Another dominant, record-breaking performance by Rachel Alexandra in last month's Grade I Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park went largely unnoticed. That was a very significant race at Belmont, eclipsing the great racemare of the 1970's -heroine Ruffian - margin of victory (19 lengths vs. 13 1/2) while breaking a 15 year standing stakes record with a time of 1:46.33 for 1 1/8 mile distance.
Now stabled at the historic upstate New York track Saratoga, Asmussen and Jackson have decided to make another splash by running Rachel against top colts (Belmont winner Summer Bird and Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem) for the second time in the Grade I $1.25 million Haskell Invitational. My guess is that she'll be on the bridle from the bell in hopes of wiring the abbreviated nine furlong distance of the Haskell. After seeing Rachel run four times and studying her form, I believe her best distance is at 1 1/8 miles, where she has won by a combined 39 lengths in her last two starts at this distance versus fillies. Frankly, she has the speed to win at 7 furlongs if they ever choose to go that route.
My hope is that they aren't too tempted by the money races at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles this fall and instead point to the older female "distaff" division. There are a slew of races in this category at Saratoga and Belmont through October, which makes it likely that we have seen the last of her outside of New York after her New Jersey start on Sunday. Based on Jackson's comments regarding California's synthetic race tracks, there's nary a hope she'll contest the Breeders' Cup, which is back at Santa Anita this fall. That means she must keep winning to have hopes of out-polling Zenyatta for overall Horse of the Year, since Zenyatta will be running in - and likely winning - a Breeders' Cup race (Ladies Classic or Classic) on her home course. Zenyatta so far is running in the same races in California she won last year en route to her perfect campaign, with the Aug. 9th Clement Hirsch Stakes her next start.
As it stands now, the Haskell wil not be nationally televised (even though the West Virginia Derby on Saturday IS being covered by Fox SportsNet -- another sign that racing is in trouble if you can't see it's main star!) so check out the race replay online or visit the "dreaded" local OTB to root on Rachel and hope for another historic victory!
Happy Racing,
E
Showing posts with label Papa Clem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Papa Clem. Show all posts
April 12, 2009
Papa Clem relishes Easter in Arkansas
The worst kept secret on the Oaklawn Park backstretch last week was that Old Fashioned could not rate. Trainer Gary Stute used this information to his advantage as he and jockey Rafael Bejarano changed tactics and brought Papa Clem off the pace to capture the 73rd running of the $1 million Arkansas Derby. The colt still eligible for a NW1/X finally recorded his break-through victory in an easier spot after chasing such stars as Pioneer of the Nile in California and Friesan Fire in Louisiana.
That was not an attempt to discount the Derby field or runner-up, Old Fashioned, who again laid down zippy fractions while staying into the bit in the ninth furlong to finish a determined second. But later that evening trainer Larry Jones was dealt another blow as Old Fashioned was found to have a broken knee and will likely never race again. That leaves stablemate Friesan Fire as his last hope prior to retirement to capture the run for the roses after two runner-up finishes with Hard Spun and Eight Belles. Lightly raced Summer Bird picked up the pieces for the show spot, meaning that Papa Clem will likely be the lone representative from Arkansas in Louisville.
In the other major final prep at Keeneland, the $20,000 claimer from last May - General Quarters - was a surprise winner of The Blue Grass Stakes over favorite Hold Me Back and fellow long-shot (and my pick) Massone. Theregoesjojo and Terrain threw in clunkers to put an end to their Derby dreams.
So with most if not all of the projected Derby starters now primed for the big one, that makes Quality Road the leader in the clubhouse (it is Masters Sunday, after all!). Even though the colt developed a slight quarter crack in his Florida Derby triumph, apparently it is not as severe as Big Brown's hoof problems from a year ago, which obviously didn't slow him down. Many of you have heard me talk about "key races" early on The Derby trail. It's easy to look back and circle the February 7th Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita as such a race, where Papa Clem finished just behind Pioneer of the Nile and a length ahead of I Want Revenge. Neither of those horses have lost again, so it's going to be tough to try to separate these three come the first Saturday in May!
Hope you all had a blessed Easter.
That was not an attempt to discount the Derby field or runner-up, Old Fashioned, who again laid down zippy fractions while staying into the bit in the ninth furlong to finish a determined second. But later that evening trainer Larry Jones was dealt another blow as Old Fashioned was found to have a broken knee and will likely never race again. That leaves stablemate Friesan Fire as his last hope prior to retirement to capture the run for the roses after two runner-up finishes with Hard Spun and Eight Belles. Lightly raced Summer Bird picked up the pieces for the show spot, meaning that Papa Clem will likely be the lone representative from Arkansas in Louisville.
In the other major final prep at Keeneland, the $20,000 claimer from last May - General Quarters - was a surprise winner of The Blue Grass Stakes over favorite Hold Me Back and fellow long-shot (and my pick) Massone. Theregoesjojo and Terrain threw in clunkers to put an end to their Derby dreams.
So with most if not all of the projected Derby starters now primed for the big one, that makes Quality Road the leader in the clubhouse (it is Masters Sunday, after all!). Even though the colt developed a slight quarter crack in his Florida Derby triumph, apparently it is not as severe as Big Brown's hoof problems from a year ago, which obviously didn't slow him down. Many of you have heard me talk about "key races" early on The Derby trail. It's easy to look back and circle the February 7th Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita as such a race, where Papa Clem finished just behind Pioneer of the Nile and a length ahead of I Want Revenge. Neither of those horses have lost again, so it's going to be tough to try to separate these three come the first Saturday in May!
Hope you all had a blessed Easter.
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