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
No one East of the Mississippi is dissapointed in RACHEL ~!! SHE's the BEST!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you myykkyy!!!
ReplyDeleteShe IS the best!!!
I was there and, needless to say, bitterly disappointed. To top it off, I had to walk out to my car behind a big-mouth Zenyatta fan from Boston and was forced to stand behind him insulting Rachel as we waited several minutes to cross the crowded street.
ReplyDeleteBut what can I say, she is still my queen and I will always love her. She ran her heart out as usual and the crowd applauded her after the race as she was being led off the track.
She just didn't have it at the end, and even Tim Wilkin, our local turf writer for the Albany Times Union, who is a huge fan of hers, wrote today that she is not the same Rachel as last year.
Pixie, what do you think they will do with her now?
Toby, I could not agree with you more. It all comes down to JJ's ego as to whether he will allow that to happen.
ReplyDeleteI've loved Rachel since early 2009. I agree that if it's meant for her to go have fun with Curlin, then we'll remember all her phenomenal races, but gosh my heart will miss her tons. If she is still healthy, that is the most important thing!
ReplyDeleteI don't think we should give up on Rachel yet. Haskin had a great article in BloodHorse.com. She needed the 1 1/4 to get more fit and she will most likely move forward and then run well in the Beldame on 10-2. Then they decide where she goes.
ReplyDelete@RachelAlex: to answer your question, I agree with Joshua. I think she will go to the Beldame next and they will re-evaluate her then.
ReplyDeleteShe knew what Borel and her fans wanted that day (I believe they know the energy, and that adds to their energy). She gave as much as she could. She tried to go all the way.
ReplyDeleteShe will always be Rachel Alexandra.
Basically the same horse except the competition is older and tougher. Everytime she has a tough race, Calvin whips her repeatedly. This filly is being ask to do things she really cannot do comfortably. Yeah she looked great against the 3 year old fillies last year but let's not pretend she didn't have a hard time against grade 2 horses.
ReplyDeleteWell, if Rachel had a hard time with the Grade 2 horses, then poor Grade 1 winning, multiple stakes winner "Life At Ten" (who finished 11-1/4 lengths behind "Persistently") really had a hard time.
ReplyDeletePixiePoet
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for your above post.,..looks like a "naysayer" found this site. Rachel is still one of the best horses running....and she still holds the highest BSF for this year for any filly or mare running......everyone would love to see her wind each race, but any owner or true race fan would love to see their horse consistently run first or second.