Rachel and Zenyatta: Racing Against Themselves

So many things in horse racing seem unsure and fragile. The economy, auctions, purses, revenue, race dates, attendance, weather and race outcome are all inhabited by the fact that nothing in this sport is a sure thing. At least, that’s what everyone thought until 2009 came along, until Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. Until nothing seemed to matter or make a difference except winning and winning big. If racing achievements were measured by feet and inches, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta would be about 2,000 ft. above the Empire State Building. Everyone knows what these two phenomenal females have accomplished in their careers and especially in 2009. What now begins is a new chapter, one that starts, and hopefully ends, in triumph and satisfaction.

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Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta are both slated to run their 2010 debut races this Saturday and though they enter the gate thousands of miles apart, they will ultimately be facing each other. Everything these two great athletes do from now on will forever be linked with the other. From the moment they step into the walking ring on Saturday, to the very second they arrive at Oaklawn Park to contest the April 9^th Apple Blossom Handicap all eyes will be trained on Rachel and Zenyatta. The Apple Blossom Handicap has been accepted, though not formally, by both parties as the race in which the two super-stars will finally meet in what promises to be one of the most epic battles in history.

Rachel Alexandra, 2009 Horse of the Year and Champion Three Year Old Filly, makes her 2010 debut at Fair Grounds in the

[caption id="attachment_488" align="alignright" width="298" caption="Rachel Alexandra in her most recent work"][/caption]

$200,000 New Orleans ladies Stakes, a race pretty much tailor-made for her by the track in the hopes of luring her to stay at Fair Grounds for her debut. Having last raced six months ago when becoming the first filly in history to win the historic Woodward Stakes (gr.1), Rachel Alexandra has been cramming in the works in order to be fit for her first race of the season. Since the announcement that she would start in the Apple Blossom, Rachel has been systematically cranking up her exercise routine in order to reach her peak fitness level in time for the race. Trainer Steve Asmussen admitted that the filly is not yet 100% fit but that he is happy with where she is right now in her training. Let’s see, not 100% yet, but the way she made mincemeat of the fillies last year, this should be nothing more than a walk in the park if she is just 70%. Most people will not be concerned with her fitness level. She will no doubt be the overwhelming favorite, and not just at the betting windows. Rachel drew post position number 2, right between the two speed horses in the race, a scenario that suits trainer Steve Asmussen just fine.

Zenyatta enters the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (gr.1) looking better than ever before. The gargantuan

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mare has been posting some of the best works of her life since December and is as razor-sharp for her 2010 debut as she’s ever been. She has been assigned a 127 pound impost for the Santa Margarita which is substantially higher than the other fillies/mares in the field, but she won with 129 pounds in the Vanity last year, so weight should not be a problem. She will be spotting her possible rivals 8 to 19 pounds which is significant, but nothing seems to have fazed her so far and I doubt this will make a difference.

Both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will be facing somewhat small fields it appears. Rachel is slated to take on just 4 others in

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the New Orleans Ladies Stakes, while the final entries for the Santa Margarita have not yet been finalized. However the fields appear on race day one thing is sure; Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will make headlines, win or lose. I think the general sentiment is that both will win and continue down the war path that eventually ends at Oaklawn Park.

Three major Kentucky Derby preps, the Rebel Stakes, San Felipe Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby, are also going to be run on Saturday. I will post on them in a separate entry later.[polldaddy poll=2824426]