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#1
09-03-2009, 07:56 PM
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As expected Crist is the man about the girl
Rachel's agenda a perfect fit
By Steven Crist Barbara D. Livingston Rachel Alexandra, with Dominic Terry up, exercises Thursday at Saratoga in preparation for her try at an historic Woodward win. SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Win or lose on Saturday, Rachel Alexandra's appearance in the Woodward Stakes was both the most ambitious and appropriate place for the next stop in what already has been a historic campaign by a sensational filly. You might not gather as much amid the constant carping about her accomplishments and her schedule, from a variety of self-interested media outlets and from those still miffed she's not going to run in the Breeders' Cup. The first half of last week's ESPN telecast of the Travers seemed devoted largely to Rachel Alexandra's absence from a race that would have repeated rather than enhanced her standing. Why exactly did she need to run again against Summer Bird, whom she had just dispatched by six lengths in the Haskell? She had already beaten the Derby winner in the Preakness and the Belmont winner in the Haskell. After doing that, and annihilating fellow 3-year-old fillies by a combined 39 1/2 lengths in the Kentucky Oaks and the Mother Goose, it was time for her to face her elders - whether or not the most challenging opportunity to do so fell on the opening weekend of college football season. The idea that Rachel Alexandra "ducked" the Travers for an easier spot in the Woodward is preposterous. The seven 3-year-olds who ran in the Travers had combined to win 21 races, $3.5 million, and 10 graded stakes. The seven older horses she will face in the Woodward Saturday have won 44 races, $8.5 million, and 14 graded stakes. It's not a stellar group, but it's a better one than assembled for the Travers. So instead of doing something she had already done twice this year - beating 3-year-old males - Rachel Alexandra will try to beat older males in the Woodward, something that has never been done by a filly of any age. It's the toughest assignment of her career, and she's no cinch. A victory would be a major achievement. The complaint that the Woodward isn't what it used to be, because it has been moved from Belmont to Saratoga, doesn't quite jibe with the last two runnings, won by Lawyer Ron, the champion older male of 2007, and Curlin, the Horse of the Year last season. The choices made by her connections, led by majority owner Jess Jackson, have been perfect to date, but seem to annoy people who are grudging about the filly because they're not crazy about her owner. Jackson's arm-twisting to get the purses of the Haskell and Woodward increased have struck a sour note, simply because his personal wealth so dwarves the added purse money, but his frustration is understandable: He thinks he has the best dirt horse in the world, but the two richest races that used to be run on that surface - the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic and the $6 million Dubai World Cup - will be run on synthetic tracks in the months ahead. The Woodward, a far better indicator of genuine quality than races on experimental surfaces where championship form in highly suspect, was worth only $500,000 until Jackson wrangled a 50 percent increase out of Saratoga management. Jackson's choices have not dovetailed with national television schedules, but it is hardly his fault that ESPN is not televising the Haskell and Woodward this year, or that the Breeders' Cup is being run on a synthetic racetrack. Her absence from races that do not suit her is discomfiting to promoters still laboring under the delusion that a few star turns on network television will make racing wildly popular. Does anyone really believe casual viewers were hungering to see Rachel Alexandra-Summer Bird - The Sequel? There's a similarly silly emphasis on how many people Rachel Alexandra will attract to Saratoga on Saturday, as if this is some sort of referendum on racing's popularity or a make-or-break financial proposition for the New York Racing Association. Labor Day weekend is a tough sell for live attendance, not because Rachel Alexandra is or isn't a great filly, but because people tend to have longstanding, traditional plans for the last weekend of summer and aren't suddenly going to run out to a racetrack they don't usually visit to see any particular horse. Last year, NYRA pulled out the marketing stops when Curlin ran in the Woodward, and the turnstile count in perfect weather was 22,572. They will probably do better this year, given Rachel Alexandra's greater popularity, but a turnout of 25,000 vs. 30,000 or 35,000 isn't going to say anything meaningful about the sport or its following. What matters is whether Rachel Alexandra, already a filly for the ages, can become even more so by winning the Woodward. At least some of us get it!!! 
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#2
09-03-2009, 08:00 PM
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I love it.
Though it's not really anything novel that tons of other people aren't out there saying.
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#4
09-03-2009, 08:08 PM
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Beyer is not far behind:
http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do...3&subs=0&arc=0 Columnists | Posted 9/3/2009, 5:47 pm With this filly, the deal's for real By Andrew Beyer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The main street in downtown Saratoga Springs is lined with banners reading, "Rachel Alexandra: Run Like a Girl." The mayor has declared Saturday to be "Rachel Alexandra Day." A press release declares that the filly's impending appearance is one of the most anticipated races in Saratoga's 141-year history. Casual fans might be skeptical about all of this ballyhoo. Every year, it seems, some young horse is anointed as the sport's next superstar, and almost every year the hype turns out to be wrong. But this time it's different. Rachel Alexandra is indeed the real thing. Her accomplishments this year suggest that she is one of America's best female racehorses of all time, and she will attempt to enhance her credentials Saturday when she challenges older males in the Woodward Stakes. In its 55 runnings, no female of any age has ever won the Woodward, and only one 3-year-old filly has tried. Rachel Alexandra's presence in this prestigious event underscores an important factor in her ascent to stardom. She has an owner and trainer willing to let her show how good she may be. Although it seem be premature to assess Rachel Alexandra's place in history - she has another full year of racing ahead of her - few females have ever put together a string of races as dazzling as her last four starts. She won the Kentucky Oaks by more than 20 lengths, prompting owner Jess Jackson to buy her and run her in the Preakness two weeks later. She then became the first filly in 85 years to win the middle leg of the Triple Crown. Rachel Alexandra got a breather in the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park and romped by 19 lengths. Then she took on males again in the Haskell at Monmouth, where she trounced Summer Bird - the Belmont Stakes winner - by six lengths. Her Beyer Speed Figure of 116 was the best by any horse in North America this year. Rachel Alexandra's achievements have few precedents, because most America horsemen are reluctant to run fillies against colts. (Europeans, by contrast, have no such qualms. Their fillies frequently win the most important grass races on both sides of the Atlantic.) Many of the best U S. filly champions - such Go for Wand, Sky Beauty, and Inside Information - never raced against males. The ones who have challenged males on dirt have recorded only sporadic success. Azeri, the Horse of the Year in 2002, was 0 for 2 against males. Lady's Secret, the 1986 Horse of the Year, beat males in only 1 of 7 attempts. Rachel Alexandra's previous owner was one of the many conservatives in the sport who don't believe in racing fillies against colts. If Jackson hadn't bought her, the filly would not have run in the Preakness, Haskell, or Woodward. But the owner of Kendall-Jackson Winery got into the sport because he relishes challenges - he put his champion Curlin through an ambitious campaign last year. He also, however, understands that the condition of the animal dictates what he can do. Jackson relies on trainer Steve Asmussen and assistant Scott Blasi to assess Rachel Alexandra's health and fitness. As the owner, he said, "I'm looking at the long-term schedule and taking into account the business aspects." So far the team has made all the right decisions about where to run the filly. "It's a process of defining her greatness," Jackson said. "Each time she passes one test, she goes on to another." Running a 3-year-old filly against older males is a choice that few trainers - including Asmussen - would make on their own, but Asmussen believes that the filly has retained her peak form, and he gave the green light to Jackson's aspirations. Asmussen knows that the outcome of this race is not foregone conclusion, even if most people think Rachel Alexandra is unbeatable in a field that is sub-par by the Woodward's historical standards. The trainer recalled that Curlin was supposed to be unbeatable in the Woodward last year, but the champion had to fight hard to beat Past the Point by just more than a length. Past the Point is in Saturday's field along with six other battle-tested veterans. "She's going to have to run equal to or better than Curlin in order to win," Asmussen said. Rachel Alexandra will win if she produces her best form, but she is not an indefatigable machine. The racing record books show that 3-year-old fillies who beat top males have usually tailed off after their great triumphs. Winning Colors captured the 1988 Kentucky Derby brilliantly and never won another race of consequence. Rags to Riches defeated Curlin in the 2007 Belmont Stakes, lost her next start, and never raced again. If Rachel Alexandra wins the Woodward, her place in history will be secure. It will not be an exaggeration to call her the best American filly since Ruffian. Although Ruffian was one of the fastest Thoroughbreds who ever lived, even her overall accomplishments don't match Rachel's, and her only venture against males - her match race with Foolish Pleasure - ended with her fatal breakdown. Rachel Alexandra can lock up the Horse of the Year title with a victory, but she can also earn an even rarer distinction. While other members of her sex have won the sport's top award without beating the best males, this will be the first time in the postwar era that a filly, running on dirt, will be regarded as America's best racehorse, regardless of gender. I have been amazed by the utter idiocy in this forum about this filly. I thought the old AOL boards were loaded with clueless, self-absorbed losers, but this has been an eye-opener.
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#6
09-03-2009, 08:18 PM
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I'm glad Crist tore ESPN a new one; their self-promoting BS agenda last week was disgusting.
http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/sho...2&postcount=63 Early enough for you, dalakhani? I'm not a band wagon jumper or redboarder on this subject, am I?
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#7
09-03-2009, 08:42 PM
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Surely he isn't comparing the ****ing woodturd to a race on anything from the moon on down(much less pro-ride) vs Sea the Stars, Gio Ponti, Zenyatta, Rail Trip, GenericEuroStar2, Summer Bird, etc.... Genuine quality: "i do not think it means what you think it means" 
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#8
09-03-2009, 08:45 PM
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Bobby we realize you are a special talent but I think your post could use a bit of an explanation
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#9
09-03-2009, 08:51 PM
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#10
09-03-2009, 09:04 PM
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#11
09-03-2009, 09:07 PM
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1.Azeri would be odds on in this edition of the Woodward.
Not taking anything away from RA. If she wins it will be a feather in her cap. But i still maintain that running any horse in any race where you are 1/2 on the morning line isnt a real stretch. 2. In reference to Ganders inability to understand that most 1/2 morning line choices are clearly better than the competition. It has nothing to do with her "greatness" or any measure of it. It has to do with the fact that she is an overwhelming fav over the field she is facing. Running a overwhelming fav doesnt make you bold in my opinion. It makes you smart. This is a pretty logical spot for her as was the Haskell. The fact that it is against males is interesting and a bit historic but come on, this isnt like taking on Mike Tyson his his prime. 3. It is logical to run in the best races for the most money when you have the best horse. When is the last time a 3 yo filly was clearly the best horse in the country in May of her three year old year? Please explain to me why running a horse in a spot where she is clearly the best horse and in fine shape physically not a logical idea? Her being a three year old filly makes it unusual however the Woodward is the best spot for her to not only run and win but to complete a theoretical checklist of her owners aspirations. If Seattle Slew and Affirmed were in this years version of the Woodward I would say that this would not be a logical spot. Not to mention they have the ready made excuse that she is tired from a long campaign (check out Jacksons comments) and that she is taking on older horses. Why wouldnt the Woodward be a logical spot? 4.At no point did I say anything like that. People here love to put words in the mouth of others. If I put forth a scenario where Summer Bird captures horse of the year it isnt a knock on the filly. It is simply a scenario. Freddy you need to get a grip. The strange set of circumstances that have taken place make the Woodward the ideal spot to run this horse. Is that a better word? There has never been a three year old dirt filly that was clearly the best horse in America at this point. The Woodward accomplishes everything that Jackson wants to do just as the Haskell made her the clear leader in the HoY race and established her as the best horse in the country regardless of sex or age. The Penn Derby isnt even a grade 1. The Woodward has prestige despite the obviously subpar field facing the filly. Not to mention avoids going an unknown distance of 1 1/4 and also avoids a further confrontation with horses she has already beaten. It is simply a logical spot. As for your contention that I am saying that her campaign is a fraud,I have no idea where you get that. What I am saying is that it is easier to push the envelope when you are facing moderate competition that makes you an odds on choice everytime. I think that the race will be interesting with her in it. I also think that she will win and it will be her last race of the year. her campaign next year will be interesting to say the least. Of course if JJ had racings best interests in mind he would plot out his races beforehand and let the public know where she will run as opposed to all this secretive bs that he does now. 5.Aside from running on the turf or Synthetic, what dirt race is out there right now that RA wouldn't be an overwhelming favorite? Which is exactly my point. So when people say how courageous it is of Jackson to run in the Woodward remember that. Ok what exactly did I say that isnt true? That Azeri would be favored against this bunch? That her running in this race is hardly a stretch like it is made out to be? The fact that this spot if perfectly logical in the context of her campaign, the dearth of talent in the older horse division and the fact that she is 1/2 morning line? That there has never been a three year old filly that was clearly the best horse in the country during the summer of her three year old year? That the Woodward accomplishes exactly what Jackson wants? That I think she will win and be put away for the year? That Jess Jackson should plan out the fillies 2010 season in advance so that possibly the public and television networks can possibly plan to see her? Where exactly did I go wrong?
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#12
09-03-2009, 09:08 PM
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But horses do have one advantage over humans--they don't lie and distort for their own petty purposes. So, you still have something to aspire to. GAFL.
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#13
09-03-2009, 09:09 PM
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#14
09-03-2009, 09:12 PM
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You know what is also great about horses? When they always act like assholes we cut thier nuts off.
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#15
09-03-2009, 09:27 PM
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The percentage of idiots from the old AOL days was quite higher than here man. Also, the sheer lunacy and fanaticism (duns, val, barry irwin, florence and goat lover, to name a few) was far worse. Remember when goat sent a case of ho-ho's to flo? Here you have just a few really idiotic posters who, I think in this case, are just trying to be contrarian without having a grasp of reality. Oh, and no fugging fan clubs here!
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#16
09-03-2009, 09:29 PM
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#17
09-03-2009, 09:37 PM
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I could/may/hope to own a special horse like RA some day. All I know is if I ever owned her, she would be on the first flight to LA to run in run in the BC.
Win, lose or draw I would never put my personal agenda about surfaces against a great match up.
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#18
09-03-2009, 09:40 PM
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#19
09-03-2009, 09:48 PM
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#20
09-03-2009, 09:52 PM
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Linear Mode
