'Rachel Alexandra': back to work in 2010

[Mara]

[QUOTE=Larksmom;4280062]
I wonder, and this is very fanciful, if since JJ has already made his preference known to NOT run on the synthetics, could he send the Princess to The Arc? I think it is 1 and 1/2 miles which might be a problem, for most any American runner. The Euros are definately bred to run further[/QUOTE]

I’m sure she wouldn’t go this year. She is, however, MDO - El Prado - Sadler’s Wells on top. Food for thought.
I found myself wondering if she might be pointed for the big dance in Dubai next year. . .

[caffeinated]

Great quote from Joe Drape:

Rachel Alexandra did not really compete with the Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird, who finished second Sunday; the Arkansas Derby champion Papa Clem; or the sprinter Munnings, who came in third.

She merely let them share the track with her.

[Glimmerglass]

Let’s see for the 42nd Haskell Invitational @ 1 1/8 mi

(1) Track listed for the race as sloppy (and sealed)

(2) Borel eased her under the wire with celebrations about 50-yards out

(3) Rachel, despite 1 & 2 above, finished just a fifth of a second (0.20) off the stakes record and two-fifths off the track record, completing the nine furlongs in 1:47-1/5

[Stakes record set by Majestic Light [1976] and equaled by Bet Twice [1987] when times were not available in hundredths so listed as 1:47.00]

(4) Her career best Beyer Speed Figure at 116

(5) Margin of victory 6-lengths

(6) Just the 2nd filly in 42 years of the Haskell Invitational (G1) to win

No excuses, no whining, no nonsense - just a straight forward victory and reinforcement that she is the top 3-year old horse unquestionably.

NJ Star Ledger August 2, 2009 “Rachel Alexandra romps in Haskell”

So this is what greatness looks like.

Years from now, if Rachel Alexandra continues on her hard-charging run to become one of the best fillies of all time, what happened in Sunday’s Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park will be a lot like what has occurred with Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game: Nearly twice as many people will claim to have been there to witness the magical moment.

…

Tim Ice, the trainer of Summer Bird, has seen enough. Instead of clamoring for a rematch, Ice had a simple response when asked if he wanted to face Rachel Alexandra again.

“Not if I don’t have to,” he said.

I’d say the odds are 250-1 (or higher) that MTB, Rachel, and Summer Bird will rematch in the Travers. Frankly neither SB or MTB can afford another loss on their record

For now just enjoy her - stop with the “let’s see her take on Zenyatta” stuff as it’s moot - and take some joy in being able to watch her run in at least three more races in 2009 and quite possibly a return at 4 in 2010.

[NMK]

Ah, that filly at the SPA. Not to be missed…I’m booking the date just in case.

Nancy

[texang73]

Agreed an amazing race. Such an AWESOME filly.

[Rubyfree]

SO glad I got my Travers tickets already. I expect prices will go up now.

[Joanne]

[QUOTE=Rubyfree;4280231]
SO glad I got my Travers tickets already. I expect prices will go up now. :D[/QUOTE]

Where do you get tickets?

[VirginiaBred]

@Glimmerglass

For now just enjoy her - stop with the “let’s see her take on Zenyatta” stuff as it’s moot - and take some joy in being able to watch her run in at least three more races in 2009 and quite possibly a return at 4 in 2010.

THANK YOU GLIMMERGLASS. :yes:

[hitchinmygetalong]

She is a superstar.

Congratulations to all her connections.

[Beaver_Breeze]

[QUOTE=Mara;4280116]

I found myself wondering if she might be pointed for the big dance in Dubai next year. . .[/QUOTE]

I doubt it, since it will be on synthetic.

[Rubyfree]

[QUOTE=Joanne;4280253]
Where do you get tickets?[/QUOTE]

I’ve been getting mine from the same guy for years- he does sell some on ebay as the race gets closer. It would behoove me to get in the lottery like normal people, but I always forget until he sends out his reminder email in the spring. Oh well. At least I have them!

[Barnfairy]

I just love this picture of Rachel and Calvin winning the Haskell, taken by Robert Ward.

It’s as close as Calvin can responsibly get to the Titanic King of the World pose. He’s got to feel that way when he rides her.

(just for fun: 15 lamest Titanic King of the World reenactments)

“A filly for the ages” indeed.

[Glimmerglass]

She still might run in the Travers but having proven she can beat the best males twice now it begs the question: why do it a 3rd time?

I think its very doubtful she’ll race in the Travers myself. Taking on Summer Bird with his 2nd place finish - and likely defecting from the race - and taking on a lack-luster Mine That Bird who just took 3rd in West Virginia (and would’ve been KO’d in Monmouth) adds up to what?

Rather taking on older mares would make more sense. Or a total 180-degree change (and not unlike Jess Jackson) might mean taking a look at her synthetic victory and thinking she might be worth a try on the turf …

As for where she is now: back at Saratoga. She was shipped up Monday Aug 3rd in the early hours and arrived “home” at about 9 am.

Some insight into next steps: from Tim Wilkin/Times Union Monday:

After the Haskell, [Jess Jackson] did say he would be intersted in trying Rachel against older horses and the Woodward, on the last Saturday of the meet here, would fill that need.

Besides the Woodward, Rachel could appear here in the Travers on Aug. 29 or the Personal Ensign on Aug. 30. Both those races are 1 1/4 miles. The Travers is against 3-year-old colts, the Personal Ensign is against fillies and mares, aged 3 and up.

“We’ll see how much the Haskell took out of her,” Asmussen said.

ETA per the Associated Press:

The trainer of horse racing’s biggest star says it’ll be two weeks before a decision is made on Rachel Alexandra’s next start.

[danceronice]

What point: To see if she can beat the males going farther.

When is she going to race 1 1/4 miles or farther? Now, if she dominates in the Woodward that would make her HOTY without question. She needs to win going longer, or switch surfaces.

As Zenyatta probably wouldn’t ship out, who would be likely to go in the Personal Ensign? I can’t imagine there’s a trainer with a three-year-old filly out there who’d want to bother. She could still run into a colt who could give her a run, especially at longer distances, not to mention older males, but does anyone think there’s a three-year-old filly out there who could even get close? So what other older females might try?

[Beaver_Breeze]

[QUOTE=danceronice;4282947]
What point: To see if she can beat the males going farther.

When is she going to race 1 1/4 miles or farther? Now, if she dominates in the Woodward that would make her HOTY without question. She needs to win going longer, or switch surfaces.

As Zenyatta probably wouldn’t ship out, who would be likely to go in the Personal Ensign? I can’t imagine there’s a trainer with a three-year-old filly out there who’d want to bother. She could still run into a colt who could give her a run, especially at longer distances, not to mention older males, but does anyone think there’s a three-year-old filly out there who could even get close? So what other older females might try?[/QUOTE]

The Woodward is 9 furlongs, which makes it even more suitable for her, IMO. She can tackle older males at a distance we already know is optimal. I don’t think winning the Travers at 10 furlongs would be viewed more favorably than winning the Woodward against older males at 9 furlongs. And if, as you say, a win in the Woodward makes her HOTY without question (I agree), then there’s no need for her to run longer. She could give that a try in the JCGC if so desired. Why not lock up the award at an already-proven distance before giving that a try? JMO.

[Glimmerglass]

The very prestigious $500k Woodward is something Jess likes as Curlin won it last year - albeit less then commandingly. It’s at 1 1/8 miles which is most certainly within her sweet spot as we know.

I have to concur that if they don’t have to stretch her out to 1 1/4 mi yet but still crush solid competition at a slightly shorter distance then no need to for now.

If you’ll note there is no suggestion (although perhaps too far ahead) of her trying the Jockey Club Gold Cup at 1 1/4 mi. The Woodward by comparison tends to get a slightly different tiered horse for that race. It often can be horses that are too old for the Travers (restricted to 3yr olds) and yet weren’t ready for the Whitney.

Look at least year’s names (by order of finish): Curlin, Past the Point, Wanderin Boy, A. P. Arrow, Loose Leaf, Divine Park and Out of Control. They’re all good horses but perhaps (excluding Curlin) maybe just a step or two less aggressive then your Commentators [who went to Suffolk for the MassCap instead] …

This year’s entires likely will be the same: names we know from the last few years, maybe a horse who ran in one of this year’s TC races, and then a few longer shot horses that can be deadly on any given day.

[Mara]

[QUOTE=Beaver Breeze;4280561]
I doubt it, since it will be on synthetic.[/QUOTE]

Crap, that’s right. It’ll be on the new track. Dang.

[danceronice]

Personally I’d like to see her run 1 1/4 (1 1/2 would be better) simply to show she can win at longer distances–given MTB was closing on her on an off track in the Preakness, it would show she can run farther (and THEN we can start comparing her to Secretariat et al.)

I really wonder if she’ll find any female competition her own age at this point.

[Glimmerglass]

In case anyone was wondering “why is Rachel Alexandra in Vogue?” Per the Louisville Courier Journal:

Rachel Alexandra is also featured in the recent issue of Vogue, with the layout shot by fashion photographer Steven Klein. The magazine spread grew out of a trip by Vogue editor Anna Wintour to the Preakness Stakes, which was won by the filly.

Another item for auction …

RA’s actual Mother Goose Stakes blue saddle cloth - “#3” with her name listed: presently @ $2,800

[Total donations to the V foundation via auction: $5,659.99]

[Glimmerglass]

From Steven Crist the guru and Daily Racing Form publisher:Blog entry August 4, 2009 on Rachel Alexandra

–Every time Rachel Alexandra races, important racing history is being made and I for one am just enjoying watching it unfold. I think it’s pointless to be arguing during the first week of August whether or not she’s wrapped up the Horse of the Year title; ballots aren’t due until January, and who knows how the rest of the season will unfold. But she’s already done enough to deserve it and already accomplished more than other 3-year-olds who have won that title at year’s end. She’s probably done enough to deserve Hall of Fame consideration even if she never raced again.

You can carp all you want about her not having beaten her elders yet, or the caliber of the 3-year-old males she’s been beating, or that she hasn’t faced Zenyatta or Quality Road, but come on: In her last four starts she has won the Kentucky Oaks by 20 1/4 lengths, beaten the Kentucky Derby winner in the Preakness, won the Mother Goose by 19 1/4 and thrashed the Belmont Stakes winner while nearly setting a track record in the Haskell. It already has been a historic campaign by a truly great filly.

It’s cracker-barrel fun to speculate about the rest of her season, but some of the suggestions are getting silly. Turf Classic? Arc de Triomphe? Breeders’ Cup Classic? If they want to try her on grass once next year, swell, but there is no reason for her to switch surfaces now or ever to run on a synthetic racetrack, and her handlers have made it clear they aren’t going down that road.

If her absence from this year’s Breeders’ Cup has any influence in ensuring that the Cup will never again be run on a synthetic track two years in a row – and in reminding this industry’s “leaders” that greatness in the American racehorse has for centuries been determined by performances on dirt tracks, and will continue to be long after the last synthetic track has been dug up and restored to dirt – all the better.

I couldn’t have said it better myself!