So what Rating do they give Zenyatta?

Rachel has done stuff that no other 3yo filly has every accomplished in the U. S. and she did it with panache.

Zenyatta is something special on synthetic surfaces.

I have never seen another Rachel, including Ruffian.

I have, however, seen a few Zenyattas named Allez France, Dahlia and Three Troikas, to name a few.

The difference is that Rachel has accomplished her achievements on the dirt, whereas Zenyatta has done it on "brown turf."

The difference between dirt and turf or brown turf racing is that on dirt, a runner has to have the strength to plow "through" the material, whereas on turf or brown turf, runners get over the top of it.

Fillies and mares in Europe and the United States have been able, usually in the fall of the year, to hold their own against males on grass, but rarely, if ever, on the dirt.

That, my friends, is what makes Rachel so other worldly to us Americans, who have grown up with dirt racing and understand the difference.

Morning Barry, when is the horse of year award?

Do you think they will share it, or is Rachel past the post?

For me, Rachel is the ultimate, just like see the stars..... They did all this at the age of 3 and against older rivals who were no slowch at all.