Rachel has had a rough year, but we Rachel fans still love her and are highly anticipating her next start. Where will Rachel race next? Looking at the Race Schedule for the next month or two, the following are some possible choices (in order of the highest to lowest possibilities):
1- 10/2/2010 (Grade 1) 1-1/8 $350,000 Beldame (open to fillies and mares 3 year old & up) at Belmont Race Course - the distance is good for Breeders Cup prep, the timing is perfect for JJ's current schedule pattern. It is all female, so the competition may not be as fierce as the Jockey Club Gold Cup, considering her recent loss in the Personal Ensign, this seems the logical choice. Many other articles are already pegging her to run here, so this is the MOST LIKELY.
2- 10/2/2010 (Grade 2) 1-1/4 mile $250,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (open to 3 year olds & up) at Hawthorne Race Course - the distance may be good for Breeders Cup prep, the timing is perfect for JJ's current schedule pattern. It's a grade 2 so the competition may not be as fierce as the Jockey Club Gold Cup. However, since it is with males, it might be more of a challenge and I am not sure Rachel's connections would be willing to risk it. Given her upsets this year this race is LESS LIKELY.
3- 10/2/2010 (Grade 1) 1-1/4 mile $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (open to 3 year olds & up) at Belmont - the distance may be good for Breeders Cup prep, the timing is perfect for JJ's current schedule pattern. I doubt JJ would really enter her here. The competition is much scarier than the aforementioned two races as this is often used by top horses as a prep for the BCC. Given Rachel’s success record this year, this race is UNLIKELY.
4- 10/9/2010 (Grade 2) 1-1/8 mile $300,000 Monmouth Cup (open to 3 year olds & up) at Monmouth Park - this is barely a choice because the timing may be a little too close to the BCC for JJ's current schedule pattern, it's a grade 2. Unless he plans to not run Rachel in the Breeders Cup at all, or burn her out for the Breeders Cup races, this race is VERY UNLIKELY.
5- A "Custom-Made-For-Rachel-Race" (with a bumped up large purse moved into whatever date JJ wants) conjured by some opportunistic track president/official who wants to attract Rachel and her fans to boost slumping track attendance. JUST KIDDING (... or not)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Personal Ensign Stakes 2010
Rachel Alexandra is upset by Persistently
On a warm (low 80's) and sunny afternoon on August 29, 2010, in front of a crowd of 23,347, as the 2-5 favorite in a five horse field, Rachel Alexandra ran the 1-1/4 mile $300,000 (Grade 1) Personal Ensign at Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, New York. Toting the high weight of 122-lbs, Rachel Alexandra with regular jockey Calvin Borel aboard took the lead almost immediately with (6 race winning streak) Life At Ten glued to her side in a stalking position through fractions of 23.66 seconds, 47.73, and 1:12.02 until the top of the stretch when 20-1 long shot Persistently caught up with the front runners, but Rachel shortened stride in the final furlong and Persistently powered past for a clear win in 2:04.49, beating Rachel by 1 length. Life At Ten tired badly from her early efforts, finishing another 10 1/4 lengths farther back. She was followed by Miss Singhsix and Classofsixtythree.
The Beyer Speed Figure for Rachel was a 93. She hasn't had a BSF as low as 93 since she was a 2 year old.
"After we put away Life at Ten at the quarter-pole, I didn't feel any acceleration and I got worried," Borel said. "She wasn't really there. I knew if anyone was running behind us, we were in trouble... She just got outrun. I had everything my way, and she just got outrun. If you can't take the losing with the winning, you can't be in the game."
"The winner won the race and I don't want to take anything away from that," said Steve Asmussen, who trains Rachel Alexandra. "In a five-horse field, you can't complain about where you are. It is what it is. I thought (Rachel) put a very good mare (Life at Ten) away. It obviously took more out of her on the front end than we would have hoped for. When she moved away from (Life at Ten) that's what you were hoping to see. Then she got run down late... I’m very disappointed that she lost but I’m always very happy with Rachel. It hurts to lose and you’re disappointed for it. But if that’s the case just think how happy she’s made you and all the things that she has done for us.”
Jackson, who did not attend the race, issued a statement about the result, but not her future.
“We are disappointed in the result, as we are sure her countless fans are, but we are certainly not disappointed in her,” Jackson said. “She is still a superstar in our hearts and minds. The old sports adage applies …. on any given Sunday, anything can happen.”
Reference: Brisnet.com
Friday, August 27, 2010
Sizing Up Rachel's Competition in the Personal Ensign
This coming Sunday, Rachel Alexandra will make her fifth start of the year in the 1-1/4 mile $300,000 Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. Not only is this the first time Rachel will be running in Grade 1 competition this year, but it will be the first time ever that Rachel will take on the Classic distance of 1-1/4 mile. The closest she's ever come to this distance was over a year ago in the Preakness when she covered 1-3/16 mile and won by a length. The outcome of this race will be pivotal to Rachel’s career as it will reveal whether she is indeed back to form and perhaps even ready to conquer the 1-1/4 mile Breeders Cup Classic in November.
RACHEL ALEXANDRA at post position 2, as the 2-5 favorite, carrying the high weight of 122 pounds, will of course be ridden by Calvin Borel. We Rachel fans know all about her "downs and ups" this year with her initial races turning out to be narrow losses, and then wins in her next two races. Rachel fans are anxious to see how she is progressing. But how about the competition? Is there any cause for worry?
LIFE AT TEN at post position 4, at 5-2 odds, carrying 120 pounds, ridden by Johnny Velazquez, is a 5 year old out of the prolific stallion Malibu Moon. Life At Ten has been on an outwardly impressive 6 race winning streak including the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps and the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap. However, this is not as formidable as it sounds because only 3 of those 6 races were stakes races. She has a lifetime record of 7 wins in 14 starts. Still, Life At Ten has proven herself at the classic distance of 1-1/4 mile when she won at that distance at the Delaware handicap. She is a front runner, which is similar to Rachel, however Rachel although generally being a front runner, has the ability to also stalk (Kentucky Oaks) or even come off the pace (Mother Goose).
MISS SINGHSIX at post position 1, at 10-1 odds, carrying 116 pounds, ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr, is a 5 year old out of the Irish stallion Singspiel. She won the Grade 3 Obeah and came a gamely second to Life At Ten at the Delaware Handicap. She has been in the money in her last four consecutive races and seems to be improving. She's had a lifetime record of 5 wins in 20 starts. Miss Singhsix running style is that of a closer, and that could be an advantage for her considering Rachel and Life at Ten have similar running styles and "could" sneak past the two front runners on the (unlikely) chance they tire each other out in a duel for the lead in such a long race.
CLASSOFSIXTYTHREE at post position 5, at 20-1 odds, carrying 116 pounds, ridden by Javier Castellano, is a 4 year old out of Include. She has a lifetime of 5 wins in 21 starts, but has never won a stakes race. However, she was in the money in the past 8 consecutive races and seems to be improving. She came in 3rd in the Ruffian this year. Her running style is that of a closer.
PERSISTENTLY at post position 3, at 20-1 odds, carrying 116 pounds, ridden by Alan Garcia, is a 4 year old out of Smoke Glacken. She has a lifetime win of 3 in 13 starts, but never won a stakes race. She won an allowance race her last race going into the Personal Ensign. Persistently has the running style of a closer.
I've listed the above according to how I think they will finish. But anything can happen in horse racing so don't bet on it.
The 1 1/4 mile, $300,000, Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga is this Sunday August 29, 2010 at 5:56 p.m. Eastern Time. The race will be covered on television by TVG and HRTV.
RACHEL ALEXANDRA at post position 2, as the 2-5 favorite, carrying the high weight of 122 pounds, will of course be ridden by Calvin Borel. We Rachel fans know all about her "downs and ups" this year with her initial races turning out to be narrow losses, and then wins in her next two races. Rachel fans are anxious to see how she is progressing. But how about the competition? Is there any cause for worry?
LIFE AT TEN at post position 4, at 5-2 odds, carrying 120 pounds, ridden by Johnny Velazquez, is a 5 year old out of the prolific stallion Malibu Moon. Life At Ten has been on an outwardly impressive 6 race winning streak including the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps and the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap. However, this is not as formidable as it sounds because only 3 of those 6 races were stakes races. She has a lifetime record of 7 wins in 14 starts. Still, Life At Ten has proven herself at the classic distance of 1-1/4 mile when she won at that distance at the Delaware handicap. She is a front runner, which is similar to Rachel, however Rachel although generally being a front runner, has the ability to also stalk (Kentucky Oaks) or even come off the pace (Mother Goose).
Life At Ten
MISS SINGHSIX at post position 1, at 10-1 odds, carrying 116 pounds, ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr, is a 5 year old out of the Irish stallion Singspiel. She won the Grade 3 Obeah and came a gamely second to Life At Ten at the Delaware Handicap. She has been in the money in her last four consecutive races and seems to be improving. She's had a lifetime record of 5 wins in 20 starts. Miss Singhsix running style is that of a closer, and that could be an advantage for her considering Rachel and Life at Ten have similar running styles and "could" sneak past the two front runners on the (unlikely) chance they tire each other out in a duel for the lead in such a long race.
Miss Singhsix
CLASSOFSIXTYTHREE at post position 5, at 20-1 odds, carrying 116 pounds, ridden by Javier Castellano, is a 4 year old out of Include. She has a lifetime of 5 wins in 21 starts, but has never won a stakes race. However, she was in the money in the past 8 consecutive races and seems to be improving. She came in 3rd in the Ruffian this year. Her running style is that of a closer.
PERSISTENTLY at post position 3, at 20-1 odds, carrying 116 pounds, ridden by Alan Garcia, is a 4 year old out of Smoke Glacken. She has a lifetime win of 3 in 13 starts, but never won a stakes race. She won an allowance race her last race going into the Personal Ensign. Persistently has the running style of a closer.
I've listed the above according to how I think they will finish. But anything can happen in horse racing so don't bet on it.
The 1 1/4 mile, $300,000, Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga is this Sunday August 29, 2010 at 5:56 p.m. Eastern Time. The race will be covered on television by TVG and HRTV.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Rachel Alexandra Workout Statistics Since Her Last Race:
Rachel Alexandra Workout Statistics Since Her Last Race:
Date Track Dist. Time Surface Condition Rank
8/02/2010 Sar 5F 1:02.45 Dirt Fast 6/9
8/09/2010 Sar 6F 1:12.96 Dirt Fast 2/2
8/16/2010 Sar 6F 1:13.24 Dirt Fast 1/1
8/23/2010 Sar 4F 0:48.80 Dirt Muddy 2/14
Video of Rachel Schooling on 8-26-2010
Date Track Dist. Time Surface Condition Rank
8/02/2010 Sar 5F 1:02.45 Dirt Fast 6/9
8/09/2010 Sar 6F 1:12.96 Dirt Fast 2/2
8/16/2010 Sar 6F 1:13.24 Dirt Fast 1/1
8/23/2010 Sar 4F 0:48.80 Dirt Muddy 2/14
Video of Rachel Schooling on 8-26-2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
WORKOUT 8-23-2010
On Monday morning, August 23, 2010, shortly before 6:00am, Rachel Alexandra worked four furlongs in 48.80 seconds over a muddy sealed track at Oklahoma Training Track near Saratoga Race Course in New York. With jockey Shaun Bridgmohan aboard, she ran at an even pace throughout, posting opening and final quarter-mile splits of 24.40, then she set galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.18. She ran the second fastest out of 14 horses running the same distance on that track.
“I was very concerned about the weather but they did a good job with the racetrack, it was safe and she went well over it,” Asmussen said as Rachel Alexandra cooled out back at the barn. “She seemed really happy.”
“We just wanted to see her happy and loose,” he said. “She knows what her job is by now, and you want to see an acceptance and a willingness to do it.
“With her, you’re careful with the rhythm you get into to start off. She’s very strong, very physical, and likes to do quite a bit. Shaun has done a great job with her, getting her away from the pole smoothly, and then once she gets into a rhythm, it’s been pretty good from there.”
Asmussen said Rachel Alexandra would school in the paddock during the week, dependent on the weather. Rain is forecast into Wednesday.
“As we’ve talked about and by design with Mr. Jackson, it’s time to pick it up,” Asmussen said. “She’s very keen. We’re just trying to keep her in a rhythm right now and keep her happy, and we feel that’s where she’s at.”
This is Rachel's fianl workout in preparation for the 1 1/4 mile, $300,000, Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga this Sunday August 29, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. E.S.T. The race will be covered on television by TVG and HRTV.
Video of Rachel's workout today
Video of Rachel galloping 2 days ago
References: drf.com and thoroughbredtimes.com
“I was very concerned about the weather but they did a good job with the racetrack, it was safe and she went well over it,” Asmussen said as Rachel Alexandra cooled out back at the barn. “She seemed really happy.”
“We just wanted to see her happy and loose,” he said. “She knows what her job is by now, and you want to see an acceptance and a willingness to do it.
“With her, you’re careful with the rhythm you get into to start off. She’s very strong, very physical, and likes to do quite a bit. Shaun has done a great job with her, getting her away from the pole smoothly, and then once she gets into a rhythm, it’s been pretty good from there.”
Asmussen said Rachel Alexandra would school in the paddock during the week, dependent on the weather. Rain is forecast into Wednesday.
“As we’ve talked about and by design with Mr. Jackson, it’s time to pick it up,” Asmussen said. “She’s very keen. We’re just trying to keep her in a rhythm right now and keep her happy, and we feel that’s where she’s at.”
This is Rachel's fianl workout in preparation for the 1 1/4 mile, $300,000, Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga this Sunday August 29, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. E.S.T. The race will be covered on television by TVG and HRTV.
Video of Rachel's workout today
Video of Rachel galloping 2 days ago
References: drf.com and thoroughbredtimes.com
Monday, August 16, 2010
WORKOUT 8-16-2010
On Monday morning, August 16, 2010, shortly after 6:00 am, Rachel Alexandra worked six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 over a fast track at the main track in Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga, New York. With jockey Shaun Bridgmohan aboard she then galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25 4/5 and a mile in 1:39.
Rachel was the only horse running that distance on the main track.
Her trainer Steve Asmussen was very pleased and said, "She was off (the first eighth) in :13, then she came off the bridle for him, very relaxed, her ears forward, stuck in a bunch of :12 and changes, came home just a tad better the last quarter, and her gallop out was strong. That rhythm, because of the 1 1/4 miles, is what we were looking for. That’s where she is…I feel she is more relaxed in the middle of her works than she was last year."
Yesterday morning (Sunday), Life At Ten also had a Saratoga workout and went five furlongs in 1:01.98. She will be Rachel Alexandra's main threat in the Personal Ensign. She is currently on a 6 race winning streak, including Gr1 Ogden Phipps, and The Delaware run at 1-1/4 mile.
This is Rachel's third workout since her last race. Rachel will have one more work in preparation for the 1 1/4 mile, $300,000, Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes run in less than 2 weeks at Saratoga, at 5:56 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday August 29, 2010. The race will be covered on television by TVG and HRTV.
Rachel works out 8-16-2010
Asmussen and Barbara Banke (JJ's wife) discussing her workout
Reference: Bloodhorse.com
Rachel was the only horse running that distance on the main track.
Her trainer Steve Asmussen was very pleased and said, "She was off (the first eighth) in :13, then she came off the bridle for him, very relaxed, her ears forward, stuck in a bunch of :12 and changes, came home just a tad better the last quarter, and her gallop out was strong. That rhythm, because of the 1 1/4 miles, is what we were looking for. That’s where she is…I feel she is more relaxed in the middle of her works than she was last year."
Yesterday morning (Sunday), Life At Ten also had a Saratoga workout and went five furlongs in 1:01.98. She will be Rachel Alexandra's main threat in the Personal Ensign. She is currently on a 6 race winning streak, including Gr1 Ogden Phipps, and The Delaware run at 1-1/4 mile.
This is Rachel's third workout since her last race. Rachel will have one more work in preparation for the 1 1/4 mile, $300,000, Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes run in less than 2 weeks at Saratoga, at 5:56 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday August 29, 2010. The race will be covered on television by TVG and HRTV.
Rachel works out 8-16-2010
Asmussen and Barbara Banke (JJ's wife) discussing her workout
Reference: Bloodhorse.com
Monday, August 9, 2010
WORKOUT 8-9-2010
On Monday morning, August 9, 2010, shortly before 6:00 am, Rachel Alexandra worked six furlongs in 1:12.96 over a fast track at the Oklahoma training track near Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga, New York. With jockey Shaun Bridgmohan aboard she set fractional times of 12.79 for the first furlong, 25.46 for the quarter, 37.98 for 3 furlongs, 49.77 for the half mile, then galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.04 and went a mile in 1:40.35, according to the drf clocker.
New York Racing Association clockers disagreed slightly and caught Rachel Alexandra''s finishing time at 1:12.95 with 38.02 for her first three furlongs and 50.53 for a half-mile, galloping out seven furlongs in 1:26.00.
“I’m pleased with how well she came out of the Monmouth race, how she trained that week, the work last week, it’s just a progression,” Asmussen said. “She’s done really well up here. I’m expecting two more moves before the Personal Ensign. Hopefully the weather will cooperate as much as it has to this point. It’s time to pick it up. We’re trying to get this to climax in November.”
Asmussen plans to keep Rachel Alexandra on the training track leading up to the Personal Ensign. Last summer, he worked her on the main track because of inclement weather and to give her a glimpse of her surroundings prior to her Saratoga debut in the Woodward Stakes (G1), where she beat older males in what turned out to be her final start of the year.
“I feel very comfortable about it, with her being here and having the success she did here last year,” he said. “Right now, you try to get your work schedule where it is and hope that Mother Nature and weather allows you to do that.
“I remember last year before the Woodward, trying to decide which racetrack we were going to work on because of all the rain and the condition of one track as opposed to the other. Hopefully, it’ll be a little easier than that this time.”
This is her second workout since her last race and will be in preparation for the 1 1/4 mile, $300,000, Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes run in less than 3 weeks at Saratoga, at 5:56 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday August 29, 2010. The race will be covered on television by TVG and HRTV.
New York Racing Association clockers disagreed slightly and caught Rachel Alexandra''s finishing time at 1:12.95 with 38.02 for her first three furlongs and 50.53 for a half-mile, galloping out seven furlongs in 1:26.00.
“I’m pleased with how well she came out of the Monmouth race, how she trained that week, the work last week, it’s just a progression,” Asmussen said. “She’s done really well up here. I’m expecting two more moves before the Personal Ensign. Hopefully the weather will cooperate as much as it has to this point. It’s time to pick it up. We’re trying to get this to climax in November.”
Asmussen plans to keep Rachel Alexandra on the training track leading up to the Personal Ensign. Last summer, he worked her on the main track because of inclement weather and to give her a glimpse of her surroundings prior to her Saratoga debut in the Woodward Stakes (G1), where she beat older males in what turned out to be her final start of the year.
“I feel very comfortable about it, with her being here and having the success she did here last year,” he said. “Right now, you try to get your work schedule where it is and hope that Mother Nature and weather allows you to do that.
“I remember last year before the Woodward, trying to decide which racetrack we were going to work on because of all the rain and the condition of one track as opposed to the other. Hopefully, it’ll be a little easier than that this time.”
This is her second workout since her last race and will be in preparation for the 1 1/4 mile, $300,000, Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes run in less than 3 weeks at Saratoga, at 5:56 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday August 29, 2010. The race will be covered on television by TVG and HRTV.
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