'Rachel Alexandra': back to work in 2010

[Glimmerglass]

Just curious but did anyone else notice that Calvin removed half of the exceptionally nice button braides up 'Rachel’s mane before the start of the race? I remarked to my wife (who does my beloved mare’s braiding for eventing shows) how nice of a job someone did on Rachel.

By the time she got to the gate clealry Calvin removed a foot’s worth of them and they were fully removed by the time he dismounted. I presume its to ensure something is there to grab onto should the worst of worst happens during the race

[caffeinated]

Don’t most jockeys do that when horses are braided up for big races?

[rabicon]

The view was just talking about RA and said she is running the Belmont and Whoopi said she is going. :lol:

[Blinkers_On]

[QUOTE=Barnfairy;4084771]
Maybe it’s time to pull in the reins a bit and rethink the hiring & managing process?

74 rulings ranging from mouthing off to racing officials and parking lot attendants to drug violations to a ton of housekeeping errors (lack of papers, etc.): I’m just sayin’, if I (or people working on my behalf) screwed up half that many times on my jobs you can be damn sure word would spread and no one would hire me…

Not to take away from RA --this is her thread after all-- but I’m curious how the RCI reports on other trainers of similar stature would compare.[/QUOTE]

You may be right, but the entire Asmussen operation is massive But sh*t happens. You can run a tight ship and someone still might give a horse clenbuterol by accident. It happens to everyone. Mistakes do get made no matter how conscientious one is. He is out to set records and will continue to do so. I’ve saddled for him. There was no hanky panky pre race. Blasi (I know no one likes him either) is a friend. I have no problem with either of them. He runs a good show. Yes he has had bad tests. Most that train at a high rate have. Have there been bad decisions made. Could be. We are only privy to what the media sells

[Blinkers_On]

[QUOTE=caffeinated;4101800]
Don’t most jockeys do that when horses are braided up for big races?[/QUOTE]

Yes banding and braiding gets pulled out as it impedes smoothe motion when a rider has to go to scrubbing and pushing on a horse.

[vineyridge]

Since money would be no object, I’d fly her over to Germany and breed her to Monsun. He has done really well with Northern Dancer mares. It would bring the Blandford sire line back to America if they flew her back to foal.

[Barnfairy]

@rabicon

…she is running the Belmont and Whoopi said she is going…

Well there you have it then. That’s who I turn to for breaking racing news: Whoopi Goldberg.

(sorry Glimmerglass) :winkgrin:

@Blinkers On

…You can run a tight ship and someone still might give a horse clenbuterol by accident. It happens to everyone. Mistakes do get made no matter how conscientious one is…

Oh I completely understand that mistakes happen. I’m not perfect (nor am I as closed-minded as a certain other poster would like to have you all believe.) IIRC Larry Jones had a med violation recently.

74 rulings against Asmussen strikes me as a lot. It’s not just medications, but a recurring theme of sloppiness, if you will. What I’m really wondering is are there that many in other operations of similar size?

[ravenclaw]

[QUOTE=Dispatcher;4101683]
Nothing would make me think that.

That’s what Gary Stevens said of himself when he stood next to both of the horses. He said HE couldn’t see over Rachel. He then said she was 16.2 and MTB was 15.2. But I didn’t see any measuring stick.[/QUOTE]
I’m probably nitpicking here, but they said MTB is 15.1 and Rachel is 16.2. :yes:

[Blinkers_On]

[QUOTE=Barnfairy;4102049]
Well there you have it then. That’s who I turn to for breaking racing news: Whoopi Goldberg.

(sorry Glimmerglass) :winkgrin:

Oh I completely understand that mistakes happen. I’m not perfect (nor am I as closed-minded as a certain other poster would like to have you all believe.) IIRC Larry Jones had a med violation recently.

74 rulings against Asmussen strikes me as a lot. It’s not just medications, but a recurring theme of sloppiness, if you will. What I’m really wondering is are there that many in other operations of similar size?[/QUOTE]

It does seem alot, but when one considers the sheer volume of horses it seems slightly less. To Saturday he had run over 900 horses this year. What then is the yearly margin of error. It is pretty low when considering the volume he runs. JMO. Shoot the messenger, I am ok with it.

[Barnfairy]

@Blinkers On

To Saturday he had run over 900 horses this year.

Oh snap!

I see your point and will keep my gun in its holster. 'For now, anyway. :lol:

[Dispatcher]

@ravenclaw;4102348

I’m probably nitpicking here, but they said MTB is 15.1 and Rachel is 16.2. :yes:

I could have sworn Gary Stevens said 15.2 in his commentary. I better put my listening ears on next time!!!

[DuffyAgain]

I heard 16.2 and 15.1 with my ears as well. :winkgrin:

[rabicon]

[QUOTE=Barnfairy;4102049]
Well there you have it then. That’s who I turn to for breaking racing news: Whoopi Goldberg.

(sorry Glimmerglass) :winkgrin:

Oh I completely understand that mistakes happen. I’m not perfect (nor am I as closed-minded as a certain other poster would like to have you all believe.) IIRC Larry Jones had a med violation recently.

74 rulings against Asmussen strikes me as a lot. It’s not just medications, but a recurring theme of sloppiness, if you will. What I’m really wondering is are there that many in other operations of similar size?[/QUOTE]

It was a joke about her talking about it

[FatDinah]

Sally Jenkins of Washington Post writes a column hoping that RA will run in the Belmont. Nice writing style, knows racing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/18/AR2009051801652.html?hpid=artslot

[Glimmerglass]

As much as these seemingly new fans of hers are trying to ‘help’ build her fame they aren’t helping at all.

The irksome aspect to this now widespread media-driven push to recreate the magic of the Preakness all over again in the Belmont is such that if Rachel Alexandra doesn’t run then the naysayers can remark negatively “see, she was too tired to make it to the Belmont” or “we are right to question if she can go the distance” and/or “Mine That Bird isn’t bothered running yet again in three weeks”.

I don’t think she needs to prove a damn thing all over again three weeks later.

To the new observers of her talents I’d say rather then request she “do it again” so quickly, why not look at what she’s done in her previous five races.

Then folks would see this ‘she was just lucky’ (or whatever nonsense is being peddled by some) runner break the stakes record Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs, then did it again with the stakes record in the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn, then easily could’ve taken the stakes record in the Fair Grounds Oaks but was instead dropped to a simply canter the last 1/16th of a mile, same went for the effort in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn.

The Kentucky Oaks was a display of her not even laboring for the supreme 20 1/4 length blowout, when she was never was asked one iota to go, and did it in 1:48.87 vs. the stakes record is 1:48.54 . I don’t think I’m overreaching by saying had she been asked the record would’ve been broken.

So why then why is there this insatiable desire building to mandate she race in the Belmont? As if those against it are denying her of something.

A filly winning the Belmont Stakes is no longer the novelty it was since Rags to Riches did it. Could she win it? I have zero reason to think she couldn’t but at what expense with the rest of her career? If she did it would be akin to the efforts of Affirmed and Seattle Slew with their respective TC runs. None of them returned to the track for a few months.

Affirmed came back first in the Jim Dandy in August

Seattle Slew in an astoundingly greedy display was marched back to the track July 3 and was crushed - he looked terrible after that grueling TC

I’d far rather have a fresh, focused horse that can run in the midsummer Classic, early fall races and Breeders’ Cup vs the instant gratification of 3 Grade 1 races in 5 weeks.

[ivy62]

I wish she had waited and run against the boys later in the season, ie: Travers or JCGC or breeders cup…

They are both good horses in their own ways…He will go down as a KY derby winner and she as the filly who won the Preakness…BUT just to win any of these races is fantastic on a resume…it really isn’t going to help MTB being a gelding but for his Mom and Dad yeah…
Let them run later against each other that’s what I say…She was the better horse that day for whatever reason she got to the wire first…On to the Belmont…

[FatDinah]

Hey, I wasn’t agreeing with Sally Jenkins. I mostly thought it was an amusing piece of writing (my day job is a newspaper).

Personally, if I were mapping out RA’s strategy I’d skip the Belmont and send her next to Saratoga to run her either against colts again or the older mares and then point her to the Distaff.

It’s the Zenyatta vs. Rachel Alexandra match I want to see.

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=FatDinah;4103059]

It’s the Zenyatta vs. Rachel Alexandra match I want to see.[/QUOTE]

This. One way to prove your great is beat your elders. Though would they meet in an even-weight or handicap situation? And if the latter, who gives weight to whom?

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=FatDinah;4103059]
Hey, I wasn’t agreeing with Sally Jenkins. I mostly thought it was an amusing piece of writing (my day job is a newspaper).[/QUOTE]

I didn’t think you did as per say (in case you thought I did) and I wasn’t really directing anything at even Sally specifically

Although I think she was a bit too much of the rah-rah “girl power” nonsense which might be some kind of rally cry but I think it just becomes divisive. People who follow racing and even ride know that mares can be extremely competitive and loyal to a fault. The big trainers who know what is up fawned over RA - from Baffert to Lukas to even Woolley - so why try and make the public line up with her because “she’s a girl”.

I look at her as a magnificent horse - not in a segregated type of view like she’s a “magnificent horse … for a filly”.

[ravenclaw]

[QUOTE=FatDinah;4103059]
It’s the Zenyatta vs. Rachel Alexandra match I want to see.[/QUOTE]
Speaking of this, has anyone heard when and where Zenyatta is going to have her next race? I know she was supposed to run recently (I think on Derby Day?) but they scratched her due to the off track.