JC / Railbird

Zenyatta

Peerless

Rachel Alexandra and Calvin Borel win the Haskell. (Uploaded by Rock and Racehorses to Flickr.)

She’s beaten the winners of the Illinois Derby, Arkansas Derby, Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Tom Fool Handicap. She’s won eight consecutive races, four of those Grade 1s, one a Classic, at six different tracks, and she’s done so by a combined 69 3/4 lengths. Her winning time of 1:47.21 for nine furlongs in the Haskell Invitational came within one-fifth of a second of the Monmouth stakes record; her preliminary Beyer speed figure for the race is 116, which is the highest yet given this year to any horse of any age at any distance over any surface in North America. The leading contender for Horse of the Year, she’s the best of her generation, male or female, and quite possibly, the best American thoroughbred in training.

She’s Rachel Alexandra, and she’s great.

Superlatively speaking: Her Haskell win was preternatural … awesome … surreal … easily the most scintillating seen this year … spine-tingling. (For more, including photos and the race replay, visit R360.)

Meanwhile: Earlier in the day and across the ocean, Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Goldikova turned in a flawless front-running performance to win the Fr-1 Prix de Rothschild. Writes Sue Montgomery in the Independent,

Unlike those commercially driven, demeaning occasions now prevalent at feature race meetings, yesterday was a ladies’ day with a degree of dignity attached. At Deauville, the four-year-old filly Goldikova won the European weekend’s most valuable prize because of her deeds, not her looks. Her class as an athlete was being judged, not the style of her plaits or the colour of her saddlecloth.

Sing it, sister.

The brilliant Goldikova is expected to return to Santa Anita this fall to defend her title. “We’ll follow the same plan as last year,” said trainer Freddie Head.

And at Del Mar: Perfect Zenyatta breezed five furlongs in 1:00 in prep for the Clement Hirsch (video). Could the champion beat Rachel Alexandra, if the two meet? That’ll be the question for the rest of the racing year.

Posted in Racing on August 2, 2009 / Tagged Breeders' Cup, Del Mar, Distaffers, Favorites, France, Goldikova, Great Horses, Haskell Stakes, International, Monmouth Park, Rachel Alexandra, Workouts, Zenyatta

Not Like the Other

One last post about Zenyatta or Rachel Alexandra (for a couple days, at least), as I can’t help noting that the reasons both trainer John Shirreffs and owner Jerry Moss are giving for ruling out shipping the mighty mare to New York for a race at Saratoga or Belmont is the detention barn and Giacomo’s meltdown before the 2005 Belmont Stakes. Interesting how they’re citing the one thing that makes NYRA tracks different, just as Jess Jackson did with his mentions of Curlin’s Breeders’ Cup Classic loss and the Santa Anita Pro-Ride when he said Rachel Alexandra was unlikely for the Breeders’ Cup. Excuses to duck? Or legitimate concerns for both camps?

Posted in Racing on June 30, 2009 / Tagged Detention Barn, NYRA, Pro-Ride, Rachel Alexandra, Santa Anita, Zenyatta

Hustling for a Meeting

… between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. From the Times-Union:

“NYRA generally does not sweeten pots or provide incentives but this could be a situation that might warrant that consideration,” NYRA president and CEO Charlie Hayward said in an e-mail.

And the New York Post:

“As you know, Mr. Moss opened the door to running in the East, and we will be spending this week to find out exactly what that means,” NYRA president Charles Hayward told The Post. “As you also know, we have two great older filly races at Saratoga [where Rachel Alexandra is now stabled], the [Aug. 2] Go For Wand and the [Aug. 30] Personal Ensign that might have some appeal to the parties. Early days, but we will stay on top of it.”

The two at Saratoga? Can’t imagine anything better. Good luck, NYRA.

Posted in Racing on June 29, 2009 / Tagged Distaffers, Go For Wand, NYRA, Personal Ensign, Rachel Alexandra, Saratoga, Zenyatta

Just Super

Both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, that is, who accomplished exactly what was expected of them on Saturday in winning, respectively, the Mother Goose Stakes and Vanity Handicap. But if the outcome of both races felt unsurprising, there was nothing boring about how they won (and for more reaction, plus replays and photos, visit R360), with Rachel Alexandra breaking records (and creating a minus win pool) and Zenyatta giving away 13-18 pounds to her six challengers (the approximate equivalent of 7-9 lengths). Despite appearing to labor slightly under her 129 pound impost, the most the mare has ever carried, Zenyatta dug in gamely to bring her undefeated record to 11 straight.

Now, if only the two could meet …

Beyer speed figures: 111 for Rachel Alexandra, a career best; 104 for Zenyatta.

Posted in Racing on June 28, 2009 / Tagged Mother Goose Stakes, Rachel Alexandra, Vanity Handicap, Zenyatta