Covelj(Jim),

I think the person who mentioned "Lava Man" is correct. That was a weak scratch by Shireffs in Churchill. Was that field worldbeaters? In hindsight, no, but before the race I would have said that trying to run down One Caroline on a dirt track with an easy lead was a tall order for the "carpet champion".

Not only is it that she stays in California, but she stays on synthetic surfaces. She is not even in the conversation of great fillies IMO if all she does is win on carpet. Carpet is a different surface. As you can tell by all the small fields and the short racing weeks in California, carpet has been a failure. That is further evidenced by the data Michael D posted on this board a few weeks back in that synthetics are not safer than the better dirt tracks.

Zenyatta is over-rated. right on par with Pepper's Pride... Nice feat, but doesn't stack up historically.