Rachel V Zenyatta could happen !

Rachel Alexandra back on clock in New Orleans

USA: Newly crowned horse of the year Rachel Alexandra is back in full training in New Orleans, where she worked a half-mile in an easy 52sec on Sunday at Fair Grounds in her first recorded exercise of the new season.

Trainer Steve Asmussen's assistant Scott Blasi told Thoroughbred Daily News: "I even asked for a touch slower, but for her that's just physically impossible. It was a perfect work.

"We're not out to impress anybody at this point. I'm happy with how manageable she is, how happy she is being out there. Looking at her boy motion, she's happy with what she's doing."

Much respected Fair Grounds clocker Billy Petinggill was on hand.

"I can tell you that she was a very happy horse coming off the track," he said. "She enjoyed being out there and never turned a hair. I would say she's going about 60 per cent."

No return race has yet been selected for Rachel Alexandra, unbeaten in eight starts in 2009.

Speculation mounts over Rachel/Zenyatta clash

USA: A news conference to be held on Thursday to announce a 'Race For The Ages' has fuelled speculation that US champions Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta could meet at Oaklawn Park in April, a track where they have both recorded victories.

With Zenyatta's connections already keen on running the Breeders' Cup Classic winning mare at the track, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, it is thought officials are working towards bringing her together with US Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra for theirfirst ever clash in the Apple Blossom Handicap on April 3.

"Oaklawn is a great spot, and if everything works out correctly we'd love to be there," Zenyatta's owner Jerry Moss told the New York Times. "It obviously depends on the horse."


Asked if he had held discussions with Oaklawn or Rachel Alexandra's owner, Jess Jackson, about a potential showdown, he replied, "There's been some enthusiastic interest,but I can't say more than that."

Jackson could not be reached for comment.

Zenyatta, champion older mare of 2009, could make her seasonal debut in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Handicap on March 13 and after she worked five furlongs over the all weather Cushion Track at Hollywood Park on Wednesday morning.

Trainer John Shirreffs said of the Santa Margarita: "It's a possibility."

Rachel Alexandra, who is based at Fair Grounds, New Orleans, had her first official work of the new season last weekend.

Oaklawn offers $5m in bid for Rachel v Zenyatta


USA: Oaklawn Park has dangled a $5 million temptation in front of the connections of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta in a bid to stage the clash the racing world is dying to see.

On Thursday afternoon, Oaklawn Park president Charles Cella called a press conference wherehe revealed that the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap, set to be run at the Arkansas venue on Saturday April 3, will be worth as much as the Breeders’ Cup Classic – as long as both supergirls show up.

According to the Daily Racing Form, Cella has spoken to both sets of connections about the prospect of meeting at Oaklawn, where both horses have already tasted success. "Both of them havetold me they embrace the idea," he told the Form.

Jess Jackson, the majority owner of Rachel Alexandra, said he would "love to see her run at Oaklawn Park" but stressed that going for the Apple Blossom would depend on her being in top form. The 2009 US Horse of the Year came back into full training only this week after being held up by wet weather.


Jackson said: "As you have heard me say many times before, a number of factors must be considered when deciding where to race a horse - the number one factor being the condidion of the horse. Rachel will tell us when she is ready to start her 2010 campaign and we humans agree she is in top form.

"My family and I would love to see her run at Oaklawn Park. If she is in top form and it fitsin our schedule, we will be there. Rachel, as you know, likes the track, having won twice there last year [Fantasy and Martha Washington Stakes]."

The revamped $5m race, to be run on dirt, has been renamed the Apple Blossom Invitational, with its distance extended half a furlong to 1m1f. It will no longer be a handicap, with each runner set to carry 123lb (8st 11lb).

"We have always pursued a goal of bringing the world's bestracing to Arkansas," Cella said at Thursday's press conference.

"We have the opportunity to fulfil the promises we continually make to our fans, our horsemen and all of our supporters. Should this race come off as expected, it will most certainly fulfil every promise made."

Spectacular Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Zenyatta recorded her only victory on conventional dirt in the Apple Blossom Handicap in 2008 before establishing her towering reputation back on the all-weather tracks in California.

Her trainer John Shirreffs has mentioned the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitaional on March 13 as a possible comeback race for the much-loved six-year-old, who goes into her 2010 campaign unbeaten in 14 races.

The racing community was stunned last month when Zenyatta was ‘unretired’ – raising hopes of a clash with Rachel Alexandra, who beat her to the US Horse of the Year award at the Eclipse Awards ceremony.

While the Apple Blossom has already been nominated as a potential target this term for Zenyatta, the Steve Asmussen-trained Rachel Alexandra has been held up by wet weather in New Orleans, where she is stabled at Fair Grounds racetrack.

If only one of the pair runs in the Apple Blossom, the prize will revert to its original $500,000.

Fair Grounds has carded a new $200,000 stakes event on March 13, its conditions specially framed as a potentialcomeback race for Rachel Alexandra.

Apparently Rachel will NOT run in the Apple blossom at Oaklawn, but Rachels majority Owner, Jess Jackson said that he wants to see them race against each other just as much as te rest of the world would like to see it.

They are planning a 3 race series during the course of the year for these great hoses to do battle.

Negotiations are currently under way to decide where/when/what/who/why........

This is pretty exciting I think. WOUld love to see a triple crown type 3 race series between tese two top horses!!!!

The dream clash between America's top two fillies, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, looks to be back on after Oaklawn Park accepted a compromise date for the $5million Apple Blossom Stakes.

Rachel Alexandra's owner Jess Jackson had backed out on Wednesday, citing concern from trainer Steve Asmussen that his 11-time winner would not be ready for a peak performance on the original date, April 3.

However, with course officials now moving the contest to April 9, the headline-grabbing meeting looks set to take place.

Jackson told www.thoroughbredtimes.com : "We are delighted that the race is on for April 9 and want to especially thank Charles Cella (Oaklawn President) and Oaklawn for moving the date."

Zenyatta's owner, Jerry Moss, said, "Charlie Cella is a great guy and worked very hard to make this race happen and we are thrilled that it is going to work out.

"We were planning to go, we wanted to support him and are really pleased to have a chance to run over a good racetrack."

A delighted Cella added: "This is truly a race for the ages.

"I understand the concerns of all competitors in needing a prep race and properly preparing for a race of this magnitude.

"Both parties want this to happen when their champions are at their absolute peak. This date makes that possible."
SPORTINGLIFE.COM

Hope they don't change their minds again.

Would love to see these two superstars match strides.

Bring on April 9th

Tommy to steal a line from one of our Gold Medal runners

"I would get my right nut to watch this race"

Zenyatta and Rachel primed for return

Preview: USA, Saturday

Fair Grounds: New Orleans Ladies 1m½f, dirt, 4yo+ fillies and mares (11.15pm GMT)

Santa Anita: Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (Grade 1) 1m1f, AW, 4yo+ filles and mares (11.36pm GMT)

THE phoney war betweenAmerican racing's two superstar females reaches a crucial stage on Saturday.


Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta make their seasonal debut - at separate tracks, barely 20 minutes but a couple of thousand miles away apart.

The US racing community is on tenterhooks this weekend hoping nothing goes awry three weeks before the highly anticipated $5 million showdown between the two superstars in the Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas on Friday April 9.

Rachel Alexandra, voted American horse of the year for 2009 at the expense of her arch-rival, is first off the blocks in a $200,000 event specially carded for her at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Zenyatta's trainer John Shirreffs saddles her main opponent among just four rivals in Grade 2 winner Zardana - and soon afterwards at home in California, his spectacular Breeders' Cup Classic winner bids to extend her unbeaten record to 15 in the Grade 1 Santa MargaritaInvitational at Santa Anita.

Although Rachel Alexandra faces a small field of overmatched rivals in the New Orleans Ladies, trainer Steve Asmussen has warned that she will need the run after a six-month layoff following the last of her eight wins as a three-year-old in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga, one of three times she beat the colts last season.


The daughter of Medaglia D'Oro, who will be ridden by regular rider Calvin Borel, has reportedly been a little held up by the wet winter in New Orleans.

"We need this to be a stepping-stone and a prep," Asmussen said, speaking to the Daily Racing Form. "We want a good, physical exertion. There's going to be a lot in Calvin's hands."

Rachel Alexandra will break from gate two, outside likely pacemaker Fighter Wing - while the presence of the speedy Shirreffs-trained Zardana adds intrigue. She could easily be sent to dog Rachel Alexandra, who likes to race forwardly.

Locally-based Glenn Delahoussaye, trainer of Clear Sailing, is hoping tocatch America's sweetheart before she is ready to bring her A-game.

"The question we all have is, 'How good is she right now?'" he said.

On paper, Zenyatta faces a much more testing assignment first time out at Santa Anita, where she must give away between 12lb and 19lb to some talented fillies, including Grade 2 winners.

Zenyatta will carry 9st 1lb in this $250,000 event on the Pro-Ride. On the plus side, jockey Mike Smith reckons shemay be even better than last year following her ‘unretirement' - and workwatchers have been more than impressed with her recent efforts.

Nevertheless, Smith is concerned about the weight concession.

"It is quite a bit of weight to start out the year with," he said.
"But fortunate for us, she's a big mare and she carries the weight very well. So, hopefully, it won't bother her too much and I think she's going to run big first timeback.

"I mean she's really ready. She's ready for something right now and she's certainly training like it anyway."

Zenyatta's rivals include former British-trained Gripsholm Castle, now with former handler Henry Cecil's nephew Ben in California. Mind you, he seems to be running up the white flag before they start.

"Obviously, anything can happen in these races, but that's really what everyone else is in there for, to get a Grade 1 placing," he said. "There can't be anyone going in there thinking they can beat Zenyatta."

Of the others, both Pretty Unusual and Striking Dancer are recent Grade 2 winners.

Blue Square have priced up the Apple Blossom, making Rachel Alexandra their 8-11 favourite to beat Zenyatta (evens).

Zenyatta for me all day long,would love them to meet the best filly in the world one day..

Goldikova?

Yep,over a mile ,would be great.. suppose the fact she runs on grass would be a problem:)

Remarkable Zenyatta extends unbeaten run


TWENTY minutes after Rachel Alexandra failed on Saturday in New Orleans, the remarkable Zenyatta (John Shirreffs/Mike Smith) did what she has always done at Santa Anita when extending her unbeaten winning streak to 15 with a typical last-to-first victory in the Santa Margarita Invitational.

The spectacular Breeders' Cup Classic winner was giving away 12lb and more to a talented bunch of graded-stakes calibre fillies in the $250,000 event.

Nevertheless, this outstanding racehorse was still sent off 1-5 favourite to score on her first outing since her ‘unretirement'.

As usual, jockey Mike Smith rode the giant mare with the utmost confidence, allowing her to lope along right at the back of the nine-runner field, well adrift of front-runner Dance To My Tune.

Zenyatta was still fully eight lengths adrift two furlongs out as they left the far turn, where Smith took the dangerous option of sending her to the inner to deliver her challenge.

For a few strides it looked as if she might struggle to finda gap, but Zenyatta is nimble as well as talented. She weaved between traffic before picking up the leader and flying past her rivals to score cosily by a length and a quarter, covering 1m1f on the Pro-Ride in 1m48.20s.

Smith, who had virtually gone looking for trouble, was exultant. "I don't know what to say, I'm like a fan," he said.

"I cut some corners and gambled a bit, but I was confident at all times thatif she needed to make room, she could," added the rider.

"She's a bit of a bully. This was a great, great race for her and it wasn't taxing at all. We got enough out of this race to move forward."

The shock defeat of Rachel Alexandra on her seasonal debut at Fair Grounds barely 20 minutes earlier jeopardises the $5-million showdown at Oaklawn Park next month but Zenyatta will be running there anyway.

Trainer John Shirreffs, who saddled Zardana to floor Rachel Alexandra, said: "I didn't get a chance to see it, but I heard it, and it sounded great.

"She's tough. California'stough, we're tough. Don't take us short. Zenyatta will run in the Apple Blossom regardless. That was never really the thing, for us. It really wasn't.

"Zenyatta came back so we could have some fun with her andother fans could see her. That was the whole thing. She'll go back to Hollywood and get ready for Oaklawn."

Asked if she was better now than she was before: "That's hard to say. How can you be better thanperfect?"

Reflecting on the race, he added: "Obviously, he went to the inside, and then had to come back out, so - I just have a lot of faith in Mike.

"I know once he gets her in the clear, he has a good chance. She's cut in between horses and everything, but when you have a big X on your back, a lot of places don't open up that normally would."

Asked about Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta's owner Jerry Moss said: "I'm sorry she lost - she lost to a better horse today."

Actor Dustin Hoffman was among those on hand to welcome Zenyatta to the winner's enclosure.

Also on Saturday

Oaklawn Park: Rebel Stakes (Grade 2) 1m1/2f, dirt, 3yo

Lookin At Lucky (Bob Baffert/Garrett Gomez) got up in the last stride in a thrilling finish to beat Noble's Promise a neck. Both horses were making their dirt debuts after compiling excellent records on the all-weather.

Blinkered for the first time on his seasonal debut, the son of Smart Strike produced a gritty performance to take his career record to six wins out of seven, in the process sending out a warning to his Kentucky Derby rivals.

Sent off an 11-10 chance in this $300,000 event, Lookin At Lucky's only defeat came in unlucky circumstances when he finished second to Vale Of York in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay Derby (Grade 3) 1m1/2f, dirt, 3yo

Odysseus (Tom Albertrani/Rajiv Maragh) looks a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender after being angled inside to score in the tightest of finishes over Schoolyard Dreams.

Sent off a 2-1 shot, the son of Malibu Moon was completing a hat-trick for the year after a pair of impressive victories in lesser company.

Leading Kentuckyhope Super Saver finished close-up thjird on his seasonal debut.

Santa Anita: San Felipe Stakes (Grade 2) 1m1/2f, AW, 3yo

Sidney's Candy (John Sadler/Joe Talamo), handed a surprisingly easy lead by a field full of potential Triple Crown horses, had plenty left in the stretch to come home by about a length over Interactif.