Rachel tied for 16th fastest of 26 horses running at that distance. Rachel ran on a "sloppy" track but as the day progressed the track condition improved to "muddy". Mine That Bird was one who worked out 2 hours later on the now "muddy" track and ran over 3 seconds faster than Rachel, coming in at :59.80. He came in 1st place of the 26 horses. The main difference between "sloppy" and "muddy" is that "sloppy" tracks are the risk factor for all the horses and jockeys, wheras "muddy" tracks are sometimes beneficial for some horse. A sloppy track tends to be more slippery due to standing water accumulating. Many trainers choose to run their horses slower and more carefully on a sloppy track.
Where racehorses are concerned, running on a sloppy or muddy (ie: wet) track has advantages and disadavantages. In addition to being slippery, mud is also heavy, and horses which run in it for long distances tend to tire more easily than they otherwise might have. On the other hand, because mud is softer, it's easier for horses which are sore to run on, at least in some cases.
Asmussen was pleased with the move and said the sloppy track condition after overnight rains was no reason for concern.
"She handles it really well," Asmussen said. "She went good. We've got travel plans this week and want everything to go smoothly."
Asmussen will be sending the champion and many others of his horses to historic Saratoga on Wednesday. The hot weather in Louisville convinced Asmussen to ship to upstate New York a week early.
"It's time," said Asmussen. "I'll be very happy when she's settled in there and we can get into our routine up there."
They wouldn't ask a lot from her today with her shipping to NY on Wednesday. This was basically a stretch your legs workout. I'm sure SB was doing all he could to slow her down like he was last week.
ReplyDeleteYou have to be excited that the scene now shifts to Saratoga. Of course, we all anticipate a victorious return to Churchill for the Breeders Cup.
ReplyDeleteI'm puzzled on what races they will send her to...right now they are running her six weeks apart. If they run her in the Ruffian (too short) or the Whitney (better distance), where will she progress to from there? Do they run her in the Woodward with only a month/three week rest and then point to the Breeders Cup? I can't imagine them running her in October with the Breeders Cup at the beginning of November. The Woodward is known for being a deep track and can take alot out of a horse. There is also the Personal Ensign that would have about the same spacing if she runs in the Ruffian as the spacing between the Whitney and Woodward.
ReplyDeleteIf they keep to the same plan in her training, two weeks before her next race they will fire a bullit work over 6 furlongs and the week of a short controlled work.
The Ruffian and Whitney are both 1 1/8 and run 6 days apart, IMO both are viable choices. If Rachel continues to train well, going against males in the Whitney is a great spot. She has nothing to lose at this point and everything to gain, a win against males would arguably make her the top older female.
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