Rachael Alexander and Zenyatta To Race This Weekend

[mikemca]

However its not gonna be very competitive as they both took the safe play.Zenyatta stays out west and will win the Vanity Handicap for third straight year and also her 17th straight win without a loss.While Rachael picked Fleur De Lis Handicap instead of going against the colts in the Stephen Foster.Both will be heavy favorites but its nice to see them back in action.

[BarkingToad]

Looking forward to seeing the real Zen master

[madmaxx]

Rachel sucks now

[jw]

Rachel sucks now

Couple of losses and written off .... love it .... will be VERY interesting to see what price she goes off at ... i'm thinking close to 1-1's - I also think she beats Jessica is Back in this one ....

[madmaxx]

Couple of losses and written off .... love it .... will be VERY interesting to see what price she goes off at ... i'm thinking close to 1-1's - I also think she beats Jessica is Back in this one ....

She won horse of the year over Zenyatta and has lost to some pretty weak horses like Zardana...you're saying she doesn't deserve to be written off?

[jw]

She won horse of the year over Zenyatta and has lost to some pretty weak horses like Zardana...you're saying she doesn't deserve to be written off?

I'm saying she is far from a horse that "sucks" we can all have an off day ..... step back up in distance and coming off a run that should have freshened her up should see her back to her best .... I'm sure plenty of trainers/owners would kill for a horse that sucks this bad ...

[mikemca]

Rachel sucks now

Regardless she had the best 3 year old campaign for a filly EVER!I think she was definitely used up more than Zenyatta last year because she took on the toughest races.Plus the dumbass Borel would rather win by 20 lengths and set track records than save Rachael and just win.Zenyatta ,besides the Breeders was never really asked for her best that is why she is so fresh this year.

[wtt0315]

wondering the price on racheal also

[jw]

wondering the price on racheal also

Not sure there will be any value - only one real threat in the race ... but I think the public money will come for her ... don't think the smart money will be able to back against her .. so I think she will still be too short to take a chance on.

[joeyp1222]

I would love to them both run this summer at saratoga that would be awesome

[BarkingToad]

Regardless she had the best 3 year old campaign for a filly EVER!I think she was definitely used up more than Zenyatta last year because she took on the toughest races.Plus the dumbass Borel would rather win by 20 lengths and set track records than save Rachael and just win.Zenyatta ,besides the Breeders was never really asked for her best that is why she is so fresh this year.

Wow, where do I begin? One could argue Rags to Riches had the best 3 year old filly campaign. Unlike Rachel, Rags to Riches actually beat somebody in the Belmont Stakes. Tiago and 2 time horse of the year Curlin. I also heard Go for Wand was a great 3 year old filly.

Rachel in the toughest race, it looked to me like she was dodging the tougher races. Her connections chose the Woodward Stakes over the Travers Stakes, and she completely avoided the Breeders Cup. Not much has really changed as she has been dodging Zenyatta this year even though Jess Jackson said he wanted to face her 3 times.

Rachel's 20 length win over nobody's followed by a Preakness win over arguably the weakest crop of 3 year olds in many years is what has caused all the hype to begin with. She also won several races after that 20 length win.

I partly agree Zenyatta wasn't asked for her best b/c I still don't think we've ever seen her top gear. A couple of times though, she needed a good effort to make up for Mike Smith's mistakes, in addition to carrying 129 lbs in the Vanity race.

[BarkingToad]

I would love to them both run this summer at saratoga that would be awesome

Wouldn't it be more awesome if they ran in the same race, though?

[joeyp1222]

yea that would be the track to run them, might bail out nyra lol

[gtkid911]

No way RA goes off at 1-1.

[jw]

No way RA goes off at 1-1.

I agree - hadn't had my morning coffee/late night coco when i posted that ..... she won't be her usual 1/9 though .... whatcha think 2/5, 1/2 ? Still no bet for me.

[mikemca]

Wow, where do I begin? One could argue Rags to Riches had the best 3 year old filly campaign. Unlike Rachel, Rags to Riches actually beat somebody in the Belmont Stakes. Tiago and 2 time horse of the year Curlin. I also heard Go for Wand was a great 3 year old filly. Rachel in the toughest race, it looked to me like she was dodging the tougher races. Her connections chose the Woodward Stakes over the Travers Stakes, and she completely avoided the Breeders Cup. Not much has really changed as she has been dodging Zenyatta this year even though Jess Jackson said he wanted to face her 3 times. Rachel's 20 length win over nobody's followed by a Preakness win over arguably the weakest crop of 3 year olds in many years is what has caused all the hype to begin with. She also won several races after that 20 length win. I partly agree Zenyatta wasn't asked for her best b/c I still don't think we've ever seen her top gear. A couple of times though, she needed a good effort to make up for Mike Smith's mistakes, in addition to carrying 129 lbs in the Vanity race.

Sorry but its not even close..I agree Zenyatta is better now and no one was dodging anyone last year.Zenyatta doesn't want to come East and Rachael doesn't want to go out west.Which is why she didn't enter the Breeders Cup.Regardless of how weak you say the preakness field was she was the first filly to win it since 1924.She won the Mother Goose by 19 1/4 and if its a bunch of nobody's she still broke the stakes record at 1:46 1/5 .Breaking the records of a pretty good horse Ruffian who is considered one of the greatest horses of all time .Records that stood since 1975.Then she just missed setting the record at the Grade I Haskell against males.Finally what she did in the Woodward just puts her way over the top and there really isn't even an argument as your just being stubborn.She was the first filly ever to win the Woodward,First 3 year old filly to win a grade I route race vs older males in NY since 1885.Its also how she did it.She played exactly into their hands by running the first 1/4 in 22.85 which is suicidal if you don't know and as all the horses that tried to run with her faded she still had enough to hold off the closers.Bullsbay,Macho Again,Da Tara,and Cool Coal Man are pretty good horses too BTW.

[mikemca]

I think morning line is 2/5.

[mproud1]

IF Zenyatta is able to win the Breeders Cup Classic(real dirt) this year she will be the best female racehorse EVER!!

[mproud1]

when Zenyatta retires & owns Curlin in the barn their offspring= The Green Monkey Part 2 hahahhahahahhh

[The General]

The Girls Are Back!
Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13
Rachel Alexandra Fleur De Lis (Gr. II)
Saturday, June 12
Purse: $200,000
Distance: 1 1/8 Miles
Post Time: 3:26 PM ET



Zenyatta Vanity Handicap (Gr. I)
Sunday, June 13
Purse: $250,000
Distance: 1 1/8 Miles
Post Time: 7:35 PM ET

[robmpink]

should be a fun weekend

[Loganflyboy]

Should be two great races to watch, but I can't see putting any money on them.

[madmaxx]

I'm saying she is far from a horse that "sucks" we can all have an off day ..... step back up in distance and coming off a run that should have freshened her up should see her back to her best .... I'm sure plenty of trainers/owners would kill for a horse that sucks this bad ...

Point taken...she certainly doesn't suck but is nowhere near the horse she was expected to be following her 3 year old campaign...Zenyatta just deserved the award..plus the consensus is: take a side...east vs west...zenyatta vs rachel..so the hype surrounding these 2 girls makes me have a dislike for Rachel but I am pretty SoCal biased when it comes to horse racing anyways.

BTW, Zenyatta looked even BETTER on dirt at Oaklawn...so I don't think she needs to prove she can run on the surface.

[BarkingToad]

Zen master will be carrying 129 lbs again. Has any dirt horse the past decade have to carry this much weight?

[BarkingToad]

BTW, Zenyatta looked even BETTER on dirt at Oaklawn...so I don't think she needs to prove she can run on the surface.

I've always said her running style and turn of foot is more favorable on the real dirt surface, which to me makes her performances on the synthetic track all the more amazing.

[mikemca]

I've always said her running style and turn of foot is more favorable on the real dirt surface, which to me makes her performances on the synthetic track all the more amazing.

What is amazing about her 16 for 16 is that her running style puts her dead last for the first 3/4 off the race.Her ability to get through traffic without getting boxed in even once and without any DQs is unreal.

As for Rachel having a letdown in her 4 year old season.They have an article in the DRF today about the last 20 fillies or so that had an grueling 3 year old campaign.Only like 2 or 3 were successful at all after they turned 4 which doesn't bode well for Rachel.

[JUST A MAN]

Zenyatta will have her hands full on Sunday. This race has a small field with a really good horse in St. Trinians.

I love Zenyatta, but this race could be difficult for her because of "no pace".

This would be the one time I go against the champ.

100$ exacta cold. St. Trinians over Zenyatta.

[joeyp1222]

8th (4:35)

Vanity H. (G1)

1 1/8 Miles (All Weather Track) | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $250,000

Post # Horse Jockey Weight Claim Price Equip. Med.
1 Miss Silver Brook Talamo J 112
2 St Trinians (GB) Garcia M 120 L
3 Zardana (BRZ) Espinoza V 118 L
4 Will O Way Baze T C 114 L
5 Zenyatta Smith M E 129 L
6 Cherryblossommiss Bejarano R 112

[mikemca]

Rachel won by 10 1/2.

[jw]

Rachel won by 10 1/2.

@ 1/9 - some people will back anything.

[robmpink]

I could see 1/9 to show, even though there wasn;t show.

[LT Profits]

[mikemca]

@ 1/9 - some people will back anything.

well it was an easy start to a pick3 that paid $101

[gtkid911]

Precious Passion going off in about two minutes. 3-1 is a steal for this classy speed horse.

[mikemca]

I don't know horses that ship back from Dubai have a tendency to let down..GL though