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.

Queen For A Day

With gloomy skies overhead most of Kentucky Oaks day, everyone was hoping to see a little sunshine. What they got was something much better.

Rachel Alexandra left no doubt who was the best 3-year-old filly in the country with an absolutely dominating 20 1/4 length victory. The part that is even more impressive is that she won without being asked for additional run by jockey Calvin Borel.

It was one of the most impressive performances I have ever seen in a race of this caliber and will be remembered for quite a long time.

Now there are two big questions:

1) Should "Rachel" have run in the Kentucky Derby?

2) Will she run in the Preakness or Belmont Stakes?

My answers:

1) Racing is the land of hindsight and now that we saw the result, it's easy to say she should have been in the Derby.

Owner Dolphus Morrison said, "The Triple Crown races are to showcase the future stallions of our industry and fillies should run with fillies and stallions with stallions."

Running her in the Oaks was the right call. Why pass up a shot at a one of the most prestigious races in the country to run the risk of facing all the trouble that comes with running in a field of 20 horses. There are other opportunities to run against the boys and two other Triple Crown races. No other race is like the Kentucky Derby but winning the Oaks in the way she did was memorable and puts a huge feather in her cap.

2) Depending on what happens in the Kentucky Derby, that may help decide her next move. Trainer Hal Wiggins was quote as saying last week the Belmont Stakes was a remote possibility.

If the Derby falls apart and a long shot wins, you can be certain the people in Rachel's camp will give the Preakness serious consideration and they should.

The horses in the Preakness tend be vulnerable because they are running just two weeks after the Derby. The field will also be smaller and her running style of being close to the lead, fits perfectly.

Let's see what happens but it would certainly make for a great story to see her run in a Triple Crown race.

No matter what happens, she has secured a place in racing history with her performance on Friday. The question will now be how she builds her legacy.