Horse of the Year. In any other single year either one of these girls would have swept the voters.

Unless they meet on the track in the future ( won't happen this year if ever) this will be the toughest race either have ever faced.

If you are bored and would like to argue a point for either side ( like a true debate) here are a ton of articles that will detail why each has such a valid claim.

Horse racing news and headlines - Equidaily Racing Journal

Girl Power indeed!!!

PS: I have not made up my mind yet.....

[dr j]

Here's a little synopsis to start out:

Filly and mare neck-and-neck for Horse of the Year
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PICK A WINNER

Undefeated mare Zenyatta's unprecedented victory against males in the 26th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday has fans debating whether she or 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra will emerge as Horse of the Year. How the two compare for 2009:

Rachel Alexandra Horse Zenyatta

8-for-8 Record 5-for-5

$2,746,914 Earnings $3,330,000

3 Wins vs. males 1

65 lengths Combined margin 6 1/2 lengths





2009 BREEDERS' CUP

Day 2: Zenyatta gives Classic performance



Day 1: Life is Sweet takes Ladies' Classic



Preview: Zenyatta tests perfect record



Synthetic skepticism: Safety debate rages



Schedule: All races, notable entries



More stories: Breeders' Cup index




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By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY
ARCADIA, Calif. — In a debate that is testament to one of the most memorable seasons in Thoroughbred racing history, Horse of the Year voters must decide which of two females was more remarkable in beating the boys.
Zenyatta had the last word as she emerged as the first of her gender to win the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday. The 5-year-old mare handled one of the deepest international fields in the 26 runnings of the Classic when her breathtaking late run overtook Gio Ponti by one length before 58,845 jubilant fans. Twice Over failed in his bid to add to Europe's record six winners in 14 Breeders' Cup races. He finished third. Zenyatta paid $7.60, $5.60 and $3.80 as the 5-2 favorite.

The sweeping last-to-first charge on Santa Anita Park's Pro-Ride surface made for a powerful statement as Zenyatta extended her brilliance to 14-for-14 in what was almost surely the last race of her unblemished career. Her next stop is the breeding shed. "She's Horse of the Decade, by far," said jockey Mike Smith. "She'll go down as one of the greatest horses of all time, believe me."

Zenyatta established a prominent place in history. Three other females had tried to break through in the demanding 11/4-mile Classic without coming closer than Jolypha's third-place in 1992.

The record books also will reflect that Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, a 3-year-old filly, came along at the same time. And the latter stamped herself as one of the great Thoroughbreds as well.

In an eight-race tour de force, Rachel Alexandra left other fillies far behind to earn an opportunity against colts, beating them in the Preakness and Haskell Invitational. She later became the first of her sex to beat older males in the Woodward Stakes on Sept. 5 at New York's Saratoga Race Course.

Principal owner Jess Jackson, believing Rachel Alexandra had already done enough to be viewed as the best and skeptical of the all-weather surface at Santa Anita, decided to give her a well-deserved rest, ensuring his filly and Zenyatta wouldn't meet.

Washington Post columnist Andrew Beyer favors Rachel Alexandra due to her more extended body of work. Her eight wins came on seven different dirt surfaces that took her from Arkansas to New Jersey.

"Rachel Alexandra spent the year taking on the toughest challenges for 3-year-old fillies," Beyer said, adding, "It's just hard to know how to weigh synthetic performances. American champions have historically been determined by dirt races."

Zenyatta swept her five starts this year on synthetics without leaving California. She raced once on dirt in her career, ruling the Apple Blossom Handicap by 41/2 lengths at Arkansas' Oaklawn Park on April 5, 2008.

Jennie Rees of the Louisville Courier-Journal says Horse of the Year voters should take time to reflect on the pair's brilliance. "What Rachel has done is fantastic, but this deserves debate," she said.

Jerry Moss, Zenyatta's owner, acknowledged the difficulty of picking between the filly and his mare.

"I think it's a tough one," he told members of the media. "You guys are going to have to figure it out."

[intheknow]

Have to go with Rachel. Zenyatta sounds to Arabic for me.

[CrystalAZ]

Originally Posted by dr j

Washington Post columnist Andrew Beyer favors Rachel Alexandra due to her more extended body of work.

I don't know why I giggle at this, but I do.

This is so far off my radar, I had never even heard of any of it. The only horse on your list of champs I have even heard of is Secretariat.

Therefore, I defer to you. Whichever horse you wish to win, I wish to win too.

Crystal

[dr j]

Originally Posted by intheknow

Have to go with Rachel. Zenyatta sounds to Arabic for me.

Ahhhh!

Zenyatta is owned by Jerry and Ann Moss. Moss is the "M" in "A & M" records ( the A being Herb Alpert).

One of A&M's most successful artists is the The Police. Zenyatta is name after the 1980 album "Zenyatta Mondata" by The Police. It actually has no meaning... although it does now!

[rae]

Dr. J, love your signature. Love the song!

I don't keep up with the thoroughbred world. However, I do enjoy quarterhorse racing.

[Pearls]

Are girl horses faster than boy horses because they have a lighter structure and less weight to move? I'm horse clueless too. Aren't the Saudis big into American horse racing? Do they ship their horses over, or just buy horses here? How long does it take to ship a horse? Don't they get seasick?

Love your ethusiasm for the sport J!

[rae]

Pearls, I have no idea if biology gives them them an advantage or a disadvantage. But, there are some races that are handicapped races. They weigh the jockeys and then add on the necessary weights, so they are all roughly carrying the same amount of weight.