It's A Wonder We Don't Eat Our Young

"Dear Jess Jackson, You are a complete wuss!! Thank you for, yet again crushing the hopes of racing fans everywhere. Please grow some testicles and run your horse against me like you promised America you would. Thanks!!- Z"

- Status of "Zenyatta" on her Facebook fan page after the decision not to run Rachel Alexandra in the Apple Blossom

"Rachel is overrated....a horse racing exemplification of an air-ball....overrated....chonk chonk ch-chon-cha-chonk-adonk-overrated tw*t..."

- Comment on a Yahoo! Sports article on the Apple Blossom


I was searching for the nasty comments regarding Zenyatta, but they were too far back for me to dig up. But make no mistake - they were there. That she was a 'false' champion for never leaving home. That the Moss' were scared to run her on dirt or way from home. That she was simply the marvel of the synthetic surface and weak home state competition. It went on and on as well.

This should be a time that we look at the racing industry and think "Damn, are we lucky!" Instead, the blessing we have received by having two of the greatest distaffers of all time racing during the same time period has turned into a degrading and disgusting attempt to try and discredit and belittle each other's camp.

My choice for Horse of the Year last year was Rachel Alexandra. I simply thought her campaign criss-crossing half the country, beating not only her class, but 3-year old colts and older colts as well, was a better body of work than Zenyatta. My clear choice for moment of the year was Zenyatta's win in the Breeder's Cup Classic. I still don't think that I have ever seen a greater performance in my life. Secretariat in the Belmont may be close, but it was different: it was clear domination. Zenyatta's win was surreal.

The more I read, the sadder I get. Instead of being appreciative of what we were - and hopefully will continue to - able to witness last year it has become imperative for "fans" to tear down the other side. Right now it's Rachel and her connections' turn to be lambasted for being "afraid". Last year it was Zenyatta and her connections' turn for the very same reasons.

How about we admit, first of all, that these are racehorses, not machines? They do have to be fit and ready. They do have preferred surfaces. They may not fire every time out on the track. It is a very real possibility that Steve Asmussen may be right (horrors!) that Rachel was not fit and ready to go. Is it THAT important to be committed to the April 9 date or is it MORE important that the athlete is at her best and ready to go? I would think that Asmussen and John Shirreffs know more about their horses than we do. I'm willing to take them at their word.

Secondly, shut the hell up with the bashing already. I made my case for horse of the year last year in this space and on the radio show. I also prefaced every comment with, "I think that Zenyatta is amazing and it would not break my heart if she won". In my opinion, the important thing - the overwhelmingly important thing - is that I was lucky enough to be able to see the two of them run. Some of the greatest performances in racing occurred last year and were provided by these two. We are tremendously blessed to be graced by BOTH of these racehorses. It's time each "side" recognized the attributes of the other.

Finally, I want these two to meet - preferably more than once. I would like to see them go three or four times over dirt, synthetic and maybe even a romp over the grass. I do NOT want to see them in a match race. I also want both to be sharp, sound and at their best. At the end of the day, our sport is about winning. That is why we run the races. It's commendable to be passionate about your favorite horses. But be passionate about YOUR favorite horses, not against a competitor.

As racing fans we've had a lot to moan about the last few years: lower handle, dismal sales numbers, higher takeouts, bankruptcies and the closing of landmark racetracks to name a few. We have the opportunity to enjoy two of the greatest to ever step on a track. Don't lose sight of the beauty in front of you and get dragged down into the mire. There is no shame in admiring them both. In fact, it may be a bit helpful for the sport if we did. Racing could use this to bring more appeal to the masses and showcase two great champions. Let's take all that energy and channel it into something positive for the sport, not yet another self-inflicted black eye.

Weekend Wrap: Tabby Wins & More!

Tabby Lane (Even the Score - Keeley Chay - Rodeo) scored her first time out for the 1st 2010 Claiming Group yesterday at Tampa Bay Downs. She was the co-second choice in the betting and ran like a champ. She broke well and jockey Dean Butler kept her off a steady pace until entering the top of the lane when she angled outward, had a clear run at the leaders and just went on. As you can see above, Dean had put the whip away before the wire. Track announcer Richard Grunder called her "much the best" as she cruised to the 3 1/4 length victory in the Allowance/$16,000 Optional Claiming race.

The e-mails among the group were flying not long after the official sign went up. As exciting as it was to win, it was almost more exciting to see the excitement of the first time owners in our group. I wish I could say that it's always this easy - claim a horse, push her up in class, nail a win, next! But as any of us that watch or are involved in this game know, it's not that easy and we need to enjoy the moment and try to move forward with an objective eye. She'll move up next as we try and find her ceiling. It should be an interesting ride!

The win was a thrill, as all wins are, but it was made a bit more special because of it occurring with a full field of competitive horses including several that had been very competitive at higher levels. It really starts the dream process flowing. That said, I know how important it is to stay in check as any and every plan can change in a moment. For the next few days, though, I'm going to enjoy the win and not think of her future, only her now.

Zenyatta Wins; Rachel Loses

In the surprise of the day, Rachel Alexandra lost in her debut seemingly running out of gas in the stretch while battling the John Sherriffs trained Zardana in Louisiana. This certainly isn't the death knell for Rachel's career and one race does not a season make, but while you can point to Zardana being three for three on the dirt in Brazil, Rachel really should have whipped this field. I guess if you take her average Beyer and only give her 80% of it (that's about how close to 100% Steve Asmussen said she was, I believe), she's right in with the others - if she was truly at 80%. Certainly Borel didn't have her all out to try and win the race. He had her wrapped up pretty tight for most of the race and who knows how much energy that took out of her, but still...

Zenyatta made no bones about how great a mare she is by weaving her way through the stretch to capture the Santa Margarita at Santa Anita. A Tweet I saw last night, and I couldn't find it again this morning to attribute, basically wondered aloud if Mike Smith is gong to get her beat someday. I laughed a bit because I was thinking the same thing. But since she runs - and wins - every race is the same way, if she finally losses can you blame it on the jockey? I always think that I'd prefer to see her mid-pack to give herself less opportunity to get blocked, but she always manages to find the wire. If you recall, that was one of my strikes against picking her in the Classic last Fall. She always overcomes and always perseveres, if she doesn't once, does that then become Mike Smith's fault?

Derby Picture Any Clearer?

Not in my mind. I thought that by the time we got to this point on the Kentucky Derby trail we'd have a standout or two that really looked like they'd be the favorite at post time. The wins of Sidney's Candy, Odysseus and Lookin At Lucky didn't do much to cement them in favoritism for the Derby. The performances by Odysseus and Lookin At Lucky, especially, were thrilling to watch, but they didn't dominate their competition. You certainly can say that there cannot be any questions about Lookin At Lucky's dirt ability and it's hard not to love Odysseus's stunning performance in the Tampa Bay, but I don't think either taps them as the clear cut Derby favorite.

That begs the question: Are this year's contenders evenly matched or just not that impressive?

Zenyatta News Buzzes Racing; Einstein Retires

Zenyatta's Back!

What an announcement! What many folks had suspected for a month was confirmed yesterday when Zenyatta's connections announced she would race again in 2010 setting everyone a flutter. The Blood-Horse report on the story said that trainer John Sherreffs was keeping her busy working her every week while they waited for the weather in Kentucky to warm up before sending her there to be bred. The works were impressive enough and the inner fan in owners Jerry and Ann Moss was sufficiently stirred to want to see her race again.

This is wonderful news for racing. It wasn't as if Zenyatta was retired due to injury, she retired at her peak in both performance and condition. I can't say that I'm fully convinced that the dismal state of the breeding industry right now didn't play a part in the decision, though from what we've seen in the last 18 months quality still sells. I will take them at their word, mostly because I'm exciting to see a race mare of her caliber continue her career.

From my perspective, the way she energized fans last year was inspiring and that's what really excites me the most. Among the thousands that show up to watch her race are many casual fans that I hope we (the industry) can do a good job in capturing as permanent fans and not just one horse. After all, she will retire again, but racing will go on and we need new blood to do it. It would help a lot if the California Horse Racing Board doesn't proceed with it's plans to milk fans harder and make wagering on racing even less competitive than wager on slot machines, but I digress.

Now the talk will start about her 6-year old campaign and the pending return of Rachel Alexandra for her 4-year old season and where will the meet. IF they will meet. Will Zenyatta come back again and still only race in California? There is talk about the Dubai World Cup which will be held on synthetic for the first time in 2010. Winning that race, if my math is correct, will make her the richest horse in the history of racing. I don't believe the money itself matters to anyone connected with her, but the legacy must. Does she go to Churchill for the Breeder's Cup as it will be run on dirt this year? I think she almost has to. The party line for Zenyatta supporters has always been, "She should win horse of the year because she went to the 'World Thoroughbred Championships' and won and Rachel skipped it." How do you not run in this year?

The conspiracy theorists are probably already at work: retirement was a ploy to win horse of the year and get the votes of those who thought she could win this year and Rachel next; secret testing revealed that she will not be able to get in foal; she was kept in training until the results from Keeneland's January sale started coming in; blah, blah, blah.

She's a wonderful competitor and a champion coming back to her fans for a 6-year old season and should electrify racing again with her long distance (and hopefully head to head) rivalry with Rachel Alexandra. Whatever the motivation - and in my opinion it's a pure one - this is good for racing. Thanks for bringing her back!

Einstein Retired

One of the most flexible and hard working horses ever had his retirement thunder stolen from the Zenyatta news yesterday when it was announced that Einstein will retire and stand at Adena Springs. Eleven wins in thirty starts including seven graded stakes wins over all surfaces made him a threat every time he took to the racetrack. He had grit, drive and determination and managed to win two Grade I stakes in his 7-year old season. There is a lot to love about Einstein and I know I'll miss him on the track but look forward to seeing what his off-spring can accomplish.

The Greatest Ever?

"Ever" is an awfully long time. Even harder is a comparison across eras when 'ever' encompasses over 100 years of thoroughbred racing. I will go so far as to say that Rachel Alexandra is the most impressive of her breed that I have seen in my 25 years of really watching races.

I've heard the argument that the great undefeated Cigar was the greatest. He was awesome and his winning streak was impressive. But he did everything that was expected of him. Not that he was expected to win every race he entered, no horse can possibly be expected to do that. However there was not a race he was entered in where folks said, "Well, THAT just can't be done." Rachel's done it twice. She beat the boys handily in a Classic event, did it again for fun in the Haskell and then beat the older fellows as a follow up ("She'll get trounced against older males", I heard from several). In the meantime she also showed that no 3-year old filly is near her class in the Oaks and Mother Goose. Take a look at these races again over at SuperfectaBlog and feel the goose bumps.

Believe it or not, I've also already heard the "but who has she beaten?" line. Stunned as I am that victories in the Preakness Stakes, the Woodward and the other Grade 1s against all types listed above were not enough, I'll let Macho Again's jockey, Robby Albarado answer that question:

“Champions show different dimension. She is in a league of her own. She has beaten every top division we have in racing. Older horses, her age, it doesn't matter. No matter what they throw at her, she'll beat them."

So while "ever" may be too much, the best I've ever seen is a lock.

You've Got to Say SOMETHING!

I had really no intention of writing a Rachel Alexandra post. None. What I saw on Saturday really spoke for itself. To rate like she did relatively close to a quick early pace and simply find another gear to win going away was one of the most impressive efforts I have seen in years. But as I was rousting myself at no o'clock this morning for a quick trip to Battle Creek, MI (and no o'clock tomorrow morning to go home), I found myself with some random thoughts and felt that I had to say something!

- A friend mentioned to me that this must have been what it was like to watch Secretariat. I can't vouch for that as I was only 8 when he was blazing his Triple Crown. But the buzz around her races and the clinical precision in which she wins is very reminiscent of the replays that I have seen and the period pieces I have read. She was discussed on the ESPN show PTI for crying out loud. THAT is good for racing.

- Frank Vespe makes the case on why Rachel should go West and meet Zenyatta in the Breeder's Cup. I think his case has merit. I have come to the conclusion that horse racing is a three surface sport now: dirt, grass and synthetics (and then you have the various incarnations of THAT for crying out loud). They play different. I'm not going to debate the pros and cons of synthetic and dirt, I will say that horses have preferences now for that type of surface just as they do for dirt and turf and I wouldn't want to run my filly in the biggest race of her career over her non-preferred surface. I think there is a big difference between allowance company at Keeneland (where Rachel won over the synthetic) and the Breeder's Cup Distaff (Ladies Classic?) - especially against an opponent who clearly prefers that surface. Same in reverse, by the way, regarding taking Zenyatta East to the dirt.

- How do you choose Horse of the Year if they don't meet? Well...if the season ended today, how do you NOT choose Rachel? She ran HUGE out of her division in racetracks all over the East and nailed down a Triple Crown Race as well as the Haskell. I don't really give a rat's ass about girls versus the boys - a big, talented filly or mare can give the boys all they can handle anywhere in the world. We saw that in last year's Breeder's Cup. I did see a Facebook comment who said they couldn't give it to Rachel unless she beat older males. I'm not sure that is fair or not as I'm sure we have had a male HOTY or two that have won big 3-year old races and not raced, or at least faltered, against older. (I could look this up, but see paragraph one...I'm WAY too bleary). Besides, the season ISN'T over yet and the possibility exists that Quality Road could face and beat both of these females and we'll be singing a different tune come December (possible...not probable, in my humble opinion). Besides, how can you give HOTY to a 'homer', if you will, as opposed to an opponent with an equally impressive record but has done it in several states rather than in just one?

- Back to buzz. Love her or not, this kind of buzz is great for racing. We need a horse that can capture the public imagination in a positive way. She's not a panacea and racing's ills are too long to get into here, but anything that promotes a healthy discussion about our sport from those 'outside' of it, is welcome and should be cultivated. Maybe we can start watching some racing on weekends on one of the myriad of ESPN stations rather than non-stop reruns of the 2008 World Series of Poker...

While this is the kind of exposure our sport needs in the black nothingness (to the rest of the non-racing sports world) that is the time between the Triple Crown and the Breeder's Cup unfortunately it will end in letdown when these two leading ladies of the American turf don't square off in the Breeder's Cup. I understand the reason why, but the (hopefully) millions of Americans that have come to follow Rachel since the Preakness and are just being exposed to racing will be left scratching their heads and saying, "Some championship. The best horses don't even run in it." Could this end up being a public example of how racing can't get out of it's own way when virtually handed what it claims it wants most - the chance to earn new fans to reinvigorate the sport?

Working For the Weekend

At least that's how it works for most folks. This weekend, it's working all weekend! Of course when you;re in the racing business, that's how it has to be. And if you're a trainer, groom or rider...well, then it's part of the fabric of your life.

This weekend is a busy one. We're finally opened up at Canterbury Park and live racing begins tonight at 7 PM CDT. The threat of some thundershowers are hanging over us a bit, but hopefully they'll stay away and the bright sunshine that greeted me when I rolled out of bed this morning will stick around all day.

My plan this weekend: live Tweeting (click to start following me on Twitter) from Opening Night tonight with a Blog to follow complete with photos; I Am Woman goes again tomorrow afternoon right before; the Preakness Stakes; live Tweeting from the Upper Midwest Two Year Olds in Training sale with a Blog follow up; a brief preview of Fizzy Pop's race on Sunday; live Tweeting from the races on Sunday; a final follow-up Blog recapping a very busy weekend.

Unfortunately some coverage is going to suffer and, because this blog is Owning Racehorses not Picking Stakes Winners, it's going to be coverage of the Preakness. That said, click on the TBA logo above and you'll be swept off to the Thoroughbred Blogger's Alliance homepage where opinions and analysis abound!

My two cents: another intriguing race. I love the filly and think, if she's good as she seemed in the Oaks, the boys'll wish they blocked her out but there are some sound reasons why she might not be the choice in here. There is the threat of rain at Pimlico (well, word is it poured all last night in Baltimore) and maybe the stars are aligning for Mine That Bird. I think this is a race to watch rather than wager unless you have sound reasons for bouncing out the favorite. To me, Pioneerof the Nile showed me something on the dirt. Sure, it was sloppy dirt, but dirt none the less. He's my pick in here followed by Rachel Alexandra and I'd have to wheel the tri here with Papa Clem, Musket Man, Friesan Fire and yes, the speedster Big Drama to perhaps hold on for a piece. That said, this is too chalky a tri for me and I'll just be enjoying this one at Canterbury Park.

The other story getting the short shift this weekend will be I Am Woman's race. She's in the 10th at Pocono Downs tomorrow a NW$4250 in Last 5 Starts or NW3 Lifetime. She qualifies under the money condition and, with a purse of $8500, she's theoretically stepping up a bit in class from her Late Closer last weekend where she finished a dismal 6th. With Tim Tetrick in the bike, she has a shot, but if she can do it, it'll be at a price. I'm hoping to catch her race live before I head down to Shakopee to cover the sale.

It's going to be a very busy weekend, but we're racing again and that never feels like work!