Rachel Alexandra Retired

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

It would have been quite an event that would have deservedly gotten a whole lot of attention. It really is disgraceful that the two great fillies never met despite the ample opportunities. In an era where 'historic' races are few and far between, it would have been worthy.

The irony, of course, is that if Shirreffs hadn't sent Zardana to the Fair Grounds, the $5 Million Apple Blossom would have taken place.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The irony, of course, is that if Shirreffs hadn't sent Zardana to the Fair Grounds, the $5 Million Apple Blossom would have taken place.

makes you wonder, doesn't it? if he wanted the faceoff so bad...why send zardana? everyone knew what would happen if rachel lost that day.

[dagolfer33]

Originally Posted by Danzig

makes you wonder, doesn't it? if he wanted the faceoff so bad...why send zardana? everyone knew what would happen if rachel lost that day.

Makes me wonder why they interpreted that race as a "she's not ready" instead of "she needed the race".

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by dagolfer33

Makes me wonder why they interpreted that race as a "she's not ready" instead of "she needed the race".

Jackson tried to micro manage RA just the same as the Moss's with Zenyatta.

The problem was that RA didn't want to race anymore.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

The problem was that RA didn't want to race anymore.

Complete and utter bullshit.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Complete and utter bullshit.

Says you and RA stopped racing at her best after getting the whip in the Woodward.

RA had enough pure talent to hang in there as a 4yo when she really didnt give it her best effort, but you're the EXPERT.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

Says you and RA stopped racing at her best after getting the whip in the Woodward.

RA had enough pure talent to hang in there as a 4yo when she really didnt give it her best effort, but you're the EXPERT.

You're the one who thinks you can read the horse's mind and tell how she's feeling and what she wants to do. But yeah, I'm the know-it-all.

Rachel stopped running well because she was whipped in the Woodward, according to you. Are you a writer for Disney? Because that's fabricated fairytale presumptive nonsense.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

The problem was that RA didn't want to race anymore.

This is ridiculous. Go back and watch the fleur de lis again from this year and then explain to me why it is so much worse than most of her races last year, or how it is evidence that she "didn't want to race."
Just because she won the Oaks by a huge margin last year doesn't mean she ran better in that race than she did this year going 9f at CD. In fact, she basically ran the exact same race again except this year she ran a little bit faster while also carrying a couple of extra pounds.
Clearly she didn't turn in performances this year that were quite on par with what she did in the Haskell and Woodward last year, but her races this year stack up pretty well with what she did last year at Oaklawn, and in the Oaks and Preakness, etc. I think the idea that she fell out of form dramatically this year is completely wrong.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by miraja2

This is ridiculous. Go back and watch the fleur de lis again from this year and then explain to me why it is so much worse than most of her races last year, or how it is evidence that she "didn't want to race."
Just because she won the Oaks by a huge margin last year doesn't mean she ran better in that race than she did this year going 9f at CD. In fact, she basically ran the exact same race again except this year she ran a little bit faster while also carrying a couple of extra pounds.
Clearly she didn't turn in performances this year that were quite on par with what she did in the Haskell and Woodward last year, but her races this year stack up pretty well with what she did last year at Oaklawn, and in the Oaks and Preakness, etc. I think the idea that she fell out of form dramatically this year is completely wrong.

I'm not saying she fell out of form, she just failed to do what a filly with her ability and class will do.

WIN as a 4 yo. Some just no longer have a intrest in racing.

Even her trainer expressed concerns about "Keeping her happy" and not wanting to do anything to upset her routine. Hell he was walking on eggs to try and figure out how to get her to use that extra gear. Experianced horse people on this board told us that she was done and most didn't listen.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

I'm not saying she fell out of form, she just failed to do what a filly with her ability and class will do.

WIN as a 4 yo. Some just no longer have a intrest in racing.

So who won the Fleur de Lis and the Lady's Secret?

I still don't understand your point. Can you explain to me how her performance in the Fleur de Lis (in particular) demostrated her lack of interest in racing this year?

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Danzig

makes you wonder, doesn't it? if he wanted the faceoff so bad...why send zardana? everyone knew what would happen if rachel lost that day.

I gathered that that was not his idea. Zardana's owner is the one that wanted to take her on, wasn't he? I always thought Shirreffs would've preferred not to do that. It's not like the Mosses had any say.

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Danzig

makes you wonder, doesn't it? if he wanted the faceoff so bad...why send zardana? everyone knew what would happen if rachel lost that day.

i don't think they thought zardana would win. she was a third string "feel out" the competition entry. the real tip off was when they pulled out of the big race. why pull out because you lost the first race back after a long layoff? answer: they knew rachel was not right before everyone else and losing confirmed their fears......look how they picked her schedule after that. a couple of those races were a joke compared to last year. the horse went from taking on any race to special set up races that she lost half of. the race (at monmouth) that set her up for the personal ensign was a disgrace. "oh, we beat a bunch of claimers lets stretch her out to 10 furlongs, in a grade one." the horse probably should of retired months before that! the "faceoff" race that some are crying about would of been a farce if it happened at all this year.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The irony, of course, is that if Shirreffs hadn't sent Zardana to the Fair Grounds, the $5 Million Apple Blossom would have taken place.

He did Jackson a favor by sending Zardana. Jackson did not want to face Zenyatta in April. Jackson declined the Apple Blossom at first before Cella painted him in a corner by moving the race back a week. When Jackson did the calculus, a loss to Zardana after a long layoff would be easier to dismiss than a loss to Zenyatta in her second start back.

The most logical early season targets for Rachel were the La Troienne and the Fleur de Lis. Moss could have had some fun by shipping Zenyatta to CD after the Apple Blossom to await Rachel. Instead she returned to SoCal and all this foolishness about the Rockies started.