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Calling it “one of the most important moments at Oaklawn and in Arkansas sports,” Oaklawn president Charles J. Cella announced Feb. 4 that Oaklawn will increase the purse of the April 3 Grade I Apple Blossom to $5 million provided champions Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta both start.
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At a morning press conference, Cella reported that he has spoken with the owners of both Rachel Alexandra (Jess Jackson) and Zenyatta (Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss). Both showed enthusiasm for bringing their champions to Oaklawn for the first Saturday of the famed Racing Festival of the South.
How will they get Rachel ready in time for April 3rd?
Gives Oaklawn plenty of publicity but don’t you think it will turn sour for the fans if they can’t pull it off?
How will they get Rachel ready in time for April 3rd?
Gives Oaklawn plenty of publicity but don’t you think it will turn sour for the fans if they can’t pull it off?
She’s already working, if Jackson’s ego is big enough it’ll happen.
Rachel Alexandra out of Apple Blossom.
"Jess Jackson, Rachel Alexandra’s majority owner, said the scheduled Apple Blossom on April 3 would come too soon after her expected seasonal debut in March. Trainer Steve Asmussen said it would have been asking too much.
“Getting to this level of fitness after a six-month layoff takes time,” Asmussen said. “If all goes according to schedule, and we do not have any further weather delays, the earliest we could have a prep race would be the middle of March. It is then not fair to Rachel to ask her to race again three weeks later.”
Jess Jackson wants three race series with Zenyatta instead.
Zenyatta’s owner, Jerry Moss still plans to run in the Apple Blossom and it sounds like Jerry Moss isn’t too happy with Jess Jackson.
"Jerry Moss, who co-owns Zenyatta with his wife Ann, was surprised by Jackson’s announcement, and told The Associated Press: “I have no idea what he’s even talking about. Which three races? And where? And when?”
A week ago, Oaklawn Park said it would boost the purse of the Apple Blossom on April 3 to $5 million from $500,000 if both horses competed.
“It’s a shame they are not going to show up for that race,” Moss said in a telephone interview with AP. “In the meantime, there’s some plan here, to run in three races, to which we’re supposed to respond to, and we haven’t even been consulted about it. So, I don’t know what I’m supposed to say.”
Moss said Zenyatta remains on schedule to run in the Santa Margarita (gr. I) at Santa Anita on March 13, and then the Apple Blossom.
“Then we’ll see what’s next,” Moss said, adding that the goal is to run in the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5-6. “The Breeders’ Cup is something I honor. I believe that’s where championships are decided.”
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Think it was inevitable offers like this would come. Also think there could be more being discussed between the two owners than we are privy to.
I don’t believe a word of what either of them say..IMO they are certain to lock horns when the time is right and the price is right. These two could name their price if they box cleverly.
Either Oakland are very smart or very dumb…Why not ask first before offering? The answer would be the same but then they wouldn’t get the free publicity that goes with this offer.
Don’t know if a 3 race series is a good idea though. What happend if one destroys the other in the first of them? The other two races then become non events. If the owners could swing that with bonuses attachaed it would be some pay day
I could see this $5million offer for 1 race being topped as every course in the country will want this race.
And now Rachel is back in…..4 days later!
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/55341/rachel-vs-zenyatta-showdown-is-back-on
RA couldn’t possibly be in top form by April 3 but she can on April 9?
Owner Jess Jackson had backed out on Wednesday, citing concern from trainer Steve Asmussen that Rachel Alexandra would not be ready for a peak performance on the original date, April 3.
"We are delighted that the race is on for April 9 and want to especially thank [Oaklawn President] Charles Cella and Oaklawn for moving the date," Jackson said in a statement on Thursday.
Anything else Jess Jackson would like? A sunny day, the race run right handed, or would he like Oaklawn Park to hold it at the time of sunset because Rachel Alexandra likes the temperature around that time?
Every horse a winner…the trick is getting an invitation.
"Oaklawn spokesman Terry Wallace said the purse breakdown allocates 50% ($2.5-million) to the winner, 20% ($1-million) to the runner-up, 10% ($500,000) to third, 6% ($300,000) to fourth, 4% ($200,000) to fifth, and 2% ($100,000) to the horses who finish six through ten."
I wonder who else will show up? If a filly like Careless Jewel, who ran off and opened up a huge lead before stopping in the BC Ladies Classic, runs that could help Zenyatta as RA wouldn’t get an easy lead. I expect a full field as the 3rd, 4th and even 5th money is more than could be won in most G1 stakes. Even 6-10th money returns about $80,000 more than the entry fees.
You’ll definitely see Proviso and Mushka shipping over to Oaklawn I would’ve thought.
Careless Jewel would be a very interesting entry and Stardom Bound and Milwaukee Appeal must be options here.
Who knows….maybe Bob Baffert may even up Gabbys Golden Girl back to the distance. She’s done it well before over the distance from the front
So far so good, both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta are training well for their prep race. Interestingly, both plan to race next on Mar. 13.
There is now a website for this event.
http://www.appleblossominvitational.com/
From the website, the race seems to be drawing a bit of attention to Hot Springs Arkansas;
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Thanks JH.
This thread is taking a back seat at the moment with Cheltenham and the Grand National coming up but this has to be the biggest thing in racing since Sea Biscuit V War Admiral.
I must have watched each of thier respective races on U tube about 10 times and changed my mind 6 times which will win.
I went searching for the betting thinking it would be 5/6 each of two and couldn’t believe RA is 1/2 fav and Zenyatta 5/2.
Seems the way of thinking is if Mike Smith allows Rachel an easy lead like he has others Zenyatta will have to sprout wings to catch her.
Much was made of Rachel Alexandra being the first filly in a million years to win the Preakness but what it did do was show she is catchable. She beat Mine That Bird by only 1 length and had Zenyatta been there that day I’m pretty sure she would have won.
However that was another day and another race and since Mine That Bird hasn’t really raised a gallop since he wouldn’t be a form guide you can trust.
He finished 11 lengths behind Zenyatta in the Breeders which ells us nothing other than the horse has lost his form.
The one link that could provide some sort of answer is also of the winged variety in a horse called Summer Bird.
Summer Bird won 3 of his last 5 races losing out to Rachel by 6 lengths giving her 5lbs. In the Breeders he was beaten 3 lengths by Zenyatta getting 1lb so stictly on the book there is very little between them.
Summer Bird ran a very similar race in both although he was ridden closer to the pace when he met Rachel. Turning for home Rachel left him for dead where as Zenyattta was doing some detouriing on the home turn and still had to pass Summer Bird.
I think the way the bookies are looking at it is if you dropped Rachel into that race she would have again been at least 6 lengths in front of Summer Bird and Zenyatta wouldn’t have caught her.
Big mistake IMO. Mike Smith rode Zenyatta to perfection that day and to beat what was in front of him. He went when he wanted to go and when Zenyatta meets Rachel there will be a lead given to her but not so much Mike Smith gets out of firing range.
Mike Smith has a clock built into his brain and he’ll make sure when he says go no matter what Rachel does she’s going down.
I’ll be shocked if she is any further than 3 lengths behind Rachel turning for home and when she goes I think she’ll eat Rachel alive.
The betting suggests otherwise but at 5/2 I’d be happy to risk more than a few sheckles to find out.
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