RACHEL ALEXANDRA - HASKELL 2009 - OUTSTANDING

[Dloomis494]

jesus christ

[creaturelover]

Rachel Alexandra's connections messed up her 2010 campaign. She was unprepared for most races. Oh and before Zenyatta fans start yelling at me; I love both so don't flame me.

[TicinoParadise]

She kicked the shit out of Summer Bird. 1:47.1 a hair off the track Record in those track conditions was very gutsy. That was in my mind her best performance, followed by her all heart go in the Woodward. Classy Filly.

[Boadie12]

@TicinoParadise Yeah you said it! Holy cow that track was crap. What a woman! Can't believe the final time! Of course Rachel was one for the ages! I know my opinion doesn't mean shit but I sure wish her former trainer had her instead of ASSman. I really think she would have been managed better later unless her owner was an extreme control freak.

[wakeboardadict8956]

I love rachel, don't get me wrong, but the owners really over ran her in 2009 with out very many breaks

[horsesangel4ever10]

GO RACHEL GO!!!!!

[Zenyatta20]

Congrats larry on becoming the new Triple Crown caller!

[italianbro1234]

Yeah okay well if u actually think that zenyatta had better connection that the horse of the year in 2009 u have to be crazy... Because look back at seabiscuit and man o war seabiscuit ran 89 races in his career and nobody said his connections didnt care about him... They run horses to less now a days

[pdbeck1]

Why did Borell keep whipping her? Too bad her connections didn't care for her like Zenyatta's did.

[paradoxicus]

Gana con una superioridad increible.

[cmcgarth1O]

LOL Zenyatta would have been so cooked this day

[Temple95]

Rachel the Great.....this race was amazing, beat the colts in the SLOP, I think 1 sec off record time. What a 3yr old year she had. It might never be equalled.

[DBJMKJ]

Rachel Alexandra = G-A-R-B-A-G-E

A "third-string" filly from the John Sherriffs barn dismantles Rachel Alexandra.

She grabbed Rachel Alexandra by the throat and didn't let her up.

Rachel Alexandra: "2009 Joke of the Year"

[gamesgreyhound]

What do Ferdinand, Lady's Secret, All Along, John Henry, Affirmed and Kelso have in common? They were voted horse of the year and then lost their first start the following year. Kelso was HOTY 1960, 61, 62, 63, and 64. You know what? Every single year he won the following year he lost the first start. Rachel may come back and win every race she enters this year. You Zenyatta fans are a bunch of jackasses. I never really cared before but now I really hope she loses.

[DBJMKJ]

Cry me a river, cowboy.

All these Rachel Alexandra fans sound like these guys that get caught on "To Catch A Predator." I feel like Chris Hansen listening to their pathetic excuses.

[gamesgreyhound]

@DBJMKJ Ooohhhhh. What a tough guy you are.

Again, wait till Rachel has raced a few times before making an opinion. And if Zenyatta leaves the comfort of fake tracks in So California this year to race on dirt, she will lose. More than once.

[DBJMKJ]

@gamesgreyhound

...and then you woke up. Right?

[gamesgreyhound]

@DBJMKJ The big girl will lose this year if she has an eastern campaign. Her style is much less effective on dirt. Just the facts.

[DBJMKJ]

@gamesgreyhound

Your statement is laughable.

2008 Apple Blossom

Watch Zenyatta dismantle the 2007 Breeders Cup Distaff Champion "Ginger Punch" on Oaklawn's "dirt" surface.

Note:

Zenyatta is12 lengths behind "Ginger Punch" going into the far turn. At the wire, she's 12 lengths in front of "Ginger Punch".

Zenyatta closes 24 lengths from the 3/8 pole to the wire.

[gamesgreyhound]

@DBJMKJ One race? That's your argument? Man, that's so sad. I mean, come on. One race? Wow, talk about reaching. Nah, Z will lose this year. MJultiple times.

[whatthefuckubrat]

@DBJMKJ I make viruses too and send them to people.

[roseonramble]

@DBJMKJ same song and dance from this virgin

[Temple95]

@gamesgreyhound, thank you for the info, I didn't realize those great horses lost following HOTY. Rachel came in 2nd by half lengh, 11 in front of rest. If she trailed the field I don't think the comments could be any worse. I try to keep liking Zenyatta, in Spite of some of the fans(becoming harder!) I think there is bitterness over the award 2 yrs now. Zen winning, RA 'losing' last race just fed it.

[gamesgreyhound]

@Temple95 No problem! Sometimes jackasses like DBJMKJ (to name just one) need to be reminded of a little history. Good for you in trying to like Zenyatta. I don't.

[Patterson1011]

This performance was so awesome! You could hear an almost stunned reaction by the crowd.--- She's just awesome!

[nzubechukwu]

Like the lady in the background said. "WOW!"

[milram17]

we'll see who's talking when Zenyatta charges past Rachel!

[Razatta13]

I can't wait till Rachel and Zenyatta race each other. like jess jackson said, they could race more than once.

[kijuuki]

Jackson proposed a 3 race series between Zen and RA, which I think is a much better idea than one meet in the Apple Blossom.

[Hossgrl14]

I'd like to see zenyatta and rachel alexandra race each other! That'd be like the race of the ages!

[007jbrown]

I would bet a huge chunk of change in a race with both Rachel and Zenyatta on the Dirt track. Not synthetic obviously because Zenyatta is the best in the world. I would bet a huge amount if it was against fillys because they wouldn't be able to put that much pace pressure on rachel like the males do. All Zenyatta would see his RA dirt in her eye.

[TBabytko]

zenyatta is going to race in 2010!!!!

[StormCat101]

RA all the way! People talk about Zenyatta's BC Win... that's about it. Hey Rachel, Preakness, Woodward, Haskell? That's what I'm talking about.

[Patterson1011]

I like the genuine reaction of the lady at 2:17 of the video. --- Rachel is very, very special!

[ZenyattaFanatic911]

I think, since Zenyatta is coming back, will win against Rachel Alexandra and will win HOTY for 2010! i hope!!

[dustywhipp5]

Yes, that would be nice... It would have been nice if they had split HOTY between the fillies though, they have both done so much... you can't really compare them, different running styles, ect... one great filly was deprived of a great honor... still, the real Queen will emerge on April 9th...

[ericcontroversy]

RA the bomb! ZEN is a poly horse bottom line..

[RidingWithRuffian]

Rachel is amazing. Zenyatta couldn't pull away from the boys like that.. also it was a sloppy track ^.^ you go Rach!

Rachel Alexandra for HOY 2009! =D

[downinaggieland98]

Wow... spam... you have no idea if Eight Belles is overrated, she didn't have a chance to show that.

[spam1237]

Maybe if you want to reply next time you can but like I said above:

Prairie Bayou, Colonial Affair, Fun Fair etc.. these horses did no get all the hype or recognition that Eight Belles did and they have accomplished so much more. If was somewhere other than the Derby people would of hardly knew of her. It is sad though, the ones I listed above broke down in bug Grade I races no one made a big hoopla over them.

[downinaggieland98]

Ok well like I said... of course they accomplished more... she didn't have a chance to prove anything. No one is listing her as one of the greatest fillies ever... but we have no idea of what she could have done. Just because she got more attention that you think she should have doesn't make her any less talented.

[spam1237]

And people should stop saying she is the greatest thing ever. There are comments around here that idiotic people thin so.

[downinaggieland98]

Who said that? I haven't heard anyone try to make her sound like the greatest ever... ... at the very least, she died trying her best, there is NO reason to down her when you don't know what she could have done. Period.

[spam1237]

Where are u duhru4real?!! Can't even answer my question.

Oh and want to know an overrated horse? Eight Belles. She wasn't that spectacular in her career and people act like she is the greatest ever just because she got 2nd in the KY Derby.

[rcherasaro]

she ran with no drugs in her system..clean cant say that about bb

[spam1237]

After the Derby they took him off. True she did get second in the Derby but other horses such as Prairie Bayou, Colonial Affair, Fun Fair etc.. these horses did no get all the hype or recognition that Eight Belles did and they have accomplished so much more.

[GpLdiiBaNsHeE]

007jbrown- I'm glad someone agrees with me on that point. i see no reason why on earth synthetic surfaces were ever necessary. and now we're suffering for it with wreck count skyrocketing like it is on synthetic tracks

[007jbrown]

First off all she is not dodging Zenyatta, she is staying away from the synthetic surface. Synthetic tracks are the stupidest thing ever made. Secondly, she will most likely race at 4 because there is not nearly the money in breeding for fillys. A male horse can stud 2 horses a day. A filly gets pregnant and that is it, done deal. So a derby winner will get paid stud fees daily and that is why it is so important to win the derby.

[kijuuki]

A foal out of a filly like RA might sell for more than a milion as well :o

Regardless, I'm really hoping to see her as a 4 y/o. And maybe even be better than she is now :D

[pattyharb]

Spammer5678, is your vocab limited to four letter words that begin with "F"? Very sad.

[pattyharb]

Get some help for anger issues.

[pattyharb]

please try to broaden your vocabulary. The "F" word just doesn't go that far in the modern world.

[krsfromprp]

For some reason, horse racing makes me happy.

[ThePixiePoet]

I don't understand it. Me too.

[lengua92]

Holy Bull, Bet Twice, Forty Niner, Skip Away, Point Given, Touch Gold, Big Brown. All those magnificent horses have won the Haskell, so did Rachel Alexandra. But none of these horses won the Haskell in such a sensational way as the filly did. Just enjoy watching her and Zenyatta run, because these kinfd of horses don't come along very often.

[TroyStrait]

She never even laid her ears back, that shows she was cruising the whole way, and never really pressed to go beyond what was comfortable for her.

[RViollet]

She's one of the greatest ever. Right there with Secretariat.

[mluptak]

she is a great horse, but don't say right there with secretariat..

[dubby300]

I agree she missed Secretariats record in the Mother Goose by very little and didnt run the last 1/16th of a mile and when he set the record they said big red was all out during the race so that says she can be compared to secretariat and since she beat Ruffians record by alot she can be compared to her also, she is an amazing filly and all class and heart and talent. 5 lengths better than zenyatta easy.

[RViollet]

I agree 100%. That sad fact is we will never know just how great she is. But in my opinion, she is on of the greatest ever. Right there with my other favorite, The Great Secretariat!

[amueller1957]

How could this overhyped filly be 5 lenghts better than Zenyatta when she is ducking the Breeders because of Zenyatta? HAHAHAHA

You people are totally ridiculous!!

[fanofbt]

If you really watch this video RA would have smashed the track record had Calvin not spent the last 50 yards grand standing. Yes I love him as a jockey but he keeps taking the greatness away from this filly. She slowed down considerably because Calvin was no longer racing, he was celebrating way to soon, she lost more then 1/5 second at the finish.

Same with other races. With this horse and that horse touting times people lose sight of just how fast this baby girl is...

[mluptak]

true.... very true

[horsegirl12341]

wow! she ran a really good race!

[sadlers5]

boy she is awesome!

[GpLdiiBaNsHeE]

I always have been and will always be a huge fan of this filly. Ever since I saw her in line for the Oaks. I knew from her first stakes back in the fall that she was way too talented to simply race against other girls. If it EVER comes down to Zenyatta and Rachel; it's hard but I have to say I'd side with Rachel, simply because I like her so much. I'd still be overjoyed is Zenyatta beat her, but Rachel Alexandra just kinda has my heart right now. =]

[stivo1975]

Summer Bird is over-rated and Munnings is a sprinter. PERIOD!

[Grukmuck]

dont care what anyone has to say... RA is a phenomonal racehorse.

[haciendacondemar]

Sorry to say but there should be no speculation. RA is by far a better horse than Zenyatta. Zenyatta is amazing but she has race horses half the quality of does defeated by Rachel. Of course I would love to see them square off, but just for the sake of the sport. RA is the sure winner!!!

[stivo1975]

I disagree. RA has NEVER beaten an older horse. Zenyatta has beat a distaff champion and is a Breeders Cup winner. She is also undefeated! 11-11

After saying all of that, RA is still awesome and is one of the best 3YO this decade and maybe as good as Silver Charm or Curlin as a 3YO.

[jamsid33]

She is undefeated beating RATS on the west coast. Look at the race cards at Del Mar and Saratoga on any day and tell me where the best horses are, east coast or west coast.

[mrr1980]

Rachel Alexandra will not remain undefeated if she faces either Quality Road or Zenyatta.

[Sherroy1960]

Blah blah blah, I just want to see RA and Zenyatta in the same race. Then there will be no more room for speculation. They're both outstanding horses, so I really don't know who would win. But it certainly would be a thrill to see!

[izvestia03]

well said--i say the woodward!--it makes good sense. and throw QR into it as well--lets hope it happens.....

[jamsid33]

Yeah she wont race in the Travers because Assmussen trains the winner of the Jim Dandy with the same owners as RA and they will not race against each other and Kensai will run in Travers.

[izvestia03]

also she gets an extra week off--though i'd like to see her try a 1/4 race at some point. that said a win against older horses would be huge.

[LastTree]

She is amazing...the slop was so deep..hoorah Rachel!!!!

[krsfromprp]

Makes me wonder if Rachael was cheated out of the Triple Crown.

[sugarpuppy137]

Oh there's no doubt she was. Rachel would have definitely, without any hint of doubt, won two legs of the crown, at the very least. I can't say if she could have won the Triple Crown though, no one can really without that slight shadow of doubt. I guess we will never know. xP

[fanofbt]

I love Rachel but; I don't think she can do 1 1/2 miles, I think she unbeatable 1 1/8 not even zenyatta could beat her, but go further I think she can be beaten, but; I'm no race person so It's just an opinion.

[mmantech]

lets pray that she stays sound

[mmantech]

we have ourselves a second coming of ruffian guys.

[bena8248]

Zenyatta vs Rachel Alexandra

[jamsid33]

Rachel will kick Zenyatta's ass!!

Zen may have a shot to keep it close on plastic tracks but never on dirt.

[mrr1980]

Zen has no shot on dirt? Guess you havent seen her performance in the 2008 Apple Blossom Handicap. Zenyatta rallied from 15 lengths off the lead down the stretch to easily romp by Multiple G1 Winner and Eclipse Award Winner Ginger Punch. It would be safe to say that her performance in that race validated her ability to romp on the dirt as well as plastic.

[SpiceOfLife28]

i was thereeeee :)

amazing race!

[kijuuki]

Totally hope she keeps racing next year (:

[kalandro14]

zenyatta dont break race records,

:/ , RA breaks record and in this race she almost break d race record xD

so u can say she never beat a older horse so what? is most difficult to beat a young horse than a old ass horse :/

[mrr1980]

Yea but Zenyatta runs to the level of her competition...if RA runs her race vs Zenyatta she will be run down by Zenyatta and the you will see Zen as a record holder...

[kalandro14]

nah i dont think so,and RA races male horses and see how she wins, i dont think see can beat RA but hey, if they run Zen in the BCC she is not goin to win either with that much competitions from European horses, and thats why they dont run RA in the BCC, cuz she alredy won on syntethic surface..

[mrr1980]

yea she romps against mediocre male horses...lets see RA do what she did today against EINSTEIN

[kalandro14]

mediocre male horses?

dude are u crazy xD

do u said mediocre to 2 classic winners?

hahaha, Einstein 11 W in 26 starts wow ok dude keep tlakin bout Zen xD, Einstein big "won" race is the Santa Anita H G1 dude WTFFFFFF

[mrr1980]

So on the strength of Mine That Bird's flukish win in the Derby, where neither I WANT REVENGE nor QUALITY ROAD, arguably the strongest 3 year old colts going into the race were scratched due to injury, and Summer Bird's win vs. aforementioned flukish winner in the Belmont, Rachel Alexandra is now better than Zenyatta??? Or even Einstein? It's becoming quite apparent that the 3 year olds RA defeated were one of the more mediocre cast of characters to come around in quite some time...

[jey3452]

mediocre males? lol whatever, regardless off that jackassed comment, she was 1/10 off the track record on the SLOP. I can't wait for the Zen vs RA race

[fanofbt]

Also take into consideration that Calvin was grand standing the last 100 - 75 yards Rachel slowed down way before hitting the finish. he costs her the record. Great jockey but he needs to wait until they cross the finish line before he starts celebrating, he does this in every race which diminishes her times.

[tristateapbt]

True but why push her so hard if she has won, her health is more important. And, who knows what jackson has told him to do.

[CrazyDaisyDuke]

Thanks so much! Goosebumps watching her kick into high gear at the end of all her races.

[RememberRuffian10]

we are looking at a champion. you cant even argue that she needs to race better horses. Look at how shes winning. absolutly amazing...

[stevecur8]

The owners of Zenyatta have already said that they will ship East to face Rachel, perhaps at Saratoga. Don't forget.......Rachel is a 3 year old, facing only 3 year olds. The champion Zenyatta is an older mare, and may well give Rachel a schooling if they hook.

[Venckman]

She could. But I find it rather impressive that RA just dusted a very good 3YO who in turn just dusted older horses. I hope that either the two meet or that Zenyatta's people get a backbone and start running her against males. One or the other.

[stevecur8]

Who just beat older horses? Summer Bird.........no I don't think so, he won the Belmont, straight 3 YO. Munnings just won the Woody Stephens Stakes, straight 3 YO (sprinting too). Who cares about the rest. Don't get me wrong, Rachel is an absolute Superstar and if I had to pick a winner in a match race between the two, I'd be hard pressed to do so. But Zenyatta is a superstar as well, with a stride like I've never seen before (I've been working on racetracks for 25 years) ....cont below..

[stevecur8]

older horses are usually tougher, that's why if you look at any condition book from any track you'll see straight 2 YO and straight 3 YO races and separate 3 YO's and Up races. I suppose the smart guy below (Kalandro14) is going to tell me that 2 YO's will beat older horses as well...LOL. I also like mrr1980's comment, "let's see RA do what she did today against a horse like Einstein"

[kalandro14]

im talkin bout 3 YO is she a 2YO???

NOT!!!

still beat the best (MALES) 3YO in the country by many links Zen can beat the CAL females by that much hahaha

[Ruffian4Ever]

She has NOT beat the best 3 YO in the country...cause here comes QUALITY ROAD!!

[jamsid33]

She would rate right off Quality Road and as they turn for home RA will eat him up and spit him out like she does with every one else.

[Venckman]

No, Munnings is exiting the Tom Fool where he beat his elders.

[stevecur8]

Sorry my mistake, he beat a weak field of 3 at Belmont, I forgot.

[kalandro14]

Zen is also a superstar but RA is way better, check the times between the 2 at a same distance and see, and dont worry Zen is not goin to have a perfect season this time well if they run her in the BCC ,

[Greatalmightyqueen]

I would like to mention that Munnings did beat older males in the Tom Fool Handicap, practically breezing.

[Venckman]

Glorious! She is poetry in motion. Now Serena's Song has some company in the Ladies of the Haskell Club. :)

[hexiconned]

Thanks so much for the vid.

[steveco20]

thank you. amazing filly. hope she goes in the travers

[MrMarcus4444]

We are in the prescence of an outstanding filly.

[youtubrutus]

Move over, Ruffian.

[baylee93]

What an amazing monster she is...

[mvlach77]

a step closer to Horse of the Year.

[lengua92]

I love Zenyatta, and I believe that she deserved last year's title. But the only way Shirrefs can aim for an Eclipse Award is to take her out from California and face Rachel.

[Venckman]

...either that or thrash males in top class races like the Pacific Classic or BC Classic. They have to do something other than what they are doing with her, though. RA has thrown down the gauntlet.

[lengua92]

She may win the Pacific Classic and the BC Classic and i would still believe RA deserves the Horse Of The Year. If Shirrefs and the Mosses really want the HOTY they would have to be VERY ambitious.

[Venckman]

Other voters might agree with you there, but I should think a female beating Grade I males in open company in prestige races like the Pacific Classic and BC Classic (particularly the latter) should weigh more heavily than racing within one's age group only. But like I said, I think many would vote for RA in any case. Not sure I would, though, in those circumstances. But given the timidity of the Mosses and Shireffs, I think RA just took a huge step to HOTY.

[ragstoricheslover]

unbelievable

i have to say she is the best

[lengua92]

Definitely the best female horse of this decade. Maybe the best of all time