Any news on the big Oaklawn announcement?
 

Wasn't Cella making his announcement at 10:00 am CST?

Nothing official yet, but T-Times reported last night that it involved a substantial purse increase for the AB Hcp if Z and RA showed.

BREAKING NEWS: Oaklawn could boost Apple Blossom purse to $5-million
 

Wow... $5 Mil!

I don't blame Oaklawn for trying this, but I would be surprised it it happened.

I'm guessing they'll meet in a Grade 1 race that isn't restricted to fillies and mares, which would help the field size as well.

If the purse is $5 Million, they'll get at least three other horses in the gate because of how lucrative just finishing third-fourth-fifth can be.

NT

Oaklawn Park | Posted 2/4/2010, 11:55 am
Zenyatta, Rachel matchup worth $5 million
By Mary Rampellini

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - In the boldest move yet to bring Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta together for the first time in a race, Oaklawn Park prezsident Charles Cella has announced that the purse of the April 3 Apple Blossom will be raised to $5 million if both horses start.

If just one of the pair start, the purse of the purse will revert to its original $500,000.

The race will now be called the Apple Blossom Invitational, and it's distance has been extended to 1 1/8 miles from 1 1/6 miles. The Apple Blossom, for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up, was scheduled to be a handcap but now all horses will carry 123 pounds.

Cella said he has had multiple convesations with Jess Jackson, the owner of Rachel Alexandra, and Jery Moss, the owner of Zenyatta.

"Both of them have told me they embrace the idea," he said.

The aditional purse money will be financed by Cella and the Arkansas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

Rachel Alexandra was crowned Horse of the Year for 2009 in January, while the undefeated Zenyatta won the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in her last start Nov. 7.

Both horses have won at Oaklawn. Rachel Alexandra is 2 for 2 in Hot Springs, having accounted for both the Grade 2 Fantasy and the Martha Washington at the track in 2009. Zenyatta's lone start outside of California came at Oaklawn, in 2008, when she won the Apple Blossom.

Oaklawn has a dirt track, which Jess Jackson, the owner of Rachel Alexandra, prefers over synthetic racing surfaces.

Zenyatta breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 at Hollywood Park on Wednesday, and following the work her connections said she could make her first start of the year in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita on March 13. They have mentioned the Apple Blossom as a possible second start for Zenyatta.

Rachel Alexandra has not raced since winning the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga on Sept. 5. She had her first published work last Sunday at Fair Grounds, breezing four furlongs in 52 seconds. Plans for her campaign have not been announced, but Fair Grounds has a $200,000 stakes for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth on its schedule March 13.

At the Eclipse Awards, however, Jackson, said Racel Alexandra's projected return to the races has been delayed because of some missed training due to wet weather at Fair Grounds.

The connections of both horses have expressed a desire for the two to meet.

The Oaklawn offer is one of two significant pitches in the region to bring Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta together. Sam Houston Race Park in Houston will put up a maximum purse of $2 million if the two were to start in the track's Gallery Furniture Distaff that has a tentative, negotiable date of March 27.

glad I got my tickets and hotel reservations months ago...

The purse should be $1 million if either starts.

only two hours away, so i just have to drive up early....if it happens.

I made a hotel reservation yesterday just in case.

NT

It would be more likely to happen if OP moved closing day back a day to make up for the days lost to ice, and moved to the AB to that closing Sunday. That would give Steve an extra week to prepare RA.

i'm not sure how they'll handle having lost those days, but i doubt a re-do on the racing festival dates will happen. if rachel isn't ready, she isn't ready. i doubt it matters one whit to her how large the purse will be! certainly i can see them meeting at churchill the first wknd in november-and i already have reservations for then as well. i don't see a reason the two won't meet at some point this year. i'd also have to think that both trainers have a big circle around that date in nov, and are working back from there as far as planning. they haven't shipped zenyatta out of state in close to two years, so you have to wonder just how keen her connections will be to do so. she flourishes in cali-and of course is still undefeated. i'll be surprised if she leaves her home before churchill.

I thought Z was at CD and ready to run on the Oaks card last year.

Since the $5 million is true, that's probably too good to pass up. I really hope it happens, but also hope that they would meet 2 other times this year.

Ideally, another race in the summer, and then perhaps in the Breeders Cup.
Developing a rivalry during the year, rather than just running once.

I have the days scheduled off

I am definatley going if they both run

JESS JACKSON REMAINS NON-COMMITTAL ON APPLE BLOSSOM

Statement by Jess Jackson on Apple Blossom Invitational:

“As you have heard me say many times before, a number of factors must be considered when deciding where to race a horse — the number one factor being the condition of the horse. Rachel will tell us when she is ready to start her 2010 campaign and we humans must agree she is in top form.

My family and I would love to see her run at Oaklawn Park. If she is in top form and it fits in our schedule, we will be there. Rachel, as you know, likes the track having won twice there last year

Kickin n screamin is a definite

likes the track having won twice there last year
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thats why zenyatta will pass

She won there too. . . The distance seems more advantageous to RA than the track (not because I don't think she can handle longer).

the short dist to the wire out of the last turn is good for r.a