Rachel Alexandra, 2009 Horse of the Year, notched her first win in three tries as a four year old. She beat a lackluster group of fillies at Churchil Downs. Race replay and video below.
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| Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs |
| Super Saver breezes three furlongs Monday at Churchill Downs under Calvin Borel. |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver breezed an easy three furlongs on a busy Monday morning at Churchill Downs, going in 36.60 seconds over a fast track in preparation for the 135th Preakness on Saturday at Pimlico in Baltimore.
With jockey Calvin Borel up, and going shortly after the regularly scheduled harrow break around 8:30 a.m., Super Saver went his opening furlong in 12.40 seconds and galloped out past the wire to the seven-furlong pole in 49.20, according to Equibase clockers. He continued along to the six-furlong pole on the backstretch in 1:02.
“Calvin did exactly what we asked him to do,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who watched frontside. “Go an easy three-eighths and gallop out an easy half. It’s amazing how effortless the horse was in doing it.”
Super Saver will be among a large contingent of horses flown Wednesday afternoon from Louisville to Baltimore.
Four other Preakness prospects also worked Monday at Churchill. D. Wayne Lukas sent out a pair early in separate works, with Dublin going a half-mile in 48.40 seconds under jockey Garrett Gomez, who has the mount in the Preakness, and Northern Giant going three furlongs in 36.40 under exercise rider Arielle Witkowski. Two others went after the break: Hurricane Ike went seven furlongs in 1:25.80 under Preakness jockey Robby Albarado, and Yawanna Twist went five furlongs in 1:01.60.
Also Monday, Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, breezed an easy half-mile in 52 seconds in her first workout since incurring her second straight defeat in the April 30 La Troienne Stakes. Trainer Steve Asmussen has not committed Rachel Alexandra to a specific next race. “All options remain open,” he said.
Tags: Hurricane Ike, Preakness Stakes, Rachel Alexandra, Super Saver, Workouts
Eskendereya retired.
Eskendereya, romping winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes and Wood Memorial, and the projected Kentucky Derby favorite, was retired from racing today by owner Ahmed Zayat.
Zayat will retain ownership percentage in Eskendereya with Jess Jackson, the owner of Curlin and Rachel Alexandra. Ahmed Zayat states, “we will work to develop the best progeny for American racing.”
Eskendereya was diagnosed by multiple veterinary authorities with a soft tissue injury.
“I cannot tell you how heartbroken I am and how hard it was for my whole family every time they showed the Wood Memorial on TV. We were all tearing up watching such a breathtaking performance. I can’t express my sadness, but there is also joy to have been so close to a horse like this and picking him out at the sale. I broke the news to my son Justin and he is totally crushed.”
Eskendereya retires with $725,700 in earnings.
Rachel confirmed for Friday’s La Troienne
By Jay Privman
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The worst-kept secret in racing was finally revealed on Saturday afternoon when Jess Jackson, the majority owner of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, confirmed to Churchill Downs officials that Rachel Alexandra would run on Friday in the Grade 2, $400,000 La Troienne Stakes, part of the Kentucky Oaks undercard.
Zenyatta headed to Vanity Handicap
By Steve Andersen
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Zenyatta will make her next start in the Grade 1, $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 13, trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday.
The Vanity is run over 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic main track and is considered the championship race of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting.
“It’s a logical choice,” Shirreffs said.
Jackson Bend closer to getting in Derby
YAY!!! This is my favorite entering the Derby. I have a Future Pool 1 bet on Lookin At Lucky and Jackson Bend as Derby winners!
Go Jackson Bend!
Tags: Jackson Bend, La Troienne, Rachel Alexandra, Vanity Handicap, Zenyatta
Just Jenda might cause the most trouble for Zenyatta when they face off in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on April 9th.
#1 Be Fair – 120 lbs – 4 year old
Pedigree: Exchange Rate – Go Donna Go by Wild Again
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Calvin Borel
Be Fair, trained by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, is making both her first start since November 7, 2009 and under Calvin Borel. She won her last start, an allowance race at Oaklawn on March 4th, but in her last couple of races she’s faired no better than 5th. Her last stakes win was on August 31, 2009 in the Grade 3 Lake George Stakes at Saratoga.
Be Fair placed 4th in the 2009 Kentucky Oaks, virtually a mile behind 3 year old champion Rachel Alexandra. She looks to be the early speed in the Apple Blossom, which will hopefully setup a quick pace for Zenyatta to run down in the stretch.
#2 Taptam – 117 lbs – 5 year old
Pedigree: Pleasant Tap – Salty Tam by Salt Lake
Trainer: W. Bret Calhoun
Jockey: Clifton Berry
Taptam, trained by Bret Calhoun, is making her first start after a 9th place finish in the Grade 3 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn (which Just Jenda, 4th, and War Echo, 5th, also ran). The Azeri was her graded stakes debut after starting her 5 year old season with consecutive wins.
Even though she’ll be carrying the least amount of weight in the field, she will be taking on a 9 furlong race distance for the first time. Will she eat up the extra distance or flatten out mid-stretch to see Zenyatta roll on by.
#3 War Echo – 120 lbs – 4 year old
Pedigree: Tapit – Wild Vision by Wild Again
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan
War Echo, trained by Steve Asmussen, attempts to do what John Shirreffs’ Zarkava did to Asmussen’s Rachel Alexandra… upset the champion. War Echo is the winner of the Grade 3 Silverbulletday Stakes and DRF Distaff, both at Fair Grounds. She was 5th in the Azeri Stakes against Just Jenda and Taptam.
War Echo comes into the Apple Blossom without a win this season.
The great Zenyatta faces off against 4 other females in the 2009 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park.
#4 Zenyatta – 123 lbs – 6 year old
Pedigree: Street Cry – Vertigineux by Kris S.
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Mike Smith
What’s there to say about Zenyatta? A true 15 for 15 lifetime including wins on synthetics and dirt. The 2008 and 2009 Horse of the Year runner-up is also the defending Breeders Cup Classic winner, when she came from 2nd last at the top of the stretch to beat the top males in the world.
Although the Apple Blossom didn’t work out to be the high profile showdown against Rachel Alexandra that was planned only a month ago, it’s still an important race for Zenyatta as she attempts extend her unbeaten streak to 16.
#5 Just Jenda – 120 lbs – 4 year old
Pedigree: Menifee – Liberty School by Pine Bluff
Trainer: Cindy Jones
Jockey: Terry Thompson
Just Jenda is the only other Graded Stakes winner other than the champion Zenyatta. Just Jenda captured the 2009 Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn and the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks at Monmouth.
However, Just Jenda has lost 3 in a row heading into the Apple Blossom, including a 4th place finish at Oaklawn in the Grade 3 Azeri Stakes. Just Jenda has won 6 out of 13 starts lifetime.just
Tags: 2010, Apple Blossom, Be Fair, Entries, Just Jenda, Oaklawn, Past Performances, Program, Rachel Alexandra, Taptam, Unbeaten Streak, War Echo, Zenyatta
New Orleans Ladies – Fair Grounds – Zardana Beats Rachel Alexandra!
3 Zardana (BRZ) – Flores, David
2 Rachel Alexandra – Borel, Calvin
4 Unforgotten – Mena, Miguel
Santa Margarita – Santa Anita – Zenyatta!
8 Zenyatta – Smith, Mike
1 Dance to My Tune – Garcia, Martin
9 Floating Heart – Talamo, Joseph
Rebel Stakes – Oaklawn Park – Lookin At Luck
2 Lookin At Lucky – Gomez, Garrett
6 Noble’s Promise – Albarado, Robby
7 Dublin – Nakatani, Corey
Tampa Bay Derby – Tampa Bay Downs – Odysseus
7 Odysseus – Maragh, Rajiv
5 Schoolyard Dreams – Rose, Jeremy
6 Super Saver – Dominguez, Ramon
Tags: Dublin, Fair Ground, Lookin At Lucky, New Orleans Ladies, Noble's Promise, Oaklawn Park, Odysseus, Race footage, Rachel Alexandra, Rebel Stakes, Santa Anita, Santa Margarita, Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, Video, Zardana, Zenyatta
Let the racing season truly begin! The two most popular girls in the game make their 2010 debuts this weekend, their first and only prep race before likely squaring off in the Apple Blossom in April!!
For the 3 year old boys, we have three great Kentucky Derby prep races: San Felipe @ Santa Anita, Tampa Bay Derby @ Tampa Bay Downs, and the Rebel Stakes @ Oaklawn Park!
Santa Margarita – Santa Anita Park – ZENYATTA!
New Orleans Ladies – Fair Grounds – Rachel Alexandra!
San Felipe – Santa Anita
Tampa Bay Derby – Tampa Bay
Rebel Stakes – Oaklawn Park
This is going to be a great race and a HUGE Derby prep race! Dublin, Noble’s Promise, and 2 year-old champion Lookin’ at Lucky!
Tags: 2010 Debut, American Lion, Dave in Dixie, Dublin, Fair Grounds, Interactif, Lineup, Lookin At Lucky, New Orleans Ladies, Noble's Promise, Oaklawn, Program, Rachel Alexandra, Rebel Stakes, San Felipe, Santa Anita, Santa Margarita, Starting Gate, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Derby, Uptowncharlybrown, Zardana, Zenyatta
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