Obligatory Rachel vs. Zenyatta Post

It seems like most Thoroughbred bloggers do at least two or three Rachel vs. Zenyatta posts before the year is over. With the two mares both winning stakes races this weekend- although in completely different fashions- it seemed appropriate to talk a bit about these two fillies and stir up an interesting but ultimately pointless debate.

It is basically a fact that Rachel Alexandra does not care for Pimlico and could've won the Preakness by four or five lengths if it was run somewhere else. The reason I bring this up is because I believe that Zenyatta is a more talented horse than Rachel Alexandra. Rachel Alexandra is a more talented horse than Mine that Bird, and if Zenyatta hadn't had health problems as a young filly she could've possibly won the Triple Crown.

Zenyatta is one of those horses who kind of seemed to come out of nowwhere. This is because in a way she actually did. Due to what I believe were problems with her shins- but don't quote me on that- Zenyatta missed her two-year old season and most of her three year-old season as well. When she finally made it to the racetrack, Zenyatta easily disposed of her rivals to finish her three year-old season a perfect 2 for 2.

Though she always runs from the back of the pack, Zenyatta doesn't necessarily need a fast pace to close in to and has closed into soft fractions numerous times. Now, the 2007 Kentucky Derby was won by Street Sense. The Strret Cry colt closed into the blistering fractions set by Hard Spun and drew off to win the Derby easily. I believe that Zenyatta could've outran Street Sense much like she did Gio Ponti because she just has an innate determination and closing kick that I haven't seen in a long time. Let's make a huge assumption and say that with the weight advantage given to fillies in the triple crown, she is always two lengths better than Street Sense.

Like Street Sense, she is by Street Cry. She is also the half-sister to Balance. I think we can safely assume based on breeding as well as the way she has ran in the past that the distance of the Belmont would've been no problem for her. So with the Derby under her belt and the Preakness under her belt as well- assuming she really is always two lengths better than Street Sense- she would have to go to the Belmont to complete what is arguably the toughest test in all of sports- the Triple Crown. I think this may have been her easiest test on some level because of the fact that her breeding is Secretariat tough and she runs like it. However, this race would've been completely different from the rest because she wouldn't have been the last horse in the field. Think back to that fateful day in 2007. Another great looking filly was in that race, and she stumbled out of the gate. So, Zenyatta would've been ahead of Rags to Riches- a style she isn't used to. However, like I said before, she loves the distance and is definitely a classier horse than the rest. I think she would've won going away.

So, what is the point of this post? The point of this post is that all of the hypotheticals and what could've beens is what makes our sport so much fun. So, even if Rachel and Zenyatta never meet, we'll still be online, at the track and at the office talking smack about the other person's horse because when it comes to the sport of kings the arguments are half of the fun.