Rachel - Day After Thoughts

Some random thoughts after Rachel Alexandra's powerful and historic win in Saturday's Woodward at Saratoga.

• Rachel's final Beyer figure of 109 was probably the only negative of her performance, if you can call it that. It takes nothing away from her effort but you almost might have expected a little faster number. (Thanks to DRF for the Beyer).

• Credit to owner Jess Jackson for not being afraid of any big competition and running Rachel against some of the best handicap horses in the country. Most owners would have taken the safe route and entered her against her own gender but the Woodward gave the 31,000 fans on track plus countless others a trackside seat to history.

• Jockey Calvin Borel, who is one of the nicest guys in racing, didn't give Rachel the best ride by any means. Getting into a speed duel was not optimal against a field of older boys but she was gutsy enough to turn back every challenge. And as jockey Robby Albarado told me after the race, that's what makes a champion. Could not have said it any better myself.

• The scene yesterday at Saratoga was incredible. A lot of the fans that were in attendance came out specifically to see Rachel run. There is rarely anticipation to see any one horse so to walk in the crowd and feel "the buzz" was a nice change of pace.

• We should not forget about the tremendous job Rachel's former trainer Hal Wiggins did. Wiggins trained the superfilly up until early May when Jackson purchased her for a reported $5 million (but that number was never officially disclosed.) Wiggins sent Rachel postward for the most impressive and decisive Kentucky Oaks victory ever.

• Speaking of $5 million, Rachel could well have been the biggest multi-million bargain in history. Even if she never runs again, you have to figure she's worth at least $10 million.

• Let's hope Jackson is a man of his word and does bring her back to the races next year. If she runs again this year, it's likely only one more time but racing would a well needed "shot in the arm" if she runs in 2010. He did bring his star of 2007-08, Curlin, back as a 4-year-old and was rewarded with another banner year.

Rachel's Connections In Tough Spot?

Rachel Alexandra is now in racing's all-time elite. After her stirring victory in the Woodward on Saturday, it left little doubt as to her stature.

She has a mortal lock on champion 3-year-old filly and a padlock on Horse of the Year unless something crazy happens in the next three months. Now her connections have a tough choice - do they race her again this year and if so, where?

The racing fan in me, as well as scores of others, wants to see her take on unbeaten Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic in two months. It's probably the only matchup left this year that would have any significance for her.

Owner Jess Jackson has said on many occasions that running on the "plastic" artificial dirt of Santa Anita is out of the question. But he is in a no-win situation with her next step.

The Woodward was undoubtedly a tough race on Rachel and since she went wire-to-wire and hold to dig deep to hold off Macho Again. It was her toughest race since she held of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness.

Jackson can easily keep Rachel on the sidelines the rest of the year and you couldn't fault him for doing so. And if you read between the lines of his quotes, that appears to be the most likely scenario. If that happens, you can only hope that we will indeed see her as a four-year-old.

“I can’t honestly say (if she'll run again this year," he said. "Hal (Harold McCormick) and I will have to talk about it and Steve’s going to have to bless her coming out and what her condition is. She’s run more races than Zenyatta’s run, and Zenyatta’s 5 years old. You can’t expect a young youngster – she’s only 3 – running against older horses, running against older mares – you can’t expect them to keep going all the time. You have to give them a break, and we’ll talk that over very seriously.”

Racing so badly needs Rachel to run as often as possible and she's had eight starts this year already. There may not be another horse like her for some time. Jackson knows that, but he will undoubtedly air on the side of caution. As a result, he's in a great but tough spot.

If he were to run her again, the options are:

Beldame - A proposed purse boost to $1 million for the Beldame at Belmont was an attempt to lure Zenyatta east and keep Rachel in New York. That would be a huge shock if that came to fruition, especially since the race is only a month after the Woodward.

Breeders' Cup - This would give Rachel two months to recover from the Woodward and her presence would add a sensational and needed boost to a championship event. She could either run in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic against the boys or more likely the $2 million Ladies Classic. The excuse of not running her because of the "artificial dirt" is a weak one though. (Jackson needs to forget about Curlin's moderate performance in last year's Classic.) She has a win at Keeneland on the Polytrack and there's no reason to think that a different surface would stunt her abilities. It would be a great way to cap off an undefeated and all-time great year.

Clark Handicap - Churchill Downs put on a great Thanksgiving weekend of racing and the Clark has always attracted good horses over the year. There is also precedent for Rachel to run in this 1 1/8 mile race. Surfside, a regally bred 3-year-old filly, went wire-to-wire to capture the 2000 renweal. Churchill is also Rachel's home base and CD might even throw in a purse boost to help lure her into race. But their connections indicated it would be too late in the year.

Match Race - The only other spot that might make sense is a staged match race with Zenyatta. Belmont and Sam Houston Park have offered inducements to bring the two together and there might be more to offer those incentives now. Jackson didn't appear to close the door on that after the Woodward.

"It depends on both horses coming out and what both camps would be willing to do," he said. "I’ve indicated Rachel’s had a full race year already. It might be that they get together, but I can’t predict that. It takes two to [tango], but it better be a good venue or neither one will come.”

No matter what happens, for those who have seen her this year have witnessed greatness. Let's just hope it's not the last time.

Sampling of Quotes from the Winning Connections

I thought you might enjoy reading a few snippets of what trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Jess Jackson had to say after Rachel Alexandra won the Woodward. Jackson said the most relative to if and when we will see Rachel again this year.

Steve Asmussen:

“I thought she truly showed she was a champion today. I can’t say enough, first of all, about Jess and the guts they’ve shown by continuously putting out there and raising the bar with a tremendous filly. I’m just extremely proud to be associated with her. I’m proud of the whole team, (assistant trainer) Scott Blasi, (exercise rider) Dominic Terry, it was a very emotional win.”

(What will he look for in the coming days?) “I’ll watch her appetite, I rely heavily on Scott and Dominic … every single little nuance about her, how she acts in her stall, exactly how long it takes her to eat, the whole nine yards. The filly has been tremendously consistent and we’ve been blessed with her consistency as well as her greatness.”

Jess Jackson:

“She’s been tested early two or three times now, and she’s had the courage and fortitude to finish, and with an attitude to hang in there and win. That’s a very exceptional horse, male or female, and for her to do that with six giant males racing with her was something special. I don’t know if you saw it, but she looked like she was only a 3-year-old with those horses. And yet she held in there with her spirit. I want to thank Saratoga. It’s always been a special place for me and my family and racing. And Curlin won this same race last year so it has special meaning for me and our team and I hope for Steve as well. What we need now are more stars, and I think she is one. I hope we can see her come out healthy, give her a nice race and give you a campaign in 2010.”

(On Zenyatta) “I can’t predict. It depends on both horses coming out and what both camps would be willing to do. I’ve indicated Rachel’s had a full race year already. It might be that they get together, but I can’t predict that. It takes two to [tango], but it better be a good venue or neither one will come.”

(On Horse of the Year) “Somebody else will decide that, but I hope so. I think she’s something for the ages and she’s certainly proven her mettle. On the earlier question about her attitude, she is a fighter. After blazing those fractions and in the Haskell, she still won. And maybe this wasn’t a pull-away victory, but if we run her again, the next one will be. She was, in my opinion, a little down today, but she still won and that’s the courage and fight she has.”

(on another race in 2009?) “I can’t honestly say. Hal (Harold McCormick) and I will have to talk about it and Steve’s going to have to bless her coming out and what her condition is. She’s run more races than Zenyatta’s run, and Zenyatta’s 5 years old. You can’t expect a young youngster – she’s only 3 – running against older horses, running against older mares – you can’t expect them to keep going all the time. You have to give them a break, and we’ll talk that over very seriously.”

Overhyped Rachel?

Rachel Alexandra. What does that name mean to you?

For those who have seen her run whether live or on TV, words such as "incredible" "unbelieveable" have no doubt been uttered.

There are countless analogies, superlatives, and comparisons to other great horses (fair or otherwise) that have been made ever since she burst onto racing's big stage after her Kentucky Oaks victory heard "round the world" in early May.

Now she has a chance to join an elite club on Saturday at Saratoga when she takes on older males in the Woodward.

Racing insiders have been following Rachel closely for months but ever since she captured the Preakness, a mainstream crowd has begun to follow her. Since last week when her connections announced she would take on the "big boys" in the Woodward, Rachel attracted even more mainstream attention.

So much so that Sports Illustrated is sending one of its reporters to Saratoga despite the College Football season kicking off. In addition, the race is being broadcast on a regional cable sportschannel (MSG Network). You can also expect a large crowd on hand Saturday. Everyone wants to see what could be one of the greatest horses of all-time add another feather in her cap.

But is all of this growing attention overhype or well deserved?

In my mind, it's a bit of both. Racing never gets enough good coverage and when there is a potential superhorse, you want as much publicity as can be. It might be a bit over hyped but if she is able to win on Saturday, then it's no longer over hype. (Perhaps an SI cover will be in the offing?)

With a victory, what will undoubtedly happen is a growing call to run Rachel in the Breeders' Cup, racing's year end championship. Her owner, Jess Jackson, has continually said that he doesn't want to run his star on the artificial dirt of Santa Anita.

Racing will be done a disservice if Rachel is kept out of the Breeders' Cup but that's a debate that will rage out of control if she wins on Saturday.

In the meantime, let all the over hype and hyperbole continue. It's just what racing needs.

Rachel Does it Again

What more can you say? Rachel Alexandra continues to amaze the world with her brilliance and put on a display with her 6-length win in the Haskell. And her Beyer Speed Figure was 116, a career high.

The two questions everyone is now asking are 1) Does she belong with the all-time greats? 2) Where is she running next?

The debate over the first question will rage on for quite a while. The 3-year-olds (boys & girls) are not a strong group this year.

The top 3-year-old colts are Mine That Bird and Summer Bird. Kensei is improving but still needs to show he's in the top group (and he'll get his shot in the Travers.)

The girls, on the other hand, have fallen apart as the year has progressed. Stardom Bound, the 2-year-old filly champion, got hurt and a group of other nice fillies just never panned out.

Bottom line Rachel is the best 3-year-old in the country. But to compare her to Secretariat is premature and not warranted yet.

She is moving up the list of the best females of all-time but let's see her beat older fillies first before we put her near the top of that list.

As for the second question, Team Rachel will have a lot to think about. The Personal Ensign against older fillies and mares is a logical next race. But facing the boys in her next start again is also a possibility. The Travers, nicknamed the Mid-Summer Derby, will be her last chance to face only 3-year-old colts while the Woodward Stakes, against older males, could be an intriguing option.

She has already beaten likely Travers runners Mine That Bird and Summer Bird.

The challenge will be does her connections want to run 1 1/4 miles against boys or girls. Both the Personal Ensign and Travers are at that classic distance. But, the Woodward is run at 1 1/8 miles.

The Woodward could be appealing as the field would not expected to be strong as the top East Coast handicap horses typically run in the Whitney or wait for the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont.

If she pulls off another victory next time out, she will continue to increase her star status.

But a Travers win would put her in a class by herself. No filly (to my knowledge) has swept both summertime 3-year-old colt races.

Looking further down the road, racing would be shortchanged if we don't see a Rachel versus Zenyatta matchup.

Rachel's owner, Jess Jackson, reiterated after the Haskell that the matchup would have to be on a neutral site which means no Breeders' Cup.

Let's hope he changes his mind and maybe a win in the Travers or Woodward would.

It would certainly settle a couple of potential debates including Horse of the Year.

Late summer will be fun because that's when she will run next and the debate will rage on.

Photo Courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire

Rachel Smokes Mother Goose

For a brief second, it looked like Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra might be in for a tough race, but on the far turn jockey Calvin Borel asked his filly for run and with an explosive move she quickly opened up for an authoritative 19 1/4-length win in the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose.

The Steve Asmussen-trained daughter of Medaglia d’Oro shattered two Mother Goose records – the margin of victory and final time, 1:46.33. The previous record for time was held by Lakeway (1994, 1:46.40) and the margin belonged to the great Ruffian (13 ½ lengths, 1975).

In front of a crowd of 13,352, Malibu Prayer and Flashing dueled through torrid fractions of :22.57 for the quarter and :44.66 for the half while Rachel Alexandra waited patiently three lengths off the lead. As the field moved around the far turn, Borel called on his filly, split horses and made the lead at the top of the stretch. Then under minimal urging from Borel, the bay filly rolled to the easy victory.

“I can’t say enough about Calvin Borel’s ride,” said Asmussen, who saw his star filly pay $2.10 for the $2 win. “They took it right to her with 44 and change, the 1/9 shot, and all the pressure in the world. He just let them go about their business and did what’s best for her and he needs to keep doing that.”

Rachel Alexandra’s record now stands at 9-2-0 in 12 career starts and has rattled off seven straight victories, all stakes races. Her career earnings now stand at $1,798,354.

“She's a racehorse, this is a racehorse,” Borel said. “Believe me, she's not normal, I'm telling you, she's unbelievable. I nudged (her) on the turn for home around the quarter pole but that was it. To make sure she'd get something out of it and do something for me. She is, I don’t know, like a Secretariat or a Seattle Slew. I’ve never been on one like that in my life. ”

Malibu Prayer finished second and Flashing was third. With the late scratches of Don’t Forget Gil and Hopeful Image, it left a field of three.

Belmont News....What there is of it....

Jockey Calvin Borel continues to spend lots of time in the national spotlight this week as he has done a slew of television interviews from his home base in Louisville, including the Today Show this morning.

However the picture is still fuzzy about who he might ride in the Belmont Stakes. Borel's first choice is still super filly Rachel Alexandra but there has been no decision made yet about her next start.

Meanwhile, the connections for Derby winner Mine That Bird insist that they will make a decision in the "next couple of days." If they are true to their word, that may keep Borel off Mine That Bird.

Of course, there is still the possibility that the "Bird Crew" could follow the same scenario as they did before the Preakness; give Borel the chance to ride Mine That Bird while waiting out Rachel Alexandra's fate. At the same time, they would have a "backup rider" ready if Rachel does try the one-mile-and-a-half "Test of Champions."

Mine That Bird was back on the Churchill Downs oval training for the first time since the Preakness and Rachel will follow suit tomorrow morning.

The only other news was a definite decision for Belmont contender Charitable Man will come on Wednesday. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin indicated that his colt is likely to run but would confer with the owners again to make their final choice.

The son of 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid has won 3 of 4 starts including the Peter Pan Stakes two weeks at Belmont. His only loss came on the "artificial dirt" at Keeneland in April and is a perfect 2-for-2 at Belmont.

What Next for Rachel & Bird?

Fans of horse racing could not have asked for a lot more from the Preakness Stakes. Super filly Rachel Alexandra wins the Middle Jewel of Triple Crown and holds off a late charge from Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.

Will this be a new budding rivalry?

What makes this potential new great rivalry it is not just two great horses. It is two stars of different genders which rarely cross paths.

There have been races where males and females have met but not often during the Triple Crown. The last time the rivarly lasted more than one race was in 1988 when Winning Colors, a filly, and Forty Niner went head-to-head twice. The two ran first and second in the Derby. But the rivarly spilled over in the Preakness when the two dueled each other into defeat as the filly finished third and Forty Niner was seventh.

Chances are Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird won't face each other much more in their careers, but the Belmont Stakes does remain a possibility for both. Mine That Bird's trainer, Chip Woolley, has already committed to run in the 1 1/2 miles "Test of Champions" but what of the filly?

Neither trainer Steve Asmussen nor majority owner Jess Jackson committed to the Belmont but how much fun would it be to see the Derby winner and Preakness winner slug it out in New York?

The temptation for the "Rachel crew" will be great. Jackson, who scored points among racing fans when he kept two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in training after his 3-year-old season. The chestnut colt ammased wins in the Preakness and the Breeders' Cup Classic and earned Horse of the Year honors; then came back and won the Dubai World Cup among others and notched his second Horse of the Year honor.

For those that might be worried about Rachel getting "burned up" early in the Belmont by some other speed horses, there aren't many left in the potential field who could push her early. Quality Road and Chartiable Man could be those obstacles but neither trainer has committed to the 1 1/2 mile race yet.

Racing, as always, needs some good news and attention. What happened today at the Preakness was a huge help but it will be very short lived if it's the last time we see the Derby and Preakness square off.

But Jackson has to do what is right by the horse and if she comes back feeling good, then he oughto to run Rachel in the Belmont. Rags to Riches proved a filly can win the "Test of Champions" and it would certainly cement Rachel's place as the one of the best horses of all-time with a Belmont victory.

Stay tuned over the next few days but we might just have a new rivaly we haven't seen in racing for some time.

Calvin The King

It's seem like Deja Vu all over again. We just finished running a Triple Crown race and we are again singing the praises of jockey Calvin Borel after an incredible win in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

Rachel Alexandra was brilliant as Borel kept the filly out of potential trouble the whole way. She dueled with Big Drama through the first half of the race and then she started to open up. Borel kept plenty in the tank and held off a late charge of Derby winner Mine That Bird for the victory.

The Preakness win was not as dramatic as the Derby win but Borel stayed cool throughout the entire race and knew he was sitting on the best horse. He kept as much in reserve as he could when he asked for additional run, she gladly responded and held on for the victory.

"She is the best horse in the country, bar none," Borel said. "My filly struggled the last quarter of mile and I had to reach up and pick her in the last quarter. She has so much determination, it's unbelievable. Turning home I knew I was home free."

Now Borel has a place in racing history. He is the first jockey ever to win the Derby and Preakness on two different horses. and he helped make Rachel the first horse to win from the 13 post position. And he could conceivably become the first rider to win the Triple Crown on two different horses.

Owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen were non-committal to Rachel's next start but the Belmont is a possibility. If she does run in the 1 1/2 mile "Test of Champions" you can be sure that Borel will be there.

These Are The Days of Our Lives....

This week on the Triple Crown Trail has turned into one of the biggest soap operas in quite a while. In essence, the episode began after Rachel Alexandra won the Oaks in dominating fashion.

The next day, after pulled a huge 50-1 upset in the Derby aboard Mine That Bird, jockey Calvin Borel said if he were confronted with the choice of which horse to ride, he would choose the filly.

Meanwhile, little did almost all of us know that there were secret negotiations ongoing to sell Rachel Alexandra to a consortium headed up by Jess Jackson, best known for owning superstar Curlin and the Kendall-Jackson Vinieries.

On Wednesday, Jackson completed the deal for the superstar filly (the final sales price will probably news be known but it's been reported at $10 million and that sounds about right.) Once the deal was announced, the speculation hit warp speed (that's for you Star Trek fans) about Rachel running in the Preakness. Jackson apparently already gave the idea serious thought but he wasn't tipping his hand quite yet. Entering his filly in the Preakness would cost him $100,000 as she wasn't nominated to the Triple Crown.

On Thursday morning, around 5:15. Rachel Alexandra walked out of trainer Hal Wiggins' barn for the final time and walked into the barn of Steve Asmussen.

“She’s a tremendously fast filly,” Asmussen said. “Hal (Wiggins) and his team did a tremendous job with her. We just got her today and we have no timetable or any plans to announce at this time.” Asmussen kept his mouth shut about the future for his new star pupil but that didn't the rest of us from talking about it. Through all of this, no one quite knew where this put Borel. The jockey who had been aboard for so many of Rachel Alexandra's victories could suddenly be left out in the cold. Borel and Asmussen have not teamed up much over their lengthy careers - just 52 times.

A lot of people assumed that Asmussen and Jackson would choose the jockey that delivered so many times aboard Curlin - Robby Albarado. But, there was no news all day on Thursday. That all changed on Friday when Jackson announced he would all but enter Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness and her regular pilot would remain in the saddle.

“It came down the fact that he knows and loves this horse, that he knows how to get the most from her and he knows how to win,” Jackson said “We think this is a perfect match of rider and horse.” Borel, who has called Rachel Alexandra the best horse he's ever ridden, could not have been happier with the news.

“We’re very happy to have the opportunity to continue to ride Rachel Alexandra,” said Borel. “I’ve had the chance to ride some great horses, but she is one of the most special horses I’ve ever been around. I appreciate the faith that Mr. Jackson and Mr. McCormick have shown in me, and we can’t wait to be there wherever she runs next.”

So, what about the little ol' Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird? Trainer Chip Woolley had been preparing for the worst all week and had been in touch with other jockeys. Rumors swirled that Mike Smith would take over for Borel but he too was tight lipped about it. Once the news come out on Friday about Rachel Alexandra, Woolley was not giving up on Borel. He said that he will still name Borel on Mine That Bird on Wednesday when he enters the Derby winner into the Preakness. The only thing that could stop him: Jackson ponying up the $100,000 fee.

Preakness Week could turn into racing’s version of sweeps week if Rachel runs: she’s a great story and, though she’d spoil another Triple Crown, a win for her in the Preakness, would bring untold amounts of publicity.

This soap opera will undoubtedly continue over the next few days but all of this attention is a great shot in the arm for racing.

My, my how quickly things change....

Just a few days ago, superstar filly Rachel Alexandra was targeting a run in the Acorn at Belmont Park next week. Their owners and trainer said that running against the boys was not in the cards.

In a blink of a Wednesday night eye, that all may have changed.

Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Farm, best known for owning the majority of 2008 Horse of Year Curlin, purchased Rachel Alexendra for a reported $10 million. That's a lot of zero's and means trainer Hal Wiggins will likely lose the brilliant filly to Steve Asmussen. (Daily Racing Form is reporting the move will happen.)

That's not a bad tradeoff but Wiggins did a phenominal job but it's a pity he won't able to oversee the rest of her career.

Now, there are two huge questions:

1) Does Kentucky Oaks & Derby hero jock Calvin Borel get to keep the mount on Rachel Alexandra?

2) Will her new owner decide to pay the extra $100,000 and run her against the boys in the Preakness and/or Belmont?

My take:

1) Borel has been great for her and he has said on many occasions that she's the best horse around. There is no better face for racing right now than Borel (see Sports Illustrated cover this week) and it would be fitting for him to stay aboard. He's earned that right.

I am afraid that Asmussen will pull Borel in favor one of his regular riders (i.e. Robby Albarado). Borel rarely rides for Asmussen (only 10 rides in the past year and only 52 total throughout their respective careers). I wouldn't blame Asmussen for putting someone on a horse that he is more comfortable with, but it would make more sense to give the mount to the only person outside of Wiggins who knows her best.

2) The Preakness or Belmont. After Mine That Bird pulled the huge upset in the Derby, some people began to speculate that Rachel would have been able to win the Derby. That certainly is debatable based on the track conditions but there is no doubt she is a star. I think the temptation will be too great to pass up for Jackson. Putting up $100,000 extra is small potatoes for Jackson and if she does win, the gamble will pay off in spades.

The Preakness might be a little too close in time but my hunch is she will pop up in one of the final two Triple Crown races.

Either way, this could spice up the remaining legs of the Triple Crown and give a little shot in the arm to racing.