Breeder's Cup Classic-ESPN-Now=======Go Zenyatta

[virgogal]

[Duer 157099]

1. Freaking amazing race.

I'm still trying to understand her mindset just prior to the race. Clearly she was thinking about something. Was she playing to the crowd? Did she have a beef with one of the other horses that she was trying to settle? Was she showing off? Not used to all the cheering? Just likes dancing? I've never seen her before, never even heard of her before Rachel mentioned her last night, which is why I watched today.

She's an intriguing animal, for sure.

Although during their pre-race walkaround, Blame seemed to be the guy with the calmest most confident manner, from what I saw. And sure enough...

What a helluva race though! I made my dog watch it with me, she LOVES horses, she was whining and talking the whole time. Fun stuff. Animals are the best.

[virgogal]

2. I couldn't believe it when she pulled up at the end. Just blew

my mind.

She did seem a tad twitchy,and I,like you,heard about her from Rachel.

I called my kids and suggested they watch it.

[El Supremo]

3. She just needed another burst at the very end.

Almost did it.

[virgogal]

8. Best race ever.

[Awsi Dooger]

4. Difference between 6 and 5

Or 6 and 4. Zenyatta would have made up that head last year or the year before.

She is a freak but she's not as dominant as previously. Darn shame her legend rested on a race at age 6. All year it's been fairly obvious she didn't have quite the burst and perhaps an inch or two shorter stride, which can be all the difference.

I thought Smith's ride was fine. A stretch runner like that is always up against it in a big quality field. He got Zenyatta to settle when she had difficulty with the track early, then found a path that gave her an opportunity coming home. You could tell Zenyatta wanted to veer further out but Smith understood there wasn't margin for that so he yanked her straight. Initially I thought Zenyatta flattened out but when I looked at it many times on replay she gained a consistent amount on Blame from 200 yards to 100, and from 100 to 50, and 50 to finish line. Blame simply didn't buckle.

Fantastic animal. Thanks to the DUers who pointed Zenyatta out on this forum a couple of years ago. I think it was twogunsid.

And yes, Zenyatta always plays around like that in the post parade. It's a trademark. :)

[Earth Bound Misfit]

5. Terrific analysis as always

Thanks for posting that.

[a kennedy]

6. I felt so bad for Mike he seemed so upset that he lost it

She sure was a beautiful horse....wow.

[CountAllVotes]

7. my god what a beautiful horse!

Never seen anything like her in all of the years I have been following horse racing! She dances! :wow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0ZiI2wXVCA&feature=related

She's retired now. Great American horse! The greatest ever perhaps! :D

:dem: