'Rachel Alexandra': back to work in 2010

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Zevida;4350783]
And don’t forget Take the Points who finished well back in the Preakness and came back to win the G1-T Secretariat.[/QUOTE]

Yep and we all know the Secretariat at Arlington is just barely a notch above a $2,500 claiming race at the old Great Barrington Fair

Rachel Alexandra is drawing a rather large crowd in her own right at Saratoga in the saddling enclosure and then being led past the gobsmacked crowd at Spa who just happen to be there waiting for the horses before the 5th race! A very, very nice braid job on her.

As cited before they planned on this schooling session in front of the crowds to ensure she is calm and relaxed with chatter, cameras snapping, clapping, other horses, squirrels and the barkers announcing “ice cold beer”

[kcmel]

Looks like we’ll be heading up to take in the spectacle. Anyone else going?

[Drvmb1ggl3]

@Glimmerglass;4350846

Yep and we all know the Secretariat at Arlington is just barely a notch above a $2,500 claiming race at the old Great Barrington Fair

Well, given that the Ballydoyle 7th or 8th string, Black Bear Island, came within a whisker of winning it this year and Dermie Weld’s Winchester (who???) romped by 8 lengths last year, it’s not in the same parish as a proper G1.

[Glimmerglass]

Andrew Beyer, DRF, 9-3-09 “With this filly, the deal’s for real” as originally published for The Washington Post

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The main street in downtown Saratoga Springs is lined with banners reading, “Rachel Alexandra: Run Like a Girl.” The mayor has declared Saturday to be “Rachel Alexandra Day.” A press release declares that the filly’s impending appearance is one of the most anticipated races in Saratoga’s 141-year history.

Casual fans might be skeptical about all of this ballyhoo. Every year, it seems, some young horse is anointed as the sport’s next superstar, and almost every year the hype turns out to be wrong. But this time it’s different. Rachel Alexandra is indeed the real thing.

article continues with link above

Steven Crist, DRF, 9-3-09 “Rachel’s agenda a perfect fit”

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Win or lose on Saturday, Rachel Alexandra’s appearance in the Woodward Stakes was both the most ambitious and appropriate place for the next stop in what already has been a historic campaign by a sensational filly. You might not gather as much amid the constant carping about her accomplishments and her schedule, from a variety of self-interested media outlets and from those still miffed she’s not going to run in the Breeders’ Cup.

The first half of last week’s ESPN telecast of the Travers seemed devoted largely to Rachel Alexandra’s absence from a race that would have repeated rather than enhanced her standing. Why exactly did she need to run again against Summer Bird, whom she had just dispatched by six lengths in the Haskell?

She had already beaten the Derby winner in the Preakness and the Belmont winner in the Haskell. After doing that, and annihilating fellow 3-year-old fillies by a combined 39 1/2 lengths in the Kentucky Oaks and the Mother Goose, it was time for her to face her elders - whether or not the most challenging opportunity to do so fell on the opening weekend of college football season.

The idea that Rachel Alexandra “ducked” the Travers for an easier spot in the Woodward is preposterous. The seven 3-year-olds who ran in the Travers had combined to win 21 races, $3.5 million, and 10 graded stakes. The seven older horses she will face in the Woodward Saturday have won 44 races, $8.5 million, and 14 graded stakes. It’s not a stellar group, but it’s a better one than assembled for the Travers.

article continues with link above

DRF - 9-3-09 “Old pros take their shot at Rachel” - excerpt

Some of Rachel Alexandra’s competitors feel she will need to be at her best to beat older males.

“I don’t want to say she’s great yet,” said Marty Wolfson, who trains Woodward contender It’s a Bird. “I grew up around Affirmed and Alydar, horses like that. Those are great horses. I cannot tag her great yet. She’s a top filly. I’ve seen a lot of top fillies, too. My stepmother had Affectionately and Priceless Gem and horses like that. They were top fillies, but they weren’t great horses. I think she’s a top filly.”

“I think it’s definitely going to be her toughest test,” said Eoin Harty, who sends out 2008 Woodward runner-up Past the Point against Rachel Alexandra. “I’m already a believer, but I’ll be a true believer if she dominates this field like she has in the past.”

Graham Motion, trainer of Bullsbay, said: “I think we got to hope she stubs her toe a little bit, but at the same time it is a very tall order for a 3-year-old filly to beat older horses. If there’s ever one good enough, she could be the one.”

[Glimmerglass]

From her cited schooling Thursday (9/3) before the 5th race to get used to the crowds and surroundings - NY Dailynews - “Rachel Alexandra’s day is a photo finish”

The first symptoms of Rachelmania struck Thursday afternoon, when Rachel Alexandra radiated her rock-star aura during a schooling session in the paddock.

She proved equally adept at both and maintained her cool despite photographers running up to snap pictures. She behaved a lot better than they did.

When Rachel Alexandra goes postward in tomorrow’s $750,000 Grade I Woodward, her companion will look a little worse for wear. [b]Dakota, the gray stable pony who escorts her to the track for all of her works and races, has a big scrape in the middle of his forehead as the result of a minor incident.

“It gives him street cred,” said Amy Kearns, Rachel Alexandra’s personal security guard. [/b]

[Catsdorule-sigh]

The first half of last week’s ESPN telecast of the Travers seemed devoted largely to Rachel Alexandra’s absence from a race that would have repeated rather than enhanced her standing. Why exactly did she need to run again against Summer Bird, whom she had just dispatched by six lengths in the Haskell?

Because she dispatched them at HER distance and the distance of the Travers was more suited to Summer Bird and Mine That Bird, had he run. It is not a simple matter of who she’s beaten, it’s the conditions at which she beat them, too. The Woodward is her distance, again. Summer Bird was taken out of his game in the Haskell, but after the Travers, looks like he may be learning how to be a more versatile race horse.

I agree with the person who said she was a good filly but not a great horse yet.

The question is not so much who she has beaten or by how much- the question is can she beat them running in other races at varying distances. So far, that question has not been answered. I am one of the ones who think she struggled to hold on in the Pimlico and that was just an extra 1/16. Give MIB a better ride in that race and the outcome might have been different. One has to wonder if MIB’s the entrapped epiglottis was becoming a factor as well.

As well, does anyone know if fillies reach their peak faster than the colts? Summer Bird seems to be coming on well now. Additionally, there is always Quality Road and if he comes out of the Travers OK and actually has time to train for the distance of his next race, what would a race with QA and RA look like?

RA is a very good filly but until they run her with a little more variety in distance and beat the colts as well when doing it, Can’t get on the “overall great” bandwagon yet. If they don’t run her out of that 1-1/8 comfort zone, the question will always be there.

[Larksmom]

To Cats do rule

Does that mean that you think, [as I do,] that Zenyatta should be running in the Pacific Classic? I think she could win, and distance shouldn’t be a problem. But she isn’t running. RA DID win at 1 and 3/8th.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

1m 3/16th.

[Catsdorule-sigh]

Larksmom,

I can’t find where RA has run 1-3/8. Could be that I just can’t find it.

In looking at the information I have about RA and Zenyatta, Z has run the most at 8.5 furlongs, at least the last two years. RA has run up to 9.5, the 1-3/16 Preakness. One and three-eighths mile (11 furlongs) would be quite long for both, I think. That’s longer than the Kentucky Derby and I think nowdays a rather odd distance. I do believe that RA struggled to hold on in the Preakness. She has a fantastic cruising speed but IMHO, I did not see her kick in an extra gear.

The Pacific Classic is 10 furlongs, or 1-1/4 miles. Yes, I’d like to see Zenyatta stretch out too. With the right trip, IMHO, Zenyatta’s “style” would be more likely to allow her to get the 10 furlongs. And she would run against a top older male, Colonel John.

I just have to think there is a reason they keep running these fillies at the distances they do- looking at the race records I have. (caveat)

Both really, really, good fillies. But for me, they need a little more versatility before they get best over everyone.

[Mara]

What is she like?

Yes, I’m being a “fangirl”, LOL. I want to hear from someone who has a close-up encounter with Rachel Alexander.

She seems so cool and professional, not arrogant, but confident. I’d just love to know what she’s like around the barn. Does she have a hot streak? Quirks? Is she an “in-your-pocket” sort of filly?

Yeah, I know I’m going on like a 12-year-old girl. But I can’t help it, I would like to hear some personal stuff.

[Glimmerglass]

With expected almost perfect weather in Saratoga today the turnout could be very impressive for the Woodward Stakes.

Sep 5 Times Union “Rachel’s moment finally here”

“I expect her to win,” majority owner Jess Jackson said by phone from his home in California. “But it’s always a challenge and I love competition. It will not be embarrassing to me or her if she gets beat.”

While Jackson is cautious, jockey Calvin Borel, as always, shows confidence.

“I think you are going to see history,” he said. “I’ve been watching her work and, I promise you, she is gonna run good. I know we are asking her to do a lot but I think she is a better horse than them.”

An image of the give-away pink ‘Rachel’ buttons from NYRA: seen here

The backpage of the Saratoga Special for Sep 5 is a ‘thanks’ advert to NYRA and Saratoga from Rachel’s connections.

[cloudyandcallie]

I don’t want them to get over-confident. I hope she wins and all come thru the race safe and sound, but I wish her connections would be more humble. Like the jockey not celebrating before the finish line (as he also did on MTB in the Derby.) Everyone should be as cool and calm and professional as RA.

I think they should wait till next year to run her in longer races, however I do think they should start having the jockey gallop her out farther after the finish line, heck he could gallop over over the finish line first I guess.

[Glimmerglass]

Ruffian - Rachel mentions in the media

The New York Times 8-5-09 “Woodward Victory Would Solidify Rachel Alexandra’s Spot in History” article is rather interesting.

In the above article D. Wayne Lukas and former NYRA race caller, Dave Johnson, wade into the dicussion of Ruffian or Rachel Alexandra. Both give Rachel the edge.

From Andrew Beyer in the article

Beyer’s speed ratings are considered one of the best methods for evaluating horses from different eras, and he believes Ruffian was faster than Rachel Alexandra.

“The numbers I did then used a different scale from the numbers I do now, but Ruffian ran a race as a 2-year-old that put her in a separate class from anybody else,” Beyer said. “I believe you could say that as a 2-year-old she ran a number that is equal to a 120 or greater on our current scale. As a 3-year-old, she was winning so easily and cruising around the racetrack, so some of those numbers aren’t as impressive. In terms of just raw ability, I still regard Ruffian as in a class by herself, in a class we will never see again.”

Yesterday in the Times Union (“Rachel going for greatness”) Ruffian’s jockey, Jacinto Vasquez, was asked to comment:

Jacinto Vasquez was Ruffian’s jockey and he had no intention of comparing the two when reached by phone two days ago. He wasn’t happy to be talking about Rachel or his most famous mount.

“I have no opinion,” he said, clearly annoyed. “I wish her (Rachel) good luck … Ruffian was in a league all by herself. You can’t compare one year to another. Ruffian never got beat. Rachel is a marvelous horse. That’s all I’ve got to say.”

Also Foolish Pleasure’s trainer, Leroy Jolley - who also trained 1980 Derby winner the filly Genuine Risk, he was asked for thoughts:

“Don’t make me do that!” Jolley said with a laugh when asked to pick one or the other. “That would be a very tough thing to do. I think Rachel is one of the best we have seen in a long time and I have been doing this all my life.”

A diplomatic Nick Zito - who was at Belmont in 1974 when she broke her maiden - and he wagered on her - has this to say:

“I was a fan of Ruffian,” Zito said. “She was so big and so black. But Rachel is just incredible. I don’t know the words to say … I mean, who was the better president? Abraham Lincoln or George Washington? Horses can’t talk so you have to talk to the trainer. But, in this case, I think Rachel is talking to the fans, which is great. They are both special animals. I can’t say enough good things about both of them.”

[Sancudo]

@Catsdorule-sigh;4352633

The question is not so much who she has beaten or by how much- the question is can she beat them running in other races at varying distances.

I guess my question is why? And how far do you take it? Must she become a sprinter too? Must she win a race at every track? How about on all three surfaces? Internationally?

Isn’t it enough that she is the best at her best distances? Isn’t that why there are different distances?

[Catsdorule-sigh]

I have no problem calling her a very, VERY good filly.

But the greats have won from 6f distances in their two year old years to one-and-a-half miles later.

That’s why you have sprint champions and turf champions, etc. You have different distance races, partly, because there are horses that have limits or are specialists such as sprinters.

And that takes nothing away from them. I don’t even care about the track surfaces although I think it’s great when a horse does win on another surface in its career.

But to say she’s HOY material or one of the “greats,” no.

She beat Summer Bird at “her” distance. But Summer Bird has managed to win at 1-1/4 and 1-1/2. Since he’s now showing some versatility and seems to be improving, maybe, maybe, he’d do 1-1/8, I’d like to see it.

But it is now so very evident that RA is consistently run at one distance and Zenyatta pretty much the same.

That’s not the versatility of a great horse.

Both are very, VERY good and certainly the fillies this year and RA in particular have been tremendous for racing, along with a little gelding.

For that matter, it would apply to Quality Road, too.

[Mara]

[QUOTE=Catsdorule-sigh;4354828]
I have no problem calling her a very, VERY good filly.

But the greats have won from 6f distances in their two year old years to one-and-a-half miles later.

That’s why you have sprint champions and turf champions, etc. You have different distance races, partly, because there are horses that have limits or are specialists such as sprinters.

And that takes nothing away from them. I don’t even care about the track surfaces although I think it’s great when a horse does win on another surface in its career.

But to say she’s HOY material or one of the “greats,” no.

She beat Summer Bird at “her” distance. But Summer Bird has managed to win at 1-1/4 and 1-1/2. Since he’s now showing some versatility and seems to be improving, maybe, maybe, he’d do 1-1/8, I’d like to see it.

But it is now so very evident that RA is consistently run at one distance and Zenyatta pretty much the same.

That’s not the versatility of a great horse.

Both are very, VERY good and certainly the fillies this year and RA in particular have been tremendous for racing, along with a little gelding.

For that matter, it would apply to Quality Road, too.[/QUOTE]

IMO, the best filly to race in NA in, say, the last 50 years was Shuvee. As much as I love Rachel, she has a way to go to match that great mare.

[cloudyandcallie]

Everyone has favorites, mine was Genuine Risk, who but for another jockey who beat her in the face, would have won 2 of the triple crown races.
However, it is impossible to mathematically determine which horse, filly or colt, was the “best” unless they have run against each other. Look at Affirmed and Alydar, if Alydar had come along a few years later, people would be comparing him to Affirmed, but head to head, it was Affirmed who was the best horse in 1978. Some horses are not challenged by horses as good as Alydar was. (Affirmed fan here, but realistic.)
If RA continues to run against the boys, and wins, she will have won a place as a great race horse, not a great filly.

[Beandog]

I didn’t see if it had been mentioned, for those with satellite cable… check and see if you have MASN (think it stands for MidAtlantic Sports Network)…it’s carrying the race live tonight. 5-6pm, Saturdays at Saratoga.

Made my day, not having to watch it on youtube after the fact.

[Elly_Mae_II]

I have Direct TV but don’t normally have TVG but for some reason today I do. So if anybody has DirectTV they might want to check and see, there may be a free preview weekend going on or something.

[dressagetraks]

Thanks for the tip! I have TVG today, too. Nice day to pick for a freebie. :yes: