'Rachel Alexandra': back to work in 2010

[Glimmerglass]

Another morning drill this am (July 20) at Saratoga/Oklahoma training track:

[Rachel] worked for the third consecutive Monday over the Oklahoma training track, going six furlongs in 1:13.88 under regular exercise rider Dominic Terry at 6 a.m.

It was the fastest of six workouts at the distance by 0.45 second, and termed “breezing.”

The bay 3-year-old filly went in fractions of 13.20 seconds, 25.40, 37.40, and 49.60, and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27.40.

It was the second consecutive bullet work for Rachel Alexandra, who breezed an easy half-mile on July 6, followed by a best-of-23 move at five furlongs last week that was witnessed by trainer Steve Asmussen.

Assistant trainer Scott Blasi:

“She’s a special horse, and it’s obvious when you see her coming down the lane. She has settled in here perfectly; she has put on weight and she is a picture of health. We’re right on target for the Haskell.”

[vineyridge]

Really dumb question here.

If RA is not going to run at Saratoga, why is she able to have a stall and use of the training facilities there?

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=vineyridge;4250205]
If RA is not going to run at Saratoga, why is she able to have a stall and use of the training facilities there?[/QUOTE]

Who said she’s not going to run at Spa?

She very well may race in the Travers or Personal Ensign. Jess Jackson is renting a house in Saratoga reportedly for the meet. NYRA enjoyed the shower of success with her at Belmont for the Mother Goose so they’d better keep her happy. Her stablemate, Kensei, who is fully owned by JJ trained with her today and he’s going to start in the $500k G2 Jim Dandy August 1st which I’ll be at.

NYRA would be exceedingly foolish to even suggest booting her from stall space or use of the Oklahoma track if the connections don’t guarantee a Spa start She’s already bringing extra attention with the media to Saratoga.

[Lori_T]

As of now, the plan is to enter her at Saratoga.

[Timex]

Stalls are allocated to each trainer during the meet by the number of entries in years past (and a little politics too I’m sure). But the trainers don’t have to say what horses are going to be in those stalls. As for before and after the meet, any joe schmoe can get stalls - and they do. Even during the meet, if there aren’t enough stalls on the flat track, lots of tbs are stabled across the street at the harness track and just walk over. I’ve done it on many a morning, right across nelson ave, through clare court and right onto the main track. RA is a really nice filly, I’ve really enjoyed watching here this year.

[Glimmerglass]

Off topic of sorts … the Rachel effect spreading to of all things now the real estate market too:

Watch Acclaimed Thoroughbred Rachel Alexandra from your Patio

Come and see this wonderful, newly renovated Oklahoma Trackside residence on prestigious Fifth Avenue! Enjoy breakfast on the patio as you watch the thoroughbreds round the turn.

[rebeginner]

Vogue spread

I may have missed it being posted elsewhere, but the August 2009 edition of Vogue has a fabulous photo of RA with the [misleading, I thought] headline of “Black Beauty.” I remember when several folks commented on the photo shoot, but the results are astonishing.

Stephen Meisel knows how to make the ladies look good!

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=rebeginner;4255202]
I may have missed it being posted elsewhere, but the August 2009 edition of Vogue has a fabulous photo of RA with the [misleading, I thought] headline of “Black Beauty.” [/QUOTE]

I’ve seen the photo/article and its a nice picture by photog Steven Klein. That was then and of course Rachel is physically bigger now

[Carol_Ames]

CAN SO![](EONE POST PLEASE?

may have missed it being posted elsewhere, but the August 2009 edition of Vogue has a fabulous photo of RA with the [misleading, I thought] headline of “Black Beauty.” I remember when several folks commented on the photo shoot, but the results are astonishing.

Stephen Meisel knows how to make the ladies look good!

[IMG]http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/images/buttons/quote.gif)

rebeginner View Public Profile Send a private message to rebeginner Find all posts by rebeginner
#326
[IMG]http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/images/statusicon/post_old.gif) Jul. 22, 2009, 05:42 PM

[Glimmerglass]

Re: August 2009 issue of Vogue Magazine

I don’t believe the non e-zine women’s fashion magazine is fully available on-line, hence no link to the picture. Some sections of the magazine are available but not the single full-page photo and single page fluffy article on Rachel

http://www.style.com/vogue/

[Glimmerglass]

More doh-ray-me if she wins in Jersey

The Haskell Invitational (Grade-1) of next weekend has been fattened up! Press release - Monmouth Park

Monmouth Park officials announced on Thursday that the purse for its marquee event, the Haskell Invitational, will be increased by $250,000. The 1 1/8 mile race for three-year-olds will now have a total worth of $1.25 million.

The winner’s share of the Haskell purse has been increased from $600,000 to $700,000. The rest of the paying positions: 2nd $250,000; 3rd $125,000; 4th $85,000; 5th $50,000; and last is 6th at $20,000

Even if the undetermined starter Papa Clem was to race, he’d be without his regular rider Rafael Bejarano owing to yesterday’s violent spill in the 3rd, opening day at Del Mar.

The Haskell theme song remains (since 2003) Bruce Springsteen’s “Born To Run” (1975). (Bruce wrote it in 1974 while in Long Branch, NJ; its generally regarded as one of the greatest rock songs ever written)

Mr. Springsteen, who owns a horse farm in Colts Neck, personally approved the song’s selection and allowed for its use annually with the signature race. So ‘New York, New York’ for the Belmont, ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ for the Kentucky Derby and ‘Maryland, My Maryland’ for the Preakness.’

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;4255219]
I’ve seen the photo/article and its a nice picture by photog Steven Klein. That was then and of course Rachel is physically bigger now ;)[/QUOTE]

Steven Klein has done a series of dramatic photos of horses in the past (circa 1995).

[Glimmerglass]

Rachel’s last formal work this morning (Mon 7-27) before this weekend’s Haskell and it was popular as ever:

July 27, 2009 Daily Gazette “Rachel draws crowd”

Several reporters and photographers joined trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Calvin Borel to watch Rachel zip through a half-mile breeze in :49.26 under regular exercise rider Dominic Terry. NYRA clockers also caught the first quarter-mile in :25.01, and a five-furlong gallop out in 1:02.78.

“She looked awesome this morning,” said Borel, who will be spending the summer riding at Saratoga for the second time in three years. “When she’s got her ears flapping like that, she’s comfortable and happy. She’s ready.”

Asmussen said Rachel will ship to Monmouth Park for Sunday’s Haskell on Friday morning, and return to Saratoga either Sunday night or early Monday morning.

[Glimmerglass]

A nice big picture of Rachel at work this morning - with 10 journalists there to observe - on this link: Times Union Skip Dickstein photo

This was the first time since his ride in the Mother Goose that Calvin Borel (who will be riding at this Spa’s meet full time) has seen Rachel.

An hour later, before Borel was going to work another horse for Asmussen, he gushed about Rachel. In the first couple minutes he spoke, he used the word “unbelievable” five times to describe her.

“I’ve never been on one like her before,” Borel said. “I think she jumps so much … that’s why she covers so much ground. She is Secretariat to me.”

[Glimmerglass]

The second coming of Spectacular Bid and Seattle Slew? No, no, no that is not in reference to Rachel Alexandra, but rather an odd remark by a Monmouth-based trainer relative to Haskell runner and Belmont Stakes winner - Summer Bird.

Ray Kerrison, New York Post 7-27-09

Summer Bird is coming to run, and if Rachel is to get the prize, she will have to earn it the hard way, by running her eyeballs out.

Another who likes him is trainer John Mazza, a Monmouth institution. Summer Bird is in Barn 3, where Mazza has stabled his horses for 42 years.

“Most of the great ones — Seattle Slew, Spectacular Bid — have been in my barn,” Mazza said. “None of them have looked better than Summer Bird.”

When did racing become a horse show? Folks can keep all of the morning glories and gleaming coated horses who aren’t there when the showdown occurs. Anyone who mentions Summer Bird and Spectacular Bid in the same breath needs to have their head examined!

[Glimmerglass]

In regards to yesterday’s work DRF 7-27-09 “Rachel looking good as ever”

According to exercise rider Dominic Terry, Rachel Alexandra has blossomed during the month she’s spent at Saratoga.

“I think she likes this track a lot,” Terry said. "She’s had some good works. I’m happy with how strong she is, how much energy she’s had. I think she likes the cool air up here. She’s actually been a lot more playful and a lot stronger to gallop in the morning than before."

Terry said he is glad owner Jess Jackson and Asmussen did not run her in the Delaware Handicap on July 19, a race that had been under consideration.

“She’s come into herself waiting for this race as opposed to running at Delaware,” Terry said.

Just what the other Haskell contenders don’t want to hear: Rachel Alexandra is stronger now

[Alibhai_s_Alibar]

Rachel Alexandra’s Vogue photo can be seen here:

http://www.stevenkleinstudio.com/www/index.html

-“Enter Site” on right hand side
-Photo
-Editorial
-American Vogue
-2009
-Black Beauty

[VirginiaBred]

@Glimmerglass

Anyone who mentions Summer Bird and Spectacular Bid in the same breath needs to have their head examined!

Seriously!!!

[rebeginner]

Thanks, Alibhai’s Alibar

I can’t believe I confused Steven Klein with Steven Meisel. Oops.

But a great photo. (and a neat little piece accompanying it to give Vogue readers a flavor of the track.)

[rcloisonne]

I would think the mile and 1/8 Haskell far more RA’s forte than Summer Bird’s. In fact, why are they even running SB in this “sprint”? :rolleyes: