THOROUGHBRED BEAT
JULY 2, 2009
by James Scully
Rachel Madness: RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro) was a beauty to
behold in Saturday’s Mother Goose S. (G1), and it was a glorified public workout for
the brilliant filly, who posted an effortless 19 1/4-length decision over two
overmatched rivals and completed 1 1/8 miles in a stakes record 1:46 1/5. The
Mother Goose didn’t take anything out of Rachel Alexandra; she could’ve run
faster and won by a bigger margin. Jockey Calvin Borel wrapped up on her with a
sixteenth of a mile left to run.
That’s the way the great ones do it. Ruffian couldn’t be touched by female
competition, winning decisively over and over again, and she scared the
competition away, never facing more than six opponents in a single
race after her career bow. Rachel Alexandra is dominating three-year-old fillies
in similar fashion, posting three smashing victories this year prior to her 20
1/4-length romp over six foes in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She has to go outside her division to
find legitimate competition.
It’s the same with ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]), who went through the motions
against a short field of claimers and allowance types in Saturday’s Vanity
H. (G1). Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta could both be pawns of
unimaginative stewardship this season, but Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick
saved Rachel from that fate when purchasing her for a reported $10 million after
the Oaks. That was the best thing possible for Thoroughbred fans, except for
those who hate her new owners and/or don’t want to see her outshine Zenyatta.
Rachel Alexandra was supposed to go from the Oaks to the June 6 Acorn (G1),
remaining in three- or four-horse fields against grossly inferior three-year-old
filly rivals until the Breeders’ Cup, but that wouldn’t do a horse of her
caliber any favors. She’s establishing herself as one of the great fillies of
modern times. Her first test against males — a one-length score in the
Preakness (G1) — was a big step in that direction, and the Haskell (G1) and
Travers (G1) are winnable targets in the near future. The dynamic filly will be
the one to beat if she shows up in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) this fall.
Rachel Alexandra earned a 111 BRIS Speed rating for the second time this
season in the Mother Goose, and the boys (three-year-olds and older horses)
aren’t as fast as her. She’s the best dirt horse in training.
Playing It too Safe: Kudos to her owners for bringing her back this
season, but it’s time to show a little courage with the unbeaten Zenyatta. Rachel Alexandra
is casting a big shadow out east while Zenyatta’s trainer, John Shirreffs, acts
like he’s scared to lose. The older horse division couldn’t be any weaker in
California, and Zenyatta’s stablemate, the four-year-old filly Life is Sweet
(Storm Cat), will be the one to beat against a Grade 3-caliber group of males in
the July 11 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). But that race was never an option for
Zenyatta.
Shirreffs explained earlier this year that he doesn’t have any intention of
running her at 1 1/4 miles, despite the fact that she figures to easily handle
the extended distance, and plans on keeping her against fillies and mares, with
the August 9 Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1) and Lady’s Secret S. (G1)
shaping up to be yawners before the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1). I think
that course of action is an insult to a mare of Zenyatta’s talents.
Zenyatta is the likely favorite if she points toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic
(G1). The race will be held over a surface she relishes, Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride,
and she doesn’t have to fear any male rivals on synthetic tracks. Powerfully
built, the five-year-old mare would run over Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck), Mine
That Bird (Birdstone), Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker) or any other horse on
the way to the winner’s circle if forced to. Mike Smith usually takes the
overland route, circling the field en route to a convincing victory.
Even if she doesn’t run in the Classic, Zenyatta could showcase her skills in
races like the Pacific Classic (G1) and Goodwood S. (G1) along the way to the
Ladies’ Classic. Saturday’s Vanity was tough to watch. Loaded up with
129 pounds against bottom-of-the-barrel competition, Zenyatta dispatched runner-up Briecat (Adcat) by 2 1/2 lengths, with Dawn after Dawn (Successful
Appeal) finishing third. Those rivals were exiting respective eight- and
ninth-place finishes in the listed Redondo Beach S. at Hollywood Park, and
they’re a pretty good gauge of the level of competition that Zenyatta will face
the rest of the year if her connections don’t deviate from their dreadful game
plan.
Zenyatta deserves the opportunity to enhance her legacy with a victory over
males because she’s clearly the best main track horse in California.