Asmussen: No Rachel for Blossom

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Danzig

from bloodhorse:

There was some doubt from Rachel Alexandra’s camp after the race as to whether she would still be pointed toward the Apple Blossom.
"We'll have to be cautious. We want to do what's right for the mare," Asmussen said. "The filly's lacking fitness. It was my job to have her there, and I didn't do it.
“How tired she is off of that will be established in the coming days. She’s not where I thought she was and if I had thought she’d get beat she wouldn’t run. You take her back, you evaluate her, you see how her mood is, her diet, how she goes back to the racetrack, how she breezes. No crystal ball could see that far ahead."

Rachel unlikely to make Apple Blossom
By Marcus Hersh

http://www.drf.com/news/article/111445.html

NEW ORLEANS - Rachel Alexandra's connections have decided not to ship her from Fair Grounds to Oaklawn Park on Monday morning, as had tentatively been planned before Sunday, and Rachel Alexandra now is unlikely to start in the April 9 Apple Blossom Invitational, trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday afternoon.

Rachel Alexandra, Horse of the Year in 2009, lost her first start of 2010 on Saturday, going down by three-quarters of a length to Zardana in the New Orleans Ladies, her first defeat since 2008. Earlier Sunday morning, Asmussen said that Rachel came out of her race in good health, eating well Saturday night, and appearing to be in good spirits Sunday morning. Nevertheless, he and owner Jess Jackson made the decision sometime Sunday that she would remain at Fair Grounds for now, rather than shipping to Oaklawn to take up her training there later this week.

"She's not going," Asmussen said. "After discussions with Mr. Jackson and the whole crew, we're not going to send her to Hot Springs in the morning. She's not where we want physically. That most likely eliminates the Apple Blossom. We're not comfortable with how she responded to the accelerated program, so we're going to continue to train her at Fair Grounds and see what happens."

Rachel Alexandra's course of training through the winter in New Orleans did not unfold smoothly. She missed time in December and January because of wet and cold weather, and was on a tight schedule to make the New Orleans Ladies, her potential Apple Blossom prep. In Saturday's race, Rachel Alexandra pressed a demanding half-mile pace, took the lead into the far turn, but was worn down by Zardana through the stretch run.

"She's clearly not up to her previous level," Asmussen said. "We're going to regroup and come back again. The disappointment from yesterday continues."

[10 pnt move up]

Somehow this has to be Zenyatta and her connections fault...it always is. Now she is running on dirt and RA is not going to show. Sense a pattern here?

[Cannon Shell]

No Apple Blossom for Rachel
By Gary West

http://startelegramsports.typepad.co...or-rachel.html

NEW ORLEANS -- Rachel Alexandra won’t run April 9 in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park, her trainer, Steve Asmussen, said moments ago. Asmussen discussed the Apple Blossom plans with the Horse of the Year’s principal owner, Jess Jackson, before announcing that a trip to Hot Springs, Ark., was not in Rachel Alexandra’s immediate future.

Despite the loss, Rachel Alexandra came out of Saturday’s race with no negative effects. She ate up Saturday night and rested comfortably. She walked the shedrow calmly this morning, Asmussen said, and seemed very relaxed.

[Duvalier]

When's the JJ press conference? I'm sure the great sportsman Jess Jackson will have some words of wisdom he'll want to share with racing world.

[Danzig]

another conspiracy...


seriously, this illustrates why so often they can't get top horses together. everything has to be exactly perfect, or someone backs out. it's a shame they couldn't meet last year, when both were doing so well. jack/ass tried to rush rachel back, and she gets defeated. so now she's tarnished and not going to the apple blossom, rather then them telling charles cella that it wasn't in the cards. here's hoping she gets back to where she was last year, and that a confrontation can still occur.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Danzig

another conspiracy...


seriously, this illustrates why so often they can't get top horses together. everything has to be exactly perfect, or someone backs out. it's a shame they couldn't meet last year, when both were doing so well. jack/ass tried to rush rachel back, and she gets defeated. so now she's tarnished and not going to the apple blossom, rather then them telling charles cella that it wasn't in the cards. here's hoping she gets back to where she was last year, and that a confrontation can still occur.

The problem is that for some reason not losing trumps proving yourself against the best competition. With very few exceptions (Personal Ensign) the best horses of modern times lost. It really isnt that big of a deal.

[deltagulf]

drf says r/a out of race in april from jess jackson

[miraja2]

This doesn't make any sense to me at all.
If she needed the race, doesn't bringing her back in four weeks make sense? Unless I am mistaken, Ass has always been a much better 2ndOff trainer. So with a race under her belt (and four weeks of training opportunities in front of her) doesn't the race seem to be coming up at the perfect time?
What am I missing?

[pointman]

Thought Assman and Jackson had a bigger pair of noggins. Though I am an RA fan, I hope they wipe up their tears and see how she does in the next few weeks before hitting the panic button.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The problem is that for some reason not losing trumps proving yourself against the best competition. With very few exceptions (Personal Ensign) the best horses of modern times lost. It really isnt that big of a deal.

Exactly right.
What is the big deal about her getting beat yesterday? It isn't like she ran horribly. I admit I don't know squat about training a horse, but I didn't see a thing from that race yesterday that made me think she shouldn't run at OP.

I, for one, am shocked.

[Oaklawnfan]

I should have sold my four seats on the finish line on Stub Hub when I had the chanch. From $600 each back down to face value.

I wonder how many people jumped the gun and bought scalped tickets?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Exactly right.
What is the big deal about her getting beat yesterday? It isn't like she ran horribly. I admit I don't know squat about training a horse, but I didn't see a thing from that race yesterday that made me think she shouldn't run at OP.

The problem seems to be they have unrealistically overrated the filly. She is a very good horse with a couple of truly fantastic accomplishments. However she is not invincible, no horse is

[the_fat_man]

This one fizzled out quickly. This kind of **** happens when a 3rd stringer beats your 'champion'. At least the connections have a realistic gauge on things. Which is more than can be said for RA's many supporters.

If only Borel lets her go earlier.

[zippyneedsawin]

Couldn't it be that RA just won't really be ready for that race? She didn't appear to be ready yesterday.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The problem seems to be they have unrealistically overrated the filly. She is a very good horse with a couple of truly fantastic accomplishments. However she is not invincible, no horse is

what do you mean? Haven't you heard of Zenyatta?!?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

what do you mean? Haven't you heard of Zenyatta?!?

Zenyatta has beat up on cupcakes in 90% of her starts. She is far from a lock taking on males (even the crappy ones that masquerade as grade 1 horses these days) on dirt.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Zenyatta has beat up on cupcakes in 90% of her starts. She is far from a lock taking on males (even the crappy ones that masquerade as grade 1 horses these days) on dirt.

3 day old cupcakes

[pointman]

If Rachel doesn't show in the AB, you have to wonder if the Moss' are thrilled about Sheriff's decision to send Zardana against RA yesterday, even second place in the AB would have been worth a lot more than a win is worth now. It is not everyday you get to run for $5 million!