Rachel Alexandra a go for La Troienne
 

Will enter for Friday according to CDI's John Asher..

Caught Jess' remarks that she's 85, 90, 95% right now. That's a nice range, should cover his butt whatever happens. You know how fighters would abstain leading up to a big fight? Maybe someone could get Jess to apply that to his speaking about horses. He can only talk after the race, if only because it causes wrinkle lines on my forehead making sense of what he's saying prior.

Asmussen's demeanor and Mike Welsch's observations of her are encouraging. I hope things go well on Monday and Friday. I miss the old Rachel.

Unless something much better than Zardana shows up I expect her to win by many lengths.

What's your opinion of Careless Jewel? I never saw her summer dirt races last year. Seemed like she was left alone on the lead against suspect foes for the most part.

yea, maybe off that form...has she raced since?

Careless Jewel hasn't been out since her BC Ladies Classic flop where she ran off and stopped. She did win a couple of races impressively over the summer albeit against horrible competition. The field she beat in the Alabama (Milwaukee Appeal, Don't Forget Gil, Funny Moon, etc.) was very weak, of course she won by over 12 lengths. She then won the Cotillion at Philly beating Bon Jovi Girl, who came back to finish off the board in an overnight stake at Belmont and Cat Moves, who can't go a step beyond 6 furlongs.

A fit Rachel Alexandra who is in the form she was in last year would beat Careless Jewel on her best day IMO.

NT

Not since the BC. Based on her 1/2 mile fraction times, it wasn't completely shocking to see her run-off like that in the Ladies Classic. Should be in front of Rachel Alexandra early, and if she has anything left at the 3/8s pole, should hamper RA's main weapon of busting the race open entering the stretch.

It will be interesting to see who the closers are. Bill Mott has some Unbridled's Song filly that was up-and-coming last fall and I think won the Sabin or Rampart at GP last out.

A good Careless Jewel is a very good horse.

Nice field.

It does look like a nice field, but I'm hoping the reports from early this week are accurate and the champ shows what she is made of.

I sold my Oaks tickets because I was going to be traveling on Friday, but am mildly regretting it now. Good field indeed.

Should be a lightning quick pace?

i agree, this is how she got beat last out. forget about careless jewel, look at the horses that will be stalking behind rachel and jewel. if rachel comes up short again, its a money making race.

There's not a chance this will be on the teevee, is there?

Looks like Bravo is only doing 1 hr for the Oaks this year, 5-6pm. I suppose they could always show a replay of the race, but it doesn't look like it's live for them.

ETA: Huh, somehow I went up to now not realizing that Careless Jewel was declared due to injury. What's going on with her?

I just saw this now myself:

Yeah that's what I saw. I guess with all the Derby ups and downs, this flew under the radar. So Rachel to the lead?

Distinctive Dixie and Unrivaled Belle seem to do their best work on or near the lead.

Wow … a "must win" for that reigning horse-of-the-year

Can you imagine the embarrassment if she falters in this spot too?


Too bad about CJ

Hopefully little z or one of those obscure beasts can keep the PRESSURE ON…

Is this Sting?