Horse Racing Fantasy Community

Did I not say this was going to happen on another thread regarding this matchup? I have a bad feeling that Rachel is only a shell of her former self. She did not look good yesterday, possibly past her prime. Maybe she doesn't want to race anymore, who knows.

including the horse's head. I appreciate that Rachel's connections want to take it slow and do what's best for the horse, and perhaps the Rach and Zen can meet down the road a bit, when Rachel's connections have a horse they don't have to make excuses for. Not knowing what they're thinking, other than what they say, I have to take their word for it.

It is a disappointment for the fans though.

Zenyatta proved she's a champion yet again. Perhaps this will be her turn for a well deserved horse of the year! I'd like to see her break the undefeated wins record, like Peppers Pride but on a National scale! That would be sweet!

Well thats just ruined a great race lol. Thats like the Doc pulling out of a final. Only joking

It didn't look like she was in her true form when she raced. It is a disappointment that these two won't be meeting but there will be another day.

~~~Sharon~~~

The group of people I was watching the race with this would happen. She didn't look right. Still if she had won by 1/4 instead of lost by 3/4...while still not in top form do you think Jackson would have pulled her? I don't!! He's all about this horses legacy, she may not race again..

I could tell Rachel looked off when she went into the first turn, her head was leaning to the right, she went wide, didn't make the first turn very well. And down the back stretch she wasn't making the run look effortless, she seemed to be trying hard. Probably out of shape, but IMO I don't see Rachel improving enough to beat Zenyatta or Quality Road.

...I would trust your judgment on this one, Brian.

Maybe I'll trust you even without a bookie.

Whats intersting for me is the name of stable mate that beat rachael...
Is this horse related to zenyatta also?? the name would suggest closly related..
Im sure you guys can fill me in on this 1..
Now if they are related then this winner may just have a nice career also, after all it did beat racael even if she did not fire first up from spell..

"Sir Slavedave Stables"
""" We make Donkeys fly"""

Well, I didn't read the link yet so can't comment. But, although I love both of these great race horses, I've felt, for some time now, that, Zenyatta was/is the best.
What a gutsy sign of courage and heart as she fought her way through a wall of horses to win drawing away, after trailing by 10 throughout. Most jockeys would have lost this race. Like I said, I haven't read the artical. I hope Rachael Alexandra is okay. I also hope, Zenyatta came out of her race okay too.
like someone said, I knew, Rachael was in trouble the way she negotiated the clubhouse turn. She didn't need to be that wide. IMO

race back in over 6 months. Yes, Rachel didn't look race ready. since the weather in New Orleans was REALLY bad the first part of the year she didn't get to go to the track- thus she missed training time. She spent her days walking the shedrow when the weather was too bad for her to train in. A horse like Rachel can't get her "game face" on in a race when she can't train leading up to it.

I fully expected Rachel to NOT be at her best her first race back. She still dug in in the final strides. She did not give up. She just wasn't racing "fit". She'll be back.............with a vengenance

Zenyatta, on the other hand, WAS able to train ( on her preferred surface-synthetic) since her remarkable win in last year's BC Classic. She was race " fit" on race day. She won.

Simple as that, the way I see it.

----------------------------------------------------
"And down the stretch they come!..."

As a real life handicapper with decades of experience, I usually don't like to see them away from the races for more than 30 days. Doesn't matter who you are. You usually need a race to get back to your best.
I know it's easy to second guess, but I think I would have trained, Rachael Alexandra at a different track where the weather wasn't a training factor. Especially since you're game plan is to finally meet up with, Zenyatta at Oaklawn Park in April.
H-ll, train her there if the weather is better, then ship her to Fairgrounds race track for that race, then ship back to Oaklawn Park for the Apple Blossom.
With that said, I'd ship, Zenyatta to Oaklawn Park asap (maybe they have already) and train on the dirt.
I like both horses a lot, but have stated many times that I think, Zenyatta is the better of the two. JMHO
Personally, I doubt if dirt going to stop this gal. A great horse can run on anything.
I wish they'd get rid of all those synthetic surfaces and get back to dirt. Santa Anita is thinking of doing just that. I've always felt that a well maintained dirt track is just as safe.

I agree with you, Soundofrum. 30 days off for any race horse is a bad sign-especially horses of 'Zen's and Rachel's caliber. They should have shipped Rachel to another track- Rachel's connections said that New Orleans was her "home" track for the winter. I guess the reasons for not shipping Rachel somewhere where the weather was better for the winter-knowing that she was going to face Zenyatta at Oaklawn- we'll never know. I do know Rachel is back at the Fairgrounds and has been breezing- 50 and change 6F.
Her connections have no plans for a race for her yet.

Personally, I'm a big Rachel fan. I think Medaglia d'Oro will be a great sire. He was Leading Second Crop Sire of 2009 and has 28 Stakes winners in 2 crops to race. Rachel can run on any surface and in any weather or track condition.

It's driving me nuts that she isn't really back on the work tab-consistantly. She needed her last race and will be more racing fit if they run her again-SOON.

I like Zenyatta, too. Her Sire, Street Cry is awesome. He was the Leading Freshman Sire of 2006. His babies can RUN! Although 'Zen's female family tree screams turf horses. Street Cry could race on any surface.
I feel Zenyatta is a bit one dimensional. I'm not knocking 'Zen at all. She has proved herself a great champion. I'm partial to horses that can rate and win from different positons on the race track. A closer like 'Zenyatta needs a fast pace ahead of her to do her best work. Not all races she enters are going to be 45 or 46 and change for the 1/2.

I also hate the synthetic racing surfaces. They are a joke to me. Statistically, Injuries from horses racing and training on that surface is not much better, if at all, from dirt tracks. Santa Anita has had major problems with their synthetic track since it was installed. They should get rid of it. Also, GGF should do the same.

In 11 of her 15 wins the half mile was ran in 47.30 or slower.They are lucky they don't run 46 and change or she would win by 10 lengths every race.Mike Smith even said she could be closer if wanted but loves targets to run at.She gobbles up the distance with her stride.And she is better on conventional dirt as well in my opinion.She has ducked no one and still is daring all challenges to come on.She toys with her competition.Just to bad Rachel was a early pedigree runner would of liked to see them run vs each other.Chances are Rachel is headed to the shed and might never race again since she hasn't woke up since last fall.

surface Zenyatta has raced almost exclusively on-synthetic. Times and Sr's are always inflated for that surface. On the dirt, race times are quicker. 'Zen has raced on dirt one time. Granted, she won. She does have a long and beautiful stride.

As to dodging all comers- 'Zen has. She has not run on a wet/sloppy track. Although I forget what track/race it was-last year. Churchill?

Her sire could run on any surface and throws horses of the same ability.

In my opinion, Zenyatta is a closer. All closers need pace/competition to run at. She has not been on the lead, near pace or stalking in her races. That leaves closer. Not a "dead " closer- just a closer.

Rachel, on the other hand can lead, lie off the pace, and stalk. Very versatile.

No one seems to know just what is going on in Jess Jackson's head. He knew Rachel wasn't ready for the Apple Blossom back in January- when she couldn't train regularly- due to bad weather. He accepted the "challenge" anyway. Steve Assmussen has said Rachel is fine after the race and she has worked out since. Jess Jackson says "Rachel will tell us when she is ready."
Contradictory statements from trainer and owner, for sure.

Rachel needed that race to get race "fit". She will be better for it. Jess Jackson needs to get Rachel back on the work tab-regularly AND get her back racing.

I think Zenyatta will lose and be "off" about June of this year. Meanwhile, Rachel will be getting race ready and be back racing.
I think both horses will meet this year. Most likely at the Breeder's Cup which is being held at Chruchill Downs-on DIRT-this year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

"And down the stretch they come!..."

This is disappointing. It seems, her connections only want to win and not to prove how good their horse is. She is amazing, no doubt. She doesn't seem in top condition, and whether she can return to her former self remains to be seen. Zenyatta is a truely amazing mare, amazing to watch, and she clearly wants to do nothing but run and show off for the crowd. She is something rarely seen. Rachel's connections either need to get her to top form and race Zenyatta to see who is truely better, or admit they don't want to lose, not race her against Zenyatta, and let that be that.

Two races for Z on dirt now, and they are talking about running her in the Stephen Foster at CD next. Sure looks like they are aiming for the BC Classic again this year, also at CD.

What's the latest news on Rachel? I haven't read anything other than they are resting her for a bit.

on the work tab..

From Bloodhorse.com::

Rachel Alexandra Fires Bullet at Churchill
By Blood-Horse Staff
Updated: Monday, April 12, 2010 3:18 PM
Posted: Monday, April 12, 2010 2:14 PM

Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra worked a strong six furlongs April 12 in her second major training move since her return to her home base at Churchill Downs.

Rachel Alexandra covered the distance over a fast track in 1:12 for trainer Steve Asmussen under regular exercise rider Dominic Terry. The 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro – Lotta Kim, by Roar, worked in fractional times of :12.80, :25.40, :37.20, :48.40, and 1:00.20. She galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.20.

The move was the fastest of seven at the distance over the track. Two other Asmussen trained runners, Eclipse nominee Hot Dixie Chick and 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorite Fresian Fire, covered six furlongs in 1:13.40 and 1:12.80, respectively.

“I was very pleased with her work,” said Asmussen. “She looks happy and she cooled out great. It was a very strong move.”

Rachel Alexandra, winner of five grade I races in 2009, last week worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, galloping out six furlongs in 1:14. Her six furlong work April 12 was stronger throughout, and Asmussen said his team would be looking at how she recovers in determining her next race.

“I’m very anxious to see her attitude off of the work,” said Asmussen. “How she acts, how she rests in her stall, and if she’s comfortable with everything we’re doing. From a work standpoint it was very impressive and fast, which she is.”

Asmussen said there is still no decision on Rachel Alexandra’s next race. She has raced just once since winning the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) over older males at Saratoga last fall, the result being a surprising second to Zardana March 13 in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds. The defeat resulted in the scrapping of plans for a match between Rachel Alexandra and the undefeated Zenyatta in Oaklawn Park’s Apple Blossom (gr. I), a race which Zenyatta won with ease April 9.

“We’re trying to get her back in the rhythm that she had success with last year, because we were very unsuccessful in trying to alter that,” said Asmusen.

Rachel Alexandra races for Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick.
-----------------------------------------
"And down the stretch they come!..."

Both horses are superstars. I'm not taking anything from either of them. I am a 'Rachel fan.
'Rachel is a remarkable horse. She simply annihilated every horse - male or female-she faced last year. She will continue that trend.

Zenyatta had been on the workout tab consistantly from Nov. 2009 until the present. She is fit and race ready.

Rachel had not been on the work tab consistantly. the weather severly hampered her training. Every race horse need to be in regular training to be effective.
Steve Assumssen and Jess Jackson thought she "might" be ready. But, they stated since the beginning of this year that they feared 'Rach would not be ready. They were right. she wasn't. they are trying to get in the flow with her like they did last year. Read the article from Bloodhorse.com to see their comments. Both horses had been off for over 90 days each- which is never a good sign. Zenyatta was able to train regularly and Rachel wasn't. simple as that.
Rachel's connections aren't avoiding Zenyatta. They are doing what's best for the horse.

I, too, hope the 2 horses meet this year. I have a feeling it'll be in the Breeders Cup. This will be an interesting season of racing!
I can't wait!
---------------------------------------------
"And down the stretch they come!..."