JC / Railbird

Rachel Alexandra

Oaks Notes

The Oaks is always overshadowed by the Derby, but this year seems especially so — perhaps because the race will likely draw a small, modestly accomplished field dominated by the awesome Rachel Alexandra. In a small attempt to redress the imbalance here though, a bit of Oaks news …

– Is D. Wayne Lukas feeling cagey, or cranky? When asked yesterday how far Oaks contender Be Fair had galloped, the trainer replied, “Doesn’t matter. She was strong.” Asked the same question today, he said it was up to others to “figure out” the distance. Be Fair, fourth in the Ashland Stakes, will work Sunday or Monday. Tweeter, Lukas’ other Oaks starter as of this morning, worked five furlongs in :59.80, the best of 30 at the distance.

– The addition of Tweeter — lightly raced, stepping up from maiden company, not without fans on Twitter — brought the likely Oaks field back to seven after it was announced that Fitz Just Right will miss the race due to an ankle chip in her right front, discovered after the filly breezed four furlongs in :49. Stablemate Justwhistledixie equaled that time, then galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.20 over the main track (video).

– Rachel Alexandra had a planned morning off, walking the shedrow instead of going to the track. She’s scheduled to work on Monday, with Calvin Borel up. For that, I would like to be at Churchill …

Posted in Racing on April 24, 2009 / Tagged Be Fair, Justwhistledixie, Kentucky Oaks, Rachel Alexandra, Tweeter

Notes for 2009-04-16

– Rachel Alexandra turned in a sharp work this morning at Churchill Downs, breezing five furlongs in :59.40 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.60. “As usual, she went a little bit faster than I really wanted, but she does it so easy,” said trainer Hal Wiggins, adding the filly would wrap up her prep for the Kentucky Oaks with a work on Monday, April 27. Catching wind of the bullet move, rival Justwhistledixie had this to say on Twitter: “Rumor has it my main competition Rachel Alexandra worked pretty nicely this morning. That’s okay, I get to show my stuff tomorrow morning.” Not only is this year’s 3-year-old crop showing a lot of depth, it’s proving pretty web savvy …

– During last year’s Keeneland spring meet, there was quite a bit chatter about lower handle and fewer favorites winning. What a difference a year makes:

Through April 11, the Polytrack and turf surfaces have been rewarding favorites with a usual share of the winnings. After 67 races, there have been 31.3-percent of the favorites on top, which is only slightly lower than the Thoroughbred racing’s historical 33-percent watermark figure.

Order restored. Maybe the Polytrack isn’t so inscrutable, maybe the stats even out, maybe trainer Dale Romans was onto something when he said last April, “I’m not so sure [betting on Keeneland] would be a problem if it were longer than a two-week meet, so they can get a gauge on who’s running well.” With another year to adjust, seems like bettors now have a better gauge.

Posted in Racing on April 16, 2009 / Tagged Justwhistledixie, Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks, Polytrack, Rachel Alexandra

Shaping Up

Barring any surprises in the Arkansas Derby or Blue Grass Stakes, my list of top 10 Kentucky Derby prospects is pretty much settled (although adjustments are likely over the next three weeks to accommodate changes in status, hoof issues, training problems). I Want Revenge is now #1, moving up from #3, off his stupendous Wood Memorial win, which only grew more impressive watching the replay. Something I failed to notice during the race was that Joe Talamo doesn’t go to the whip at any point — after patiently guiding IWR down the backstretch, saving ground and not hustling to make up for the poor start, then splitting horses to get out of traffic coming into the stretch, Talamo handrides IWR to the wire. Amazing.

Quality Road drops to #2, a move I made before hearing the colt has a quarter crack, which is being treated by Ian McKinlay. Imperial Council drops off completely, while Terrain creeps into #10. We’ll see how the under-the-radar colt, third in the Louisiana Derby, does in the Blue Grass on Saturday.

Top 10 for 4/7/09 PDI: 1. I Want Revenge 2. Quality Road 3. Pioneerof the Nile 4. Desert Party 5. Old Fashioned 6. Friesan Fire 7. Dunkirk 8. Regal Ransom 9. Papa Clem 10. Terrain

How about Rachel Alexandra in the Fantasy Stakes? The embodiment of easy:

Calvin Borel starts mugging on the backstretch, but I can’t blame him. She’s just galloping, the other four fillies totally at her mercy, lolling through unhurried fractions to a final time of 1:43.35, finishing more than eight lengths ahead of Afleet Deceit. On to the Kentucky Oaks …

Odds and ends: Old Fashioned worked five furlongs in 1:00.6 at Oaklawn on Monday. Trainer Larry Jones was pleased with how the colt went around the turn. “That was the big thing.” I’m nonchalantly ignoring Musket Man for now, even though he’s definitely heading to the Kentucky Derby after winning the Illinois. And The Pamplemousse is out, for at least six months, possibly longer. “Our goal is the Pacific Classic [at Del Mar] next year.”

Posted in Racing on April 7, 2009 / Tagged Derby Prospects, I Want Revenge, Kentucky Derby, Lists, Quality Road, Rachel Alexandra