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Oddly enough, there has been very little discussion in Hot Springs Arkansas of either Cheltenham or the Grand National.
I think interest will pick up a great deal once RA and Z come out of their Mar. 13 prep races sound and clearly headed for Oaklawn. It will also be interesting to see who else shows up. Nine furlongs is a good meeting place for Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra and the outcome will clearly depend on the pace of the race. Any sort of reasonably quick pace and I believe Zenyatta will win. Unless RA gets an easy lead and a 10 length start coming into the stretch, Zenyatta should run her down. Even the pace of the BC Classic wasn’t that fast, particularly the first quarter and half; 24.16, 47.88, 1:11.88 for the first 6f, of course that was a 10f race. The two races where RA was almost run down by closers; Mine that Bird in the 9.5f Preakness and Macho Again in the 9f Woodward, RA went 23.130 46.710 1:11.010 and 22.85, 45.41, and 1:10.54, respectively. If RA gets pressed to a 1:11 or less first 6f, even a bigger stronger 4yo RA will be quite vulnerable to Zenyatta’s closing kick in the stretch, especially if she goes about 46 in the first half-mile.
In an interesting move John Shirreffs has entered one of his horses, Zardana, in Rachel Alexandra’s Apple Blossom prep race.
http://www.nola.com/horseracing/index.s … _send.html
It may be just what it seems, Zardana’s owner, Arnold Zetcher, who has no ownership interest in Zenyatta, just wants his horse to run in New Orleans, where Zardana has run well before. Zardana is a G2,graded stakes winner but not really in the same league as RA or Zenyatta. Zardana is also a close up stalker, usually making her run from third or fourth and getting the lead early in the stretch in her winning efforts. If John Shirreffs wanted to wear RA out before the Apple Blossom I would think he would send a rabbit like a 6 furlong speedball to make RA work on the front end. Zardana may give JS a read on RA’s condition by running against her with a known trial horse but I don’t see that as a huge advantage going into the Apple Blossom. RA will be a different horse on April 9th after a prep race and more works than she is in her March 13th prep race in New Orleans.
Rachel Alexandra workout video. RA is full of run and is tossing her head and hopping about as soon as the stable pony turns her loose, quite a handful for her rider. She works in company and is hard held while her workmate is given a free rein. Even at the top of the stretch RA isn’t turned loose until the final furlong or so and then she blows away the other horse. Looks like Steve Asmussen is trying to get RA to rate and have something left in the stretch to hold off Zenyatta’s late charge.
In a bit of a usability bug, you may have to re-size the small window that appears after you click the "click here" link at the top of the article, then you will have to click again in the window that appears to start or replay the video.
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Good video JH thanks.
I think they better get her a better work horse to play with She wasn’t cantering early doors she was bouncing up and down on the same spot and still going faster than her lead horse
Zenyatta blazes 6f in 1:11.80 in last work before 2010 debut. Likely to run in G1 Santa Margarita on Mar. 13. By contrast, Zenyatta’s last work before the Breeders Cup Classic was 1:12.40.
Zenyatta and Rachel look set to return this weekend.
Rachel has the easier assignment of the two, with just four runners opposing at Fair Grounds. Zenyatta will try and concede ‘upwards of 12lbs’ to some decent rivals at her beloved Santa Anita.
The pair will then be primed for a $5 million showdown at Oaklawn Park three weeks later.
Here is a link to the full story:
Apple Blossom Diary – by Steve Haskin. Daily account of events leading up to big race.
Jess Jackson conspiracy theory about Zardana’s entry in Rachel Alexandra’s New Orleans prep race for Apple Blossom.
“I think they are trying to size us up,” he said. “It makes sense for them. They want to catch us short.”
http://www.swtimes.com/articles/2010/03 … 910_01.txt
JJ also still wants 3-race series vs. Zenyatta and is hedging about Apple Blossom.
Jackson has questions about Rachel Alexandra’s fitness, which he gauged at “about 85 percent” of where she should be now. He is also trying to manage expectations for her coming 4-year-old campaign.
One thing that he guaranteed was that if his filly was not dead-solid perfect in the days leading to the Apple Blossom, she would not run.
“We are targeting the Apple Blossom,” he said. “We are stretching to get there. But if we’re not in top shape, we’re not going.”
Jackson also continues to lobby for Rachel Alexandra to face Zenyatta three times before the year is out.
“If they beat us in one race, they might just disappear and retire her undefeated,” Jackson said. “If they commit to the best of three, it would be great for the sport and a better way to judge both these great horses.”
Of Course, Shirreffs refutes the conspiracy theory.
" In fact, Shirreffs said this week that he was sending Zardana, winner of the Grade II Bayakoa Handicap, to challenge Rachel Alexandra in her comeback race, the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes on March 13. He said it was Arnold Zetcher, Zardana’s owner, who suggested that Zardana travel to the Fair Grounds rather than try Zenyatta the same afternoon in the Grade I Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita.
“I think Mr. Zetcher is trying to get to the Apple Blossom as well,” Shirreffs said. "
And Jerry Moss adds this;
"“We take things a race at a time,” Moss said. “I like Grade I races, and if we find one that happens to accommodate Rachel Alexandra, too, then great. We’re certainly not looking to get away from her.”"
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/sports/04racing.html
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing … adies.aspx
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing … arita.aspx
Things are starting to heat up nicely in Hot Springs Arkansas
Watch this Saturday, Mar. 13, live for free, RA and Z’s prep races for Apple Blossom.
Don’t know if this requires registration at NTRA site but that’s free too, at least for their free newsletter.
Watch this Saturday, Mar. 13, live for free, RA and Z’s prep races for Apple Blossom.
Don’t know if this requires registration at NTRA site but that’s free too, at least for their free newsletter.
You star JHorse! I was looking today to see if you can watch it online anywhere so many thanks for that.
45 nominated to Apple Blossom – and why not with $500,000 to finish third, $300,000 for fourth, $200,000 for fifth and $100,000 for 6th through 10th. Even 10th prize pays the shipping costs, entry fees etc. and earns a nice profit. Should draw the best F&M currently in training but it’s level weights at 123 lbs. so anyone that beats Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta will have to do it without a handicap. Still it’s worth it for a free shot at immortality, not to mention what even a close up third would do to the value of any foals. I am actually surprised the list isn’t even longer.
This is a good link to compare Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. Scroll down and you can see videos of all their races. One thing I noticed is how well Calvin Borel fits Rachel Alexandra. Watch RA’s performance in the Debutante or Pocahontas Stakes then see how RA runs in the Golden Rod Stakes, first time Calvin Borel gets the mount. RA is undefeated since Borel took over. Of course, RA raced a bit greenly in her first few races and was beaten about half the time, but I have to wonder how much of that is the jockey.
Can’t access the NTRA site (wonder why!), but reports are that Rachel has lost on her comeback.
Can’t access the NTRA site (wonder why!), but reports are that Rachel has lost on her comeback.
She lost by 1/2L to Zenyatta’s stablemate, Zardana.
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http://horseracinginside.com/wordpress/?p=216
I’ve seen Brad try harder on one that wasn’t off
Seems like the Zenyatta yard had different ideas on what was to be an exercise canter/pipe opener for RA.
Zenyatta 1/5 of course, being the bestest horsie in da whole wide world
hacked up in her usual fashion- Total Posts 17716
On u-tube already http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4alL_NPQJY
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