the fact is that the filly was off for six months after a very long and difficult season, that oaklawn tried to accomodate both horses, rachel was put on a fast track to get back in shape, and didn't have the time needed on such an abbreviated schedule. jess wanted her to be ready, hoped she would be, she was not. i think having watched this sport and thousands of horses for years, it was illogical for them to attempt based on all the facts. i'm sorry you think that she missed the race simply because zenyatta showed; i think she missed it because she just couldn't be ready at the time. but then, i'm not biased either way, so i guess i can look at this objectively whereas some cannot.
i've seen a variety of comments about rachel. hard to say what would happen were they to meet. i hope they do meet so the question will be answered.

The race was "moved back" five days. You really think five days makes any real difference in a horse's fitness?

Race was originally for Apr 3, so unless this is new math it was six days, but why split hairs.

This doesn't answer my question. But that's not a surprise.

ok well actually this post was very Riot-esque. :)

Just an awful post...regardless of opinion.

Travis Sone wrote

This all said... unless Steve A. is working some funky new training regime, Rachel Alexandra does not appear nearly as fast as she was last year. Does the Rachel of last spring/summer only win the Lady's Secret by a few lengths? No way. Hopefully I'm wrong though.
__________________
Please do not forget who had Rachel in the begining of the year last year when the all important foundation was put in to her. Hal Wiggens trained the horse up to and for the Kentucky Oaks and after her impressive win, Jess Jackson purchased her for an untold amount.

Maybe Steve A. IS NOT the best trainer in the USA. :eek:


If a horse is just starting their initatial race campaign as a two year old or returning to the races after a layoff, the foundation put in to the horse is maybe the most important part of the future races the horse will run.

Like I said in one of my earlier post, Horsemanship is all but DISSAPEARED from the game today , maybe except for old time trainers like Mr Wiggins.:)

no, she could have got into shape-but rachel refused to drop weight and get into racing trim so quick because she knew zenyatta was coming! :zz:

just read this, linked on equidaily:


The Rachel Alexandra-Zenyatta matchup could finally take place on Aug. 29 in the Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga.

"We have spoken with Zenyatta's connections regarding races at Saratoga and Belmont," said New York Racing Association president and CEO Charles Hayward, who noted that the Personal Ensign would remain at the mile-and one-quarter distance.

The purse is currently $400,000, but that could increase. NYRA increased the purse of last year's Woodward from $500,000 to $750,000 to get Rachel to race at Saratoga.

But Hayward added: "It's too early to speculate on the purse."

With concerns over the synthetic surface at Del Mar, Zenyatta connections still haven't made up their mind where the big mare will start next, while Rachel Alexandra's camp indicated there's a good chance she'll start next at the Spa.

"I have no idea," said Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, the wife of trainer John Shirreffs and the racing manager for Jerry and Ann Moss, who own the undefeated Zenyatta. "We're trying to decide that. We have not confirmed anything yet. We're looking at several options."

Zenyatta, 17-for-17 in her career, was pointing to a start in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 7, a race she has won the past two years.

regardless of what they do about the above, some great racing on tap at the spa:

quality road vs blame upcoming, and now i just read that blind luck and devil may care will most likely face off in the alabama. sweet!

Do people really believe Z will be shipped to NY?

Or not run at DMR?

no

and

no


but it'll still be all jacksons fault that they didn't meet that one time at oaklawn, obviously the only opportunity ever.

Fine work.

Was Z responding to the Scav-man beacon in the sky?

"We would like to run her twice before the (Nov. 5) Breeders' Cup," Ingordo said. "But that decision will be up to the Mosses and John."

Despite speculation that the first of those two would be Del Mar's Aug. 7 Hirsch Stakes, Jerry Moss does not favor Del Mar's surface. Ingordo said a decision to enter "has not been made."

The Mosses do not want to air ship Zenyatta east before the Breeders' Cup. That means both starts will be in California.

"We're fortunate to be near so many Class 1 tracks," Ingordo said of Del Mar, Santa Anita and Hollywood. "Wherever she races, it's a short ride to the track."

Sounds like Clement Hirsch and than the Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita... followed by Shirreffs tightening the screws and having her at peak for the BC Classic at CD.

Perfect solution: hire ol' C. Woolley to van her the 38 hours or whatever out to Saratoga. That way she won't have to pass over the Rockies, just kind of through them. That should really solve everything. Oh, and plus, Zenyatta LOVES to travel - LOVES IT!

........yes.

I meant besides CSC and Smooth Operator.

This seems like a giant waste of time, especially from someone whos on vacatioN with his family?? Lets also not mention you continue to insult an UNDEFEATED CHAMPION, its just getting old.