Rachel's Belmont answer likely about Memorial Day
 

Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra's run in Belmont a work in progress
BY Jerry Bossert

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/mo..._progress.html

BALTIMORE - After Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness, the racing world wants to know if she will try the boys again in the June 6 Belmont.

The answer could come on Memorial Day, when the filly is to have her first timed work since taking the middle leg of the Triple Crown by a length over Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird on Saturday.


Belmont up next for filly? Rachel Alexandra has some options
By Mark Blaudschun

http://www.boston.com/sports/other_s...ext_for_filly/

BALTIMORE - The winner of Saturday's 134th running of the Preakness Stakes was guided into a van at Pimlico Race Track yesterday morning, headed back to Kentucky. For Rachel Alexandra, the 3-year-old filly who dazzled the horse racing world with a length victory over Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and a field of 11 other boys, the next challenge awaits.

Most of the speculation is that it will be the Belmont Stakes in New York in three weeks.


Rachel Alexandra appears headed for Belmont Stakes

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090517/...akness_7/print

BALTIMORE (Reuters) – The trainer of Preakness champion Rachel Alexandra hinted on Sunday that the filly would be headed for the Belmont Stakes in three weeks. Steve Asmussen spoke to the media just hours after Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the middle leg of U.S. thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown series.

"The reason she ran in the Preakness is because she was doing extremely well," he said at Pimlico Race Course. "If you're doing extremely well, what are you waiting for? I think if they're doing well, you ought to run them. Rachel Alexandra followed up her 20 1/4-length victory in the May 1 Kentucky Oaks with a one-length triumph over Kentucky Derby champion Mine That Bird in the Preakness.

I don't see anything in that article that would indicate they are running in the Belmont Stakes. I doubt they will run her in the Belmont. The risk/reward just isn't there. From the comments I heard out of Asmussen, it does not sound like he is eager to run her in the Belmont. He said on Sunday that he "didn't feel the urgency to run her in the Belmont like he did in the Preakness."

He may not feel the urgency, but after a phone call from Jess Jackson, he may change his mind.

He's not calling the shots.

Rematch in Belmont not a certainty
By Jay Privman

http://www.drf.com/news/article/103854.html

BALTIMORE - Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird, the first two finishers in a thrilling, historic Preakness Stakes on Saturday here at Pimlico, are headed back to Churchill Downs in the same order, but the order of their next starts may be reversed.

Rachel Alexandra, who added the Preakness to her Kentucky Oaks win 15 days earlier, left Pimlico early Sunday morning for a flight to Kentucky. After seeing her off from the stakes barn, her trainer, Steve Asmussen, said he would consult with majority owner Jess Jackson before deciding where to run the filly next.

Asmussen said no decision had been made on whether to run Rachel Alexandra on June 6 in the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown. But Asmussen did allow on Sunday morning that he didn't "feel the urgency" to run her in the Belmont like he did the Preakness.

They are scared of the dreaded 0-2-X sheet pattern.

If I owned RA ... I would use the press to try and lure Zenyatta's connections into a match race on a dirt racetrack.

Obviously Zenyatta's connections wouldn't bite because they'd have no chance in a match race on a dirt track ... but I'd want to publicly make them look like the chickens now ... because there is no way in hell I'd run her in the Breeders Cup.

Make them duck you from a spot where they are at an obvious disadvantage before you duck them from a spot where you are at an obvious disadvantage... and would probably run 4th or 5th losing to horrible horses.

Dont expect an answer soon as Jacksons lust for the spotlight will keep the 'drama' going as long as he can.

from yahoo:

"Trainer Larry Jones, who’s now 0-for-3 against Rachel Alexandra, shipped Friesan Fire back to Delaware Park and will make a decision on the Belmont in the next few days.

“We’ll sit down and regroup and see what’s next,” Jones said. “I’m sure we’re not headed for the Belmont, but we’ll see what happens. We’ll find him a spot he’ll fit in.”



---hell, he's not just 0-3 vs rachel, but vs most of the other 3 yo's these days...