Rachel gallops strong... - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com

joanied · 03-21-2010, 06:45 PM

I know, just what evryone wants...another title on Rachel...forgive me

From TB Times:
"Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra appears to have bounced out of a runner-up finish in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes on March 13 (video) in good order after a series of strong gallops at Fair Grounds.

“Rachel Alexandra has been galloping along pretty good in the last couple of days,” Fair Grounds clocker Billy Pettingill said Sunday morning. “This morning she went along in about a mile-and-a-half gallop and they let her run along pretty good through traffic. They haven't backed off on her a bit.

“[Trainer] Steve [Asmussen] brought her to the track himself today.”

Makes one wonder at JJ's hasty decision...but, regardless of the Apple Blossom, it's great news to know the filly is on track and strong.
She'll be back

PaceAdvantage · 03-21-2010, 06:51 PM

Thanks for the update...I for one appreciate the news.

joanied · 03-21-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Thanks for the update...I for one appreciate the news.

cpitt84 · 03-21-2010, 07:04 PM

I just feel so blessed to witness 2 of the greatest fillies in many years and I want, so bad, for Rachel to come out and do better than she did last year.

I am really hoping for a good next couple months and I can't wait to see her run again.

*Yeah, I don't think Jackson made the best decision...at least wait to see a couple of her runs.

But, maybe its for the best.

bisket · 03-21-2010, 07:19 PM

this is good news. hopefully we'll see her soon.

tzipi · 03-21-2010, 07:19 PM

Good to hear and see joanied

Grits · 03-21-2010, 09:59 PM

Joanie, video link won't work, darlin'. Ugh! I wanted to see her.

born2ride · 03-21-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grits

Joanie, video link won't work, darlin'. Ugh! I wanted to see her.

It's a link to the NO Ladies. I believe the article is from Thoroughbred Times.

I've seen similar updates from nola.com and the Fairgrounds. Sounds like she is doing well, she's galloped a couple of times. Time before this was for I believe a couple miles.

letswastemoney · 03-22-2010, 12:37 AM

Strong gallops?

Makes you wonder if she's really "out" of the AB.

Their feelings must not be very hurt at all if she they haven't backed off on her....

Maybe they are pulling a Zenyatta camp type stunt.

Pick6 · 03-22-2010, 12:43 AM

Any clue where we might see her run next? La Troienne at CD April 30 makes sense. Maybe a freshener before that, but I doubt we'll see her at OP and KEE is obviously out.

PaceAdvantage · 03-22-2010, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

Makes you wonder if she's really "out" of the AB.

Is it even technically possible for her to be back in?

letswastemoney · 03-22-2010, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Is it even technically possible for her to be back in?

Is it still an invitational? She's still invited isn't she?

Not that I'm saying they will, but if they wanted to, couldn't they just enter once the entries are drawn without ever announcing it as long as she has an invitation?

That is unless Oaklawn took away the invitation to Rachel once they heard Jackson said they were out...or if there is something I'm not understanding about the rules for getting in...

born2ride · 03-22-2010, 01:25 AM

This is from the Fairgrounds Barn Notes from Friday 3/19:
Rachel Alexandra ‘Looks Terrific’ Galloping 12 Furlongs Friday Morning
Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra “looked terrific” as she galloped a mile and a half Friday morning, according to Fair Grounds clocker Billy Pettingill.

“She came out on the track about 6:30 a.m.,” Pettingill said while updating the filly’s status since her narrow defeat in last weekend’s $200,000 New Orleans Ladies here. “She went about a mile and a half with Dominic Terry aboard as always. She came out with wearing that same ‘Figure 8’ equipment. Steve (Asmussen, Eclipse Award-winning trainer) brought her out himself today. Scott (Blasi, assistant trainer) was at Oaklawn.”

After walking a couple of days immediately after the New Orleans Ladies, Rachel Alexandra jogged for a couple of days before Friday’s more serious outing.

CincyHorseplayer · 03-22-2010, 04:19 AM

After seeing her fight in that one workout this is definitely good news.The girl is bad and far from done.

Nice scout work there Joanied

TizTheOne · 03-22-2010, 11:07 AM

She was strong in her first race back. She just lost to a better horse that day because she was not 100%. People forget she ran a 100 beyer and that is about all you can expect from a 110 type beyer horse in their first race back off a long layoff. If the other horse was not in there she wins by 10+.

I think people mistake her for being a 120+ beyer type horse like a Formal Gold (or maybe even Quality Road, but he will have to repeat that effort, although he looks capable). Other than her wet track effort at Monmouth where everyone's beyers are inflated (Curlin got a 119 as a 3yr old there and Ghostzapper a 128 when it was wet), she really is what she is. An exceptional filly that runs in the 105-110 beyer range similar to a talent like Big Brown or Rags to Riches. Did people expect her to run anything better than a 100 beyer off that long of a layoff?

As for Zenyatta, nobody really knows how fast she is on dirt. She only has one race on it and that was two years ago. She could be a 105 beyer horse or a 120 beyer horse. We just don't know yet. As for her beyers on synthetic, they are basically as useful as grass beyers, which means completely useless.