Rachel Alexandra Is Ready For A Race…How About The Haskell?

[Stevie Belmont]

Calvin Borel made a stop at Monmouth Park on Saturday. He was in town to ride Omniscient in the Long Branch Stakes, a prep race for the GI Haskell on August 2, 2009. The horse ran behind the sharp winner Atomic Rain. Coincidently Omniscient is owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonerstreet Stable and trained by Steve Asmussen. In case one does not know, this is the same crew who handles the super filly Rachel Alexandra.

Will Omniscient run in the Haskell? Calvin Borel must have felt confident in the colt to come over and ride him. Or were there another reasons as well? Possibly to get a feel of the Monmouth Park surface, to see how his horse moved over it and get familiar with it. He could have reported back to Jess Jackson and Steve Asmussen as to how he felt about it, some food for thought. The real question people want have answered is this, where and when will Rachel Alexandra run next? That is the question on my mind anyway. One has to wonder if Jess Jackson has in fact been contacted by Monmouth Park officials in an attempt to get Rachel Alexandra down to the Jersey shore in a few weeks. There is little doubt that they have, after all, it’s the Haskell Invitational.

The Haskell is a race that would suit Rachel Alexandra perfectly. She has had plenty of time to recover from her public workout in the Mother Goose. She needs a race. Why not the GI Haskell in 3-Weeks? The one-mile and one-eighth distance is perfect for her. Monmouth Park’s main dirt track would be very kind to her running style, and from the way this field is shaping up, she would have everything her own way. It makes sense to run in the Haskell from this standpoint. However they might have other plans, such as The Travers at Saratoga. Running in both does not seem likely for her. The Delaware Oaks is also an option against fillies and mares.

Monmouth Park in the past has gone out of their way to roll out the red carpet in an attempt to get the big 3-year-old star of the spring to The Haskell. The list is impressive, Point Given, War Emblem, Funny Cide and just last year, Big Brown. In fact Monmouth Park even made a race just for Big Brown last year, the Monmouth Stakes on turf. Big Brown’s connections were treated like gold. All of these Haskell’s mentioned were big success, with big crowds, who came out to see racings 3-year-old stars of the spring. They also helped out the total handle as well.

There is no other 3-year-old in training right now that matches the star power and class of Rachel Alexandra at this point. She is the undisputed King, or in this case Queen of the 3-Year-Old division, who already sports a win against males in the Preakness Stakes, and the Haskell looks to be a perfect race for her. In fact the connections of the speedy Big Drama have already indicated that they would pass up the Haskell if Rachel Alexandra shows up. Rachel Alexandra put Big Drama away in the Preakness, and they do not want any part of her again at this point in time.

Horses pointing to the Haskell are Belmont Stakes winner, Summer Bird and Papa Clem. Atomic Rain, winner of the Long Branch and some others. None of these mentioned are spectacular horses. Solid horses, but not on Rachel Alexandra’s level at this point in time. She would clearly be the horse to defeat in the Haskell, if she were to go.

She worked a nice 5-furlongs today at Saratoga, and surely she is ready for a race. Hopefully Calvin enjoyed his short stay at Monmouth Park and had some good things to report back to the connections of Rachel Alexandra and Omnicient. An announcement is probably expected soon as to when and where she will run next. Hopefully it will be the Haskell. And yes, I do think the possibility is a good one that she will show up, based on everything mentioned here already. Why not? The race was made for her.

[Tappiano]

I don't know but I'll be headed over there mornings to watch her work out if they ship her in ahead of time. I'm not sure I can actually get into the stable area... seems that every year they make it harder and harder.

This is a very logical race if they do not want to test her at a mile and a quarter yet.... although I don't think she'd care if the CCAO were still a mile and a half she can do it.

[bdw0617]

i'd be shocked if she's not in the haskell. a win there all but wraps up HOY IMHO

[Tappiano]

She would need to win one of the fall races at Belmont to render the winner of the BC classic irrelevant and cement it in my humble opinion. The writers seem to forget what most do every race outside of that race.

[Matchemforever]

I would think they would point to the Haskel at a mile and an eighth.

I think the Travers, at 1-1/4 miles, if I've got the distance right, won't work as well. Thinking back on the fact that MTB almost caught her at 1-3/16 and that was not the best trip he could have had.

IMHO, don't know that RA can effectively get 1-1/4 unless everything goes her way.

An early speed duel in the Travers with a good late closer and I think she'd lose. But, that's just my speculation.

[UmmYeah]

Yup. Looks like it's the Haskell.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/105505.html

[Elusive City]

IMHO, don't know that RA can effectively get 1-1/4 unless everything goes her way.

Clearly RA has distance limitations. The haskell is a perfect fit.

she'll duck the travers just like she did the Belmont.

[Stevie Belmont]

Distance limitations?

She did not duck the Belmont, she passed it up....

[Matchemforever]

Well, I'm willing to be proven wrong on RA's distance limitations.

I'm just suspecting that she won't run 1-1/4 or over unless the field is very weak and she can have everything her own way.

Passed or ducked, what does it matter? She didn't run the Belmont and took a break.

The horse that did those three consecutive races this year and hit the board every time was Mine That Bird.

I love RA, think she's awesome. But I don't think she's invincible and believe that she has her achilles heal- distance.

[Tappiano]

Did anyone determine if she has a large heart? I don't think she has any distance limitations, and since they are planning on racing her next year no real rush to run her longer right now.

[bdw0617]

i don't think it would be smart handicapping to say she has "clear" limitations off of the preakness (which she did.. you know.. win.).

also considering nothing went her way that race and she still won. she fought a grade 1 calibur sprinter in the beginning and held off a grade 1 calibur kentucky derby winning closer at the end. what more can you do?

anyway, no reason for the travers.

also, i'm still hoping against hope she's in the personal ensign so I can see her live and in person

[Heidilady]

The minute the Haskell was brought up, it made total sense. I had hoped the Travers so we could see her with Mine That Bird again, but I'm just not sure they'd go there unless she were beating down her stall door demanding a start. I bet they don't want her to lose in the Graveyard of Champions. Can we get Monmouth to just jack up a purse to draw Zenyatta? I've heard it suggested and it doesn't sound half bad, but you'd really have to make it particularly interesting to get her to go East.

I remembered the Breeders' Cup is at Churchill Downs in 2010, site of RA's big Oaks smash. I bet that alone is enough to keep her around at age 4 as far as Jess is concerned. He might be dreaming of getting her in the Classic next year. Now, thanks to you guys I gotta go watch her Preakness and Oaks. Also, Tiznow's BC Classics because that's where my mind wandered. I can't not watch them now.

[Stevie Belmont]

Big Drama is a very fast horse and she smoked him with ease. The bottom line is she has incredible turn of foot...And on a side note, Mine That Bird did make that late bid, but he never passed her in the gallop out either.

If she walks home in the Haskell, I do firmly believe she would be pointed to the Travers. It does depend on how hard of race she has in the Haskell. Munnings could make her run, but I just dont know if he will run all the way with her. Munnings might pass it up. If he does pass it up Rachel Alexandra is an easy winner. Nothing in that field who will threaten her. Atomic Rain will be running for 2nd.

She is able to relax wonderfully early, and with that great ability, distances of any kind are a lot more doable. She is super from what I have seen already.

[erhrdt3]

I love Rachel and all, but WHEN is she ever going to face the best female/race horse in the country: Zenyatta? It seems that they keep coming up with excuses on both sides why they won't meet. If they do not race each other that would be the crime of horse racing. Can you only imagine a race with those two in it?

On a totally different, non important subject, I just got done doing the Goggle Image search for Rachel, and WOW! the pictures of her with her mane and forelock flying in the wind and the dark bridle makes her look so incredibly beautiful. Does anyone know why the Jacksons tie up the mane in tight little knots and tightly braid her forelock and tuck it underneath the very ugly white bridle? I know, I know, it's THEIR horse and they can do what they want, but isn't that more the style of a hunter/jumper? Google those pictures and look at them and see the difference. It makes her neck look gangly and thin, and her face is nowhere as beautiful as it was when she was racing for her old owner. Kinda one of those things, if it ain't broke, why change it? They did this to poor Curlin also and it did not do him any good in the looks dept. I have some pics of him with his mane and forelock loose and flying, and he looked gorgeous! Why?

And somebody out there get a race between Zenyatta and Rachel. That will be the race of the decade.

thanks all.

[Stevie Belmont]

Well it just seems everyone want to see RA and Zenyatta sqaure off, but the connections are not itching for it, only because they are not on the same schedule. For the fans, yes it would be great, but the connections don't see it that way. Thier horses, thier plans. It could happen, but the planents would have to align correctly.