Long-Distance Clash of the Titans: Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta

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Though Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will be separated by almost an entire nation this weekend when they race, the one in Kentucky and the other in California, every single move they make will be compared to the other. The immense rivalry between these two came into full light last year when both athletes finished off the year with perfect records and both defeated older males impressively. They were literally the only candidates considered for Horse of the Year honors and legions of enthusiastic fans on both sides were adamant that their horse was the better and more deserving of the championship. It made for fantastic publicity, excitement and fun debate but when it was all said and done 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra took home the crown.

Now in 2010 Zenyatta, the Champion Older Female of 2008 and 2009, has remained undefeated in both her starts while reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra has failed to win any of her two starts to date.

On Wednesday majority owner Jess Jackson announced un-fashionably late that Rachel Alexandra would be making her third start of the year in Churchill Downs Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr.2) on June 12. Rachel Alexandra comes into the Fleur de Lis with a series of 5 consecutive works that began shortly after her defeat in the La Troienne Stakes six weeks ago. Her last move came on Monday when she went five-eighths of a mile in 1:02 4/5, one week earlier she dazzled her connections with a six furlong work that went in 1:11 1/5. According to the BloodHorse her internal fractions for the six furlong move at both 3 and 5 furlongs mark were so fast that they beat the “bullets” of the day at those distances. Prior to her incredible 6 furlong work she went 5 furlongs in a sizzling 1:00 2/5. One important thing to note is that she also posted strong numbers for her gallop outs at the 7 furlong mark. She is looking even stronger and far sharper than she was coming into the La Troienne. If there is ever a time for the real Rachel to make a comeback now is it.

Toting high weight of 124 pounds, Rachel Alexandra will be giving form 7 to 11 pounds to her opposition. She will face just four rivals in the Fleur de Lis and of those four only Made for Magic and Jessica is Back have stakes wins to their credit.

Made for Magic won the Milady Handicap (gr.2) at Hollywood Park on May 16^th. She will be looking for her third win of the year and has managed to win 3 of her 9 career starts on the dirt.

Jessica is Back last finished second in the Sixty Sails Handicap (gr.3) on April 17^th and last year she posted four Beyer speed figures that topped the 100 mark.

Distinctive Dixie finished 5^th in the La Troienne last out behind Unrivaled Belle and Rachel Alexandra. Multipass rounds out the field and will be looking for her first stakes win of the year.

I know I’ve said this the last two times, but this really is Rachel Alexandra’s race to lose. She has run two terrific races this year already and her works now are looking just like they did last year when she was popping out wins left and right. I expect her to win by open lengths here and hopefully see her return to her fabulous winning form.

Across the country Zenyatta will be shooting for a modern day record of 17 straight victories in the Vanity Handicap

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(gr.1) and will also be attempting to win the race for the third consecutive time having already captured both the 2009 and 2008 renditions.

I have just one thing to say about her racing here. She should have been in the Stephen Foster Handicap this weekend instead of the Vanity, that is where she belongs and that is the only place where she might have actually had some quality horses that could give her a challenge. Now the big story is the lack of pace she will have to overcome in the Vanity. Is there anyone who really believes a slow pace will slow down Zenyatta. I don’t think so. I will most certainly be rooting for her to win her 17^th consecutive race and remain undefeated but the clear and painfully obvious fact is that John Sherriffs and the Mosses are ducking the competition. Not because they don’t feel they can win, but because they are in a comfort zone right now, they feel completely unthreatened by anyone racing this year. So far Zenyatta has given no indication that she can’t win another Breeders’ Cup Classic for them and if that happens and she remains undefeated it’s going to take one incredible horse with some unprecedented racing feats to beat her out of Horse of the Year. Maybe Quality Road can challenge her, but even if he wins most of his races before the Breeders’ Cup and Zenyatta remains in California she still has the upper hand. She proved herself the master of the males last year as did Rachel Alexandra, but unlike Rachel Alexandra she has continued to dominate in devastating style this year. She could conceivably remain in the California until the Breeders’ Cup and still win Horse of the Year because we all know what she is capable of and voters might feel she was perhaps the best last year. Reputation means a lot and Zenyatta has the best around.

While I appreciate that the Mosses brought her out of retirement to race her for an unprecedented 4^th year, I would like to see them make good on some of their more encouraging words. Right after they announced their decision to keep Zenyatta out of retirement Jerry Moss said “We’ll run against anybody, gender is not a factor”. Gender was supposed to not be a factor this year and so far to date they aren’t running against anybody, they are running against nobodies. This year was supposed to be about showing Zenyatta to the fans across the country and not just through a TV screen. So far it’s still just California and Arkansas.