Rachel Alexandra is BACK in a Big Way

[Tim_T]

You might get some of my money, I have yet to see anything out of that horse that makes me think she can beat Zenyatta! Plus, Zenyatta already has a Breeders Cup Classic win. Did you see what she did today? Cigar's record goes by the wayside.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=10905106

[Grumpy]

Well said, Tim, I was just gettting on to say the same thing.

Grumpy

[Tim_T]

Well said, Tim, I was just gettting on to say the same thing.

Grumpy

I am not trying to be argumentive with Elwood. He has forgotten more about horse racing than I will ever know. All that being said, when I watch both horses, it just looks to me that Zenyatta is the better horse.

I am no expert, but I did sleep at Kenlake Resort three nights in a row! LOL

[elnutsmalljaws]

Zenyatta won the Classic against a WEAK field on her favorite surface, Synthetic, in her back yard, Southern California. She has won 2 races on conventional dirt surface and both of them are at Oaklawn, which is a far different surface than Churchill. Rachel is a dirt surface horse and will NEVER run on Synthetic, this is why they did not meet in last years Classic. My bet is they won't meet in this years Classic either, because Churchill is not only a dirt surface, it is a surface that horses either LOVE or HATE and it is already proven that Rachel LOVES it. I don't see the Mosses bringing Zenyatta all the way to a track that she has never raced on, on a surface that is not her favorite, the first week of November when the weather is no telling to take a chance at losing against Rachel, Quality Road, Rail Trip or any other horse. Zenyatta will keep on beating up on the Southern California girls and boys the rest of the year to get the record that she well deserves and thenn will give it up before the Classic. No dis-respect to Zenyatta because she is in the top 10 of ALL TIME Fillies and Mares that I have ever saw but so is Rachel Alexandra (Ruffian, Genuine Risk, Azeri, Bayakoa and Personal Ensign as well). I just think Rachel is a better Mare than Zenyatta. You have to also consider ages, with Rachel last year being 3 and Zenyatta being 4, this year 4 and 5. There is so much of a gap in ability in a 4 year old versus a 3 year old that it is amazing. The simple fact that Rachel not only was mentioned in the same breath as Zenyatta in ability last year is one thing and the fact that Rachel won Horse of the Year, without winning the Classic like Zenyatta, and this award is voted on by those really in the know in the horse racing industry speaks VOLUMES in the work that Rachel did last year. When they do meet, if they do meet, the Loser will have an excuse because they both like different racing surfaces and with Southern California being all Synthetic surfaces Rachel will never travel to Zenyatta's back yard and Z will not travel to R back yard. Too bad for different surfaces because I don't think it makes horse racing "fair and equal". Make it all dirt and turf or all synthetic and turf with only one type of synthetic surface and then there will not be any excuse for anyone not to race to see who is the best.

[Grumpy]

Rachel Alexandra 17 12 4 0

Zenyatta 17 17 0 0

Nuf said,

Grumpy

[elnutsmalljaws]

Rachel Alexandra 17 12 4 0

Zenyatta 17 17 0 0

Nuf said,

Grumpy

Look at who Rachel has beat and look at who Zenyatta has beat. Z keeps beating up on the same group of females in Southern California (Lethal Heat, Tough Tizs Sis and such over and over). Z wins the Classic in a WEAK field, proven by Gio Ponti that ran second in the classic is a TURF horse and had never won anything on dirt or synthetic and the horse that ran 3rd is extremely WEAK as well. Basically splitting hairs between the two but 2009 Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra proves she was the best in 2009 and Saturdays 108 Beyer Speed Figure under wraps winning by 10 1/2 in times faster in a 1 1/8 mile race versus her previous 2 starts that were at 1 1/16 mile, Rachel is right back where she belongs in the same sentence with Zenyatta. We will never find out who is actually who is best. It may be Quality Road that spoils all the fun, 4 yr old Male who ran a 121 Beyer in the Met Mile on Memorial Day weekend and has the top 4 Beyer Speed figures of 2010. Quality Road will be at Churchill for the Classic as will Rail Trip and Rachel Alexandra but not Zenyatta.

[Grumpy]

Woody, You can make excuses all day long but its still 17 for 17 and a new record.

Grumpy

[redneckshadrap]

She still has 3 more to go to break it don't she???

[Grumpy]

Cigar, Citation, Hollowed Dreams and Mister Frisky all had 16 wins.

Grumpy

[redneckshadrap]

I'm a Lady Z fan, but have got to agree with Woody. RA smoked the times. Borel is a master @ CHD..(couldn't have said that out loud but as least I can type it.) But Lady Z needs to hit the dirt to really show us how good she is...

Do I think RA can run and win against the boys in November?...No.

[elnutsmalljaws]

I'm a Lady Z fan, but have got to agree with Woody. RA smoked the times. Borel is a master @ CHD..(couldn't have said that out loud but as least I can type it.) But Lady Z needs to hit the dirt to really show us how good she is...

Do I think RA can run and win against the boys in November?...No.

Easy Billy. On the Churchill Downs Strip the only Boy that can run with Rachel is Quality Road and that is all depending if he has not already peaked too soon. 121 Beyer in the Met Mile Memorial Day is STRONG, REALLY STRONG for the end of May with the best races for Older Males yet to come in the summer. Quality Roads 121 Beyer in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream earlier in the year was the highest Beyer in a race over a mile since 2005, which is pretty strong as well. Considering Quality Road has ran the top 3 Beyer Speed Figs of 2010, he may have peaked too early. Quality's connections are saying 2 Grade 1 races at Saratoga in Aug and Sept and then a 2 month break before the Classic the first week of November. Quality Road has always had the talent and breeding to be a great horse but never put it all together until this year. Quality Road was the horse that was scratched at the gate at last years Classic because he refused to load. The first horse EVER scratched at the gate for this reason on Breeders Cup day. Love to see a fast track in November with Zenyatta, Rachel, Quality Road, Rail Trip, Lookin at Lucky, Ice Box all in top form and let the chips fall where they may. Eskendereya would have made the race that much more interesting and may have been the favorite after sweeping the triple crown (as I think he would have this year) but retired after injury and we will never know. One thing for sure, Rachel will be near the lead and Zenyatta will be coming from behind so their styles won't compromise each other if they ever do meet.

[redneckshadrap]

They had him blind folded...He was bucking like a bronco...