goldikova - Page 2

Mike Smith is beating himself up over the defeat.  He knows that it was in his hands.  Zenyetta would have beaten Blame had she had a good clear path but hey, that's what makes it a horse race.  It was a disappointment but it takes nothing away from her.  She is an awesome animal and Mike Smith is a great jockey.  Shouda, coulda, woulda.  It's a shame she didn't get a fair run at him.  Perhaps a match race should be suggested.  It's possible that the crowd could have thrown her too.  Those idiots just could not shut up even when asked to be quiet.  I've never seen such a turn out for a horse but then I wasn't around when Sea Biscuit ruled. 

Debi,

I totally agree with not beating up on Mike Smith, just please, don't ever suggest a 'match race'.  They sound romantic but they're brutal to the two horses pitted against each other.

If anything, inexperience defeated Zenyatta today, nothing more and nothing less.

RLHAR
I disagree.
Zeyatta broke late out of the gate, lagged behind and then it looked like her jockey waited to long to get her into the position she needed to be in. She had a  HUGE distance (some 20 lengths) to make up for. When she was  finally able to run or  was asked to run it was to late. She should have never been allowed to lag back as far as she was. Plus no matter how great the horse there are always factors working against them. As it is, she is still a legend. To have completed a phenomenal race career and come out sound and healthy is a testament to her greatness.  I can't wait to see her babies.

C

 clc

We'll have to agree to disagree I'm afraid.  Mike Smith was used to letting Zenyatta run her own race as it had always worked before and Zenyatta's style was to drop back to last place and then come from behind at the end.  It worked against lesser foes as she's been beating up on back in CA but when you had a combination of serious pace and then a strong runner like Blame, she ran up against genuine competition.

I'm not saying she still couldn't have won, if she knew to *run* the way Goldikova did.  I think Zenyatta was by far the best horse in the race but inexperience proved her down fall.

As for her babies, we'll see.  With the exception of Personal Ensign, great race mares do not seem able to pass their genes on to their offspring.  Examples being, Genuine Risk, Winning Colors, Azari.  There is actually an interesting study in thoroughbred racing about mares who put it all out on the track, vs your Blue Hens.

Great race, expecially the last 200 yards!

Zen was the fastest horse there....if she had just a bit more time, it would have happened for her. Mike also said that she wasn't keen on having all of that dirt flung into her eyes/face, something she wasn't used to.

Blame is a good horse and deserved the win. An exciting weekend of racing for sure!