Rachel on a different planet in Oaks
Rachel Alexandra put on quite a show minutes ago in the Kentucky Oaks, winning by 20 1/4 lengths. Afterward, jockey Calvin Borel told former jockey Donna Brothers that she's the best horse he's ever ridden in more than 30 years as a jockey.
OK, so what's next? Does she take on the boys in the Preakness or Belmont? Well, if you heard one of the owners on the Bravo cable network immediately after the race, it doesn't appear it will happen. He told Bob Costas in the winner's circle that in the Triple Crown races, stallions should race against stallions and the fillies should race against the fillies.
So that leaves perhaps the Travers Stakes as her first shot at the boys at Saratoga in August. Well, it's apparent there are no other 3-year-old fillies in this gal's class, and perhaps the only distaffer that can give her a race is the unbeaten Zenyatta, who was scratched out of the Louisville Distaff today because of a sloppy race track.
How about this potential Breeders' Cup matchup -- Rachel Alexandra vs. Zenyatta? I mean, what kind of hype could that race command today? Let's hope they both stay sound the rest of the year and we can talk about it come November at Santa Anita.
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Wow what a moron. And, even worse, an ignoramus.
Someone should inform this idiot that STALLIONS are breeding animals, not racing animals. Fully grown males used for racing are simply called HORSES.
Kentucky Derby runners, on the other hand, are not fully mature. Therefore, the male ones are called COLTS - not STALLIONS. And a fully frown female horse (the opposite of stallion)is a MARE.
Interesting...why did this worthless pile of muck call them stallions and filles? Why not at least say stallions and mares? Or be correct, for God's sake, and say COLTS and FILLIES????
And how the hell can fillies race against filles in the Triple Crown races when the races are open to both genders? Oh and gee, what about geldings? Do they even exist in this fool's mind? I guess they should not be allowed to compete, either.
Poor Rachel Alexandra. She will never reach her full potential thanks to a dimwit owner.
I would have looked forward to the first female Preakness winner in over 90 years, I think!
Chrystal,
I think the term he used was "future" stallions. That's why I didn't directly quote him because I knew what he meant, that the Triple Crown races should be same sex against same sex. I don't agree with him. I mean, Winning Colors never would have thrilled us all with her Derby victory in 1988 with that type of thinking. I am not in favor of running fillies/mares against the males just for the sake of it because I think most times the distaffers lose,. But in certain instances I think it can and should be done, i.e. Winning Colors in 1988 and Rags to Riches in the 2007 Belmont. I believe if Zenyatta comes back as good as she was in 2008, Jerry Moss and John Shirreffs will try her against the boys at some point this year. After today I definitely think the connections of Rachel Alexandra should seriously consider the Preakness on May 16. I mean, what do they have to lose? She's a big, strong filly who certainly appears capable of competing against the colts. Will she run in the Preakness or Belmont? I doubt it. But as I wrote earlier, I think she could try the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August.