Rachel Alexandra - 2009 Mother Goose (GI)

[MrDraven37]

There is nothing impressive about a race that only had three horses running in it... might as well have been a match race which really is only a pathetic pissing contest.

[2taggs2]

I'm not that impressed when there are only 3 horses in a race.

Obviously she's a great horse... I guess other owners were too scared to put their horse in this race.

[bgwcdayijtjdawf3679]

NEW';`IPAD2;:`ＦＲＥＥ;:;SITES:'`'­''

ＷＷＷ.ＤＯＮＴＭＩＳＳＦＲＥＥＩＰＡＤ２.ＴＫ

COPY SITE & PASTE

[xxcrystlecityxx]

the only horse since ruffian to actually break ONE of ruffians records, all the rest still stand and thats 9 more that others need to break....

[dubby300]

Amazing race, the most impressive horse we've seen hit the track in years. 3 for 3 against males and numerous records. She is Rachel Alexandra the Great.

[GBeret83]

From everyone's "all American filly" in 2009. To nothing more than just above an allowance level filly in 2010. The masterful hand of Jess Jackson strikes again. Took what could've been one of the best fillies ever to race in America. Ran her into the ground, racing colt's at a time she was still growing and maturing. Both mentally and physically. It took far too big a physical toll. And it showed in her 2010 season. Now, she'll forever be remembered as a "one year wonder." IMO.

[TicinoParadise]

@GBeret83 - Not really considering she still won G1 races, and G2 races as a 4yr old. That would be a career with Track , Stakes, and Total Length records all wrapped up in a wonderful 2 year career. Be thankful she came back for a 4yr old campaign. As we both Know overseas they like to take great...or should I say THE greatest Filly to race and retire her at 3. Cheers.

[bobongPhiNoY]

ibrra

[gamesgreyhound]

I can't wait till she gets into fighting form. The NOL was a good wake up call. She wasn't in shape, but by early May, look out camp Shirreff, she will destroy your whole brood. I hope you enjoyed these few weeks.

[milram17]

@gamesgreyhound

how funny! you think shes gonna beat the monster Zenyatta? trust me she wont 

[gamesgreyhound]

@milram17 Z's done.

[milram17]

@gamesgreyhound

Really? Doesn't look like it to me, she just won her 17th in a row in the Vanity! She's still going strong!

[gamesgreyhound]

@milram17 Barely! Mike Smith had to beat her like a rented mule! You know her camp doesn't want to see St Trinians in the same gate ever again.

[milram17]

@gamesgreyhound

Barely means she still won!! the only reason it was tough was because the rider on St Trinians purposely took his horse wide around the turn so Zenyatta would have to go wider. But I think St Trinians should go race Rachel! She would upset Rachel for sure

[gamesgreyhound]

@milram17 St Trinian's trainer has already laid down the gauntlet: "you better leave CA for your next race" In other words, "you won't beat her again". Zenyatta's camp wants no part of St Trinians again nor no part of Rachel now. Sure they were eager to race her when she was out of shape but not now. All you have to do is look at Zenyatta's workouts and times and races and realize she is getting slower. Remember she's 6. She will lose this year.

[milram17]

@gamesgreyhound They are! she's looking toward the BC Classic! Rachel is honestly not a threat at all..just because she won the fleur de lis! (who did she even race) you're talking alot of smack when your horse barely won her first victory in 2010. I love how you Rachel lovers use excuses like "out of shape." Zenyatta's been racing since 2007 and in every race she never has been out of shape! RA has nothing on Zenyatta !!

[gamesgreyhound]

@milram17 You seem like a smart person but come on! RA's time was faster than the SF winner by almost a second (3 lengths) while carrying 4 more lbs. Let me put it to this way: RA has NEVER beaten a horse as good as Z or QR. Z has never beaten a horse as good as RA or QR. QRlity has never beaten a horse as good as RA or Z. Which horses are improving? RA and QR. Z is declining. Her workouts are getting slower. In March 6 F in 1:12 and change. Her last 6F work 1:15.

[gamesgreyhound]

@milram17 And another thing...when Rachel loses by a head bob, you Zenyatta zealots start screaming she's washed up. Zenyatta wins by a nose and she's the greatest thing since sliced bread. You know the diffference: Rachel's connections would be totally unconcerned over Unrivaled Belle whereas Zenyatta's connections sure as hell don't want to face St Trinians again. Had she not lost her front shoe, she would have won.

[milram17]

@gamesgreyhound

Im just saying 50 years from now..who will be mentioned in conversations? It will be Zenyatta for sure, you know why because she broke the record for the most consecutive wins in unrestricted stake races beating Cigar and Citation! I mean come on..that's truly amazing!! Rachel will just be another filly/mare who beat the boys a couple of times and won a couple of big races!

[gamesgreyhound]

@milram17 Zenyatta will be remembered but with an asterick. Beside the asterick it will read "only left the fake track twice"

[milram17]

@gamesgreyhound

So many bitter Rachel fans out there because Zenyatta is stealing her thunder now!!!!

[21Sarabi]

@milram17 It goes both ways....

[sugarpuppy137]

@milram17 True. But Rachel didn't "just" win against the boys a couple of times. She defeated them THREE times as a three year old, against the best the three year old colts in the nation, and then against OLDER males. According to history, she shouldn't have even beaten older females. Rachel was overraced, perhaps if she was owned by Zen's owners she would have had a greater campaign to prove just how great she is, because she is one of the greats, no can deny that.

[milram17]

@gamesgreyhound I know plenty of girls who have done that (Azeri, Rags to Riches)... But they arent legends, Zenyatta is a LEGEND!!!

Also, you are talking about a possibility! it hasn't happened! Even if she does lose, you can never defame her!! she's simply the BEST!

[gamesgreyhound]

@milram17 She is simply "the best" on that fake poly track. Not on dirt. Oh yeah, I forgot, she doesn't travel well. What a bunch of crap!! They're scared to run her on dirt against legitimate competition. She will lose this year. More than once.

[pinkkillerwhale]

@gamesgreyhound really? 2 of her best performances WERE on dirt. she runs on everything, and she does it well. she doesn't have to travel all over the place to prove that. it's obvious she loves what she does compared to the now retired, overrated, and overran RA. and last time i checked, she's 5 for 5 this year with one race to go so it's impossible for her to lose more than once. sooo... GO TEAM ZENYATTA!

[sugarpuppy137]

@milram17 Yeah, and Zenyatta and Rachel had the same amount of races. Difference? Zen's races are all stretched out, she was allowed to fully recover and grow. Rachel has been run into the ground, she's not out of shape, she's burned out. It's a hard race for front runners, they're being pressured the entire race with the field breathing down their necks, you can not honestly say that Rachel hasn't had a very difficult career.

[205seeme]

@sugarpuppy137 Rachels HOY award was focused around 3 races against males.Haskell(she beat one g1 winner),Woodward(3 g1 winners) and the Preakness(only 4 g1 winners).In those races she beat a Total of 8 horses that had won a g1 prior to running against her.Compare that to Zenyatta beating 26 horses having won multipule g1 races before running against her.Its Rachel that hasnt really beat anyone worth mentioning..

[sugarpuppy137]

@205seeme They were males. Whether you want to believe it or not, those males were superior to the females Zen raced against. Their credentials being males, they weren't that great, but the three year old males she beat were the best in the country, and then beating those older males, it's just unheard of for a three year old filly to do so. What I believe, is Rachel could have definitely given Zen a run for her money when RA was in her prime, not any more. RA just isn't the same as she was

[sugarpuppy137]

@205seeme last year. RA probably would have still been racing this year had she not been run into the ground, and we probably would have gotten to see a Breeders Cup Classic in which the first and second finishers were both females.

[205seeme]

@gamesgreyhound Thats why Rachel Retired huh? lmao...Rachel could never go the distance when she was in shape muchless this year.Rachels crew knew it then and they know it now.Thats why they Dodged a 5 million dollar purse against Zenyatta on 3 different occassions 2 of those races on dirt I might add.In the Haskell,Woodward and Preakness,Rachel beat only 8 horses that won a previous G1.Zen beat 26 horses that were proven G1.Rachel was ok,beating up on a bad crop of males is all she did.

[205seeme]

@gamesgreyhound I'm laughing my ass off at you now after everything you said to me about Zenyatta....how can a smartass be so damn dumb?I guess Zen wasnt supposed to beat Switch , according to your speed figures.

[decvtherion]

you can check of the caribbean derby 2009 or simon bolivar 2009, Clásico Prensa Hípica Nacional 2009

[decvtherion]

greeting from venezuela... i trust in bambera... rachel alexandra is a legend of USA, zenyatta is a legend of USA... are awesome..!!!!! but BAMBERA can be a legend around the world.. is a great horse... and it have only a chance and is now..!!!!

[Peachycanyon]

secretariat didn't need a fast track to set his record, nor did he need weak competition to dominate his fellow 3 year olds. Rachel Alexandra can be compared to many great horses, but not Secretariat. As for Ruffian, we shouldn't assume that just because she wasn't given the opportunity to beat males she wouldn't. The two were very dominant for their time periods but it's too hard to say who was better. You have to see them race to know who's better, which is why we're having the Apple Blossom.

[berrypainter]

Did you listen?........new record time for this race

Did you watch?.......eased by rider mid stretch

Do you remember?............Secretari­at

Well there you go, the comparison is obvious

[Patterson1011]

Borel said,"Believe me, she's not normal. I'm telling you, she's unbelievable." --- I believe you Calvin!

[dubby300]

@Patterson1011 For sure she moved like she was a machine.

[21Sarabi]

Who cares what competition Ruffian faced. What matters was her spirit/racing style.

Also, 6deer you don't have to be new to the sport the like RA.

[mvlach77]

What a performance!

[Sumokurt1]

Bold Ruler, Round Table, and Gallant Man raced together in 1957. Three horse race.

[bg147]

I wish we could have seen more of Ruffian. She didn't beat much, but they still had to be better than what is running against Rachel. Maybe I am old school, but racing is not the same today. There might be a small number of very good horses today but there is no depth. Remember when you had deep fields... Joile's Halo, Unbridled, Summer Squall, Farma Way, and Festin... all in the same field. Ah, those were the days. Put Rachel in there against those boys, that would be a good race,

[Helzapoppin03]

No, Ruffian did not beat anything approaching the quality that Rachel has beaten. I was around then, I am still around now. Ruffian never beat a Classic winner, Ruffian never beat a multiple G1 winning 3YO filly, Ruffian never beat a multiple G1 winning older male, or even a single G1 winning older male.

Her only point of reference was the clock because she faced crap.

[bg147]

Whatever

[ZenyattaFanatic911]

Ruffian could kick Rachel's butt, no offense but Ruffian is amazingly fast and great stamina, Rachel wouldn't stand a chance

[ZenyattaFanatic911]

Was sorry

[ryanwalean]

Three-horse race!? That's really unusual...

[barbaro370]

Who do you think is better 6deerhunter barbaro, ruffian, zenyatta or secretariat. Taking into consideration age and exposure.

In my opinion we all have our own thoughts but we don't need to have a "best horse". But the ecilpse awards and breeders cup will help.

[Starbuc1]

She is a super filly. To run the half in 44 and change and still blast the straight with no real competition. WOW!!!! What a great time to love fillies. RA and Zenyatta are so rare and special ,yet we have then both at the same time. It 's been 30 plus yrs since Ruffian burnt up the track and made her place in history and I think she just might be smiling down on these two.

[spammer5678]

wa wa waa crybabies

[alfie7177]

OK OK we have the greatest ever Secretariat , BUT now we have to put Rachel Alexandra & Babaro in the same breath as #2 & #2A ...

a truly truly AMAZING HORSE!!!

[TBabytko]

lets see Zen come to saratoga for the personal ensign at a mile and a quarter on AUG 24,against RA,she scared.oh well I cant wait until she is bred to curlin!!!

[6deerhunter5]

TB...last i heard rachel is ducking the breeders and zenyatta..lol

[ZenyattaFanatic911]

i agree with you, She is scared of Zenyatta cause she knows she will loose

[205seeme]

@TBabytko Zenyatta wouldve been arrested for girl slaughter if shed been in that race(PE).Zen loves the 1 1/4 mile distance and unlike polly...she can dig in her hooves and get a grip on dirt.JS said her fav surface is dirt and its not her fault wheres shes stabled at.

[GBeret83]

@205seeme, You're 110% correct, my friend. Rachel may have been far superior to normal size fillies and mares. But even at her zenith. Which around this time in 2009. She could've, and would've never been able to hold off the closing onslaught of the big, behemoth California mare. Because Rachel racing Zenyatta would've been like her running against colt's again. Except this time, it wouldn't have been Macho Again bearing down on her. But the best deep closer in the sport. Period. Bar none!!

[jermocide22]

I am a true lover of horse racing PERIOD (whether it's Zenyatta or Rachel) . I just saw Rachel run in the Haskell. She stared down Munnings and Summer Bird in the far turn, and left them at the 1/4 pole to draw off AGAIN. Oh yeah, IN THE SLOP !!! So those who hate on her really need to give it up. She'll probably run against the boys for the rest of her short career. And according to the post race interview, the Breeders Cup might be RECONSIDERED now !!! CLASSIC that is !!!

[dubby300]

Rachel Alexandra, HOY has been sowed up, go ahead and put her name on the Eclipse award, why because Jess Jackson is sporting enough to run a great horse and allow the horse to show how great he or she really is, not take the horse to his homestate and run him or her in Grade 2 races the majority of the time so that they can focus on 1 race, a career is defined by what the horse does in all its races not just 1, anyone can target a race and run against garbage and win the race. Zen, boring.

[6deerhunter5]

dubby...no one stopping rachel from making zen exciting no? but we all know who is ducking who here? lol

[barbaro370]

6deerhunter, are you blind, she ran 0.75 seconds below the world record without barely trying, she crossed the fungshing line at a canter and needed no whipping.

World records are here to distinguish exceptional horses and breaking ruffians record and nearly secretariats shows this.

[6deerhunter5]

barbaro...i can tell you are newbie who got caught up with the rachel hype..you probably wont be even here is MTB nip rachel in the preakness..

anyways..u cannot compare ruffian and secretariat times to rachel's...that shows you are clueless about horse racing..there are things to consider and one of them is called

TRACK BIAS...now you can google that just like you googled ruffian and secretariats times..

lol...so funny

[6deerhunter5]

barbaro...my apologise..you are only 16 years old..no wonder you got caught up in the rachel hype and clueless about horse racing...all is good though...at least rachel are getting new fans to horse racing...lol

[ilovechasie]

I find it hard to believe that people are discrediting Jackson for not chasing Zenyatta, when she can't even venture outside of California. Or beat anything but the same horses she's been beating for the last 2 years. Who cares how visually impressive they are, when she's already beaten them over and over again? Also 6deerhunter5, I think you'll find Munnings was running in a sprint, and came from off the pace, so was aided by the fast fractions typical of a sprint. These are fast fractions here

[sargeanthulka]

He eased the horse up or she would have broken Secretariat's all time record at this distance. People, you are watching one of the greatest horses of all time. Enjoy it.

[CatzKr]

That fillys a stretch monster. Is there anything to hold her back? Nope! Wow!

[raidernation1978]

Zenyatta would destroy her down the stretch.

[CatzKr]

Would she? I didnt know...and I wouldnt bet on it.

Zenyatta could...or then she might not. RA certainly wouldnt beat her by 20 lengths, but who knows what will come when the two of them meet. It could be RA, it could be Zenyatta. OR, someone else might pull an upset.

Nevertheless, Rachel Alexandra is power all over. One doesnt have to be an expert to see that...or biased.

[6deerhunter5]

of course the older mare zenyatta would eat her up..why do you think rachels owners is skipping the breeders...if they think she can win theres no way they'll skip the breeders...theres a old saying in the horseracing industry...skip races you might lose if its not a sure thing..and that is exactly why rachel wont be HOY...

[ZenyattaFanatic911]

to bad that wasn't true, Zenyatta would eat her up, just like she did with the rest of the field at the Classic! :)

[1devilfish2]

Zenyatta didn`t eat up the field in the classic. She saved a lot of ground at the rail, otherwise she would have been fifth or sixth. and she ran again turf and dirt horses which are not used to the plastic surface...

[christymca]

What the ppl that are calling RA "hype" also don't get is that not only did she win the Oaks and the Preakness but she also raced two weeks before the KY Oaks. She is nothing but the real deal and I can't believe someone page 1 or 2 actually said that they are "too careful" with how they're managing her vs. the way Zenyatta's been managed...

[christymca]

sorry...was four weeks before the Oaks...not two.

[ThePixiePoet]

If you want to see RA winning on a synthetic track, she did it in Keeneland Allowance 10/17/08. Look it up on Youtube under "Rachel Alexandra - Allowance (Keeneland)"

[lodengreeneyes]

Go Rachel! Hopefully she'll take 2009 Horse of the Year!

[ThePixiePoet]

There's one thing I don't like about this video. It would have been more exciting for us if the TV Network had the video camera showing a wide-angle view of her winning margin near the finish line (like they did for the Oaks). I wish they did that!! Oh well, we can't have everything.

[jcjenicek]

I think they should change her name to Lady Secretariat.

[6deerhunter5]

lady secretariat....wow you people are so taken in by the hype..more like she should be called:

Lady Very Overrated!!

[ThePixiePoet]

Yep!

RA ran this race at less than 1 second off Secretariat's Belmont record. (4/5th of a seocnd to be exact)... that's right SECRETARIAT!!!!

[6deerhunter5]

So what? she had 2 rabbits paving the way and a track that has a strong speed bias. This time is good but not exceptional.

[ThePixiePoet]

6deerhunter: Woulda coulda shoulda... if within a second to Secretariat is not exceptional, I don't know what is!!!

[6deerhunter5]

i already posted why it is not exceptional..its good but nothing special..i guess you peeps have no clue about pace and track bias. thats ok keep hyping her time.lol

[ThePixiePoet]

Actually, logically speaking, if she had "2 rabbits" paving the way, that would usually TIRE OUT a horse who tried to keep pace so that any normal horse would fall back (tired) near the end. However, Rachel did the OPPOSITE and EXTENDED her winning margin at the end. So sorry. The "2 rabbits" excuse does not hold any water!!! It actually proves how EXCEPTIONAL this racehorse is!!

[6deerhunter5]

pixiepoet, "if she had "2 rabbits" paving the way, that would usually TIRE OUT a horse who tried to keep pace so that any normal horse would fall back (tired) near the end"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...­you have no clue what horseracing is all about don't ya!!??

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...FUNNIEST THING I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG LONG TIME...

how old are you??

lol

[ThePixiePoet]

You are way too emotional!!!

[6deerhunter5]

Nothing exceptional about her..munnings a 3 year old colt.. who ran on the same course in the tom fools handicap AGAINST OLDER HORSES

ran faster splits than this race!! as a matter of fact, i am predicting munnings will beat her in the haskells...

lol

[6deerhunter5]

pixie, if this is exceptional then what do you call munnings run on tom fool handicap...his splits were faster than rachels?? super exceptional??

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[ThePixiePoet]

I'm not RA's PR person. I am only a fan. I like all race horses because I love to see them race! I am amazed by many horses, not just RA.

[curribot69]

she is OVERRATED!! if she is that great she should run at least in the Breeders..i can understand missing Belmont but not the breeders..

[ThePixiePoet]

I don't think the horse has any control over which race the owners enter them in.

[siroptimistic]

Hey...we all love horses, including RA. We all agree that she is an excellent horse. What some of us dislike is the way RA is managed, with races selectively chosen and others selectively avoided. This leads to suspicion and makes her achievements appear dubious. RA should have ran in the Belmont to prove the Preakness win was not luck and that she has endurance. RA should also run in the Breeders to prove she can beat the best and that she has versatility. Only then can she be considered great.

[MyBigRed94]

Congratulations Miss Rachel Alexandra! I have a strong feeling we are seeing the 2009 Horse of the Year Winner :) You Go Girl !!

With Love, My Big Red

[ThePixiePoet]

Whoops I miscalculated on my other comment I made the other day. (which I deleted). RA has won her past 7 races by a combined margin of 63 3/4 lengths!!!!

[ramfootball21]

jess jackson wants to bread her to curlin wouldnt that be something... that would be a super horse

[izvestia03]

was great to see her rate so kindly behind the other two--as for the naysayers--the arguments against her being one of the great fillies is starting to ring hollow-still a match with zenyatta or the travers will be my final jump off into rachel mania:) interesting to note her being within a second of secretariat's TR--he was in over drive with riva ridge as a target-rachel was gearing down--on the other hand rachel had some help with the early fractions---its all really exciting:)

[dolcevitausa]

brilliant... kudos to RA and her connections

[foren123456]

she's my girl!

[siroptimistic]

This race is pathetic. Look how wide the other two horses are on the final turn, allowing RA to come in between. With such a small field of three horses, they should be running tightly along the rail, especially on the final turn. The other two horses also stumble on the final turn when RA passes between them. This race is no claim to fame for RA that is for sure.

[jumptheoxer]

She broke the stakes record in time and distance regardless of field size. RA's connections have no control over field size and logically anyone can see that taker her on means running for 2nd place money.

[siroptimistic]

RA broke the record because she ran this race on a track that was essentially clear and open, without being forced to work and struggle for position. Had there been ten other competitors on the track she would have been impeded and blocked for position which would have effected her time.

[ThePixiePoet]

In addition to the Mother Goose, she broke 4 other records in 3 other stakes races FILLED with horses.

[tristateapbt]

Ruffian did not have anyone opposing her, she was in the lead the whole race.

[ThePixiePoet]

RA has set 5 new records in 4 graded stakes: Golden Rod (new time record), Martha Washington (new time record), Kentucky Oaks (new winning margin record), Mother Goose (new time record - FASTER than Ruffian) (new winning margin record- previously held by Ruffian). She was also the only horse in Preakness history to win from the far outside position. She usually speeds up on her own (without the whip.) How fast would she be if asked? Still young, what will she be like when she matures? AMAZING!

[Ruffian4Ever]

She was pushed VERY hard in the Preakness, and she didnt run that fast! Super horse my ass

[ThePixiePoet]

She made history by being the only horse (female or male) in Preakness history to ever to win from the far outside position. Beating colts is considered far more difficult than beating fillies because of the general physical differences between genders. Just a thought.

[sugarpuppy137]

The greatness of a horse isn't always defined by speed or time, but by the competitors left behind. RA defeated the best three year old COLTS this country has to offer, She won the Oaks by 20+ lengths, Mother Goose by 19 lengths, I believe by now she is well deserving of the title 'Super Filly'.

[togadiver]

Can you say "Travers"? Maybe Zenyata should come to Saratoga and face her in the Alabama.

[wabstat]

The Alabama is for 3YO fillys. Zenyatta is five.

[snoopsincharge]

This filly is the bomb. Simple as that.

[Eternalsky1982]

Only three horses...

[ThePixiePoet]

ALL OF YOU: Please consider how impressive this race really was. Although she only ran against 2 other horses, RA made a NEW STAKES RECORD for this Mother Goose Stakes! In other words: She ran FASTER THAN RUFFIAN who also ran this race and broke the record at the time. AMAZING!!!!

[NatureGirl62]

What a great day for the gals! Rachel and Zenyatta winning on opposite coasts today.  What a day for racing!

[stormcat33]

wow, this horse is a BEAST. a matchup between her and Zenyatta would be insanely amazing, the Breeders' Cup would probably be the best. i thought Jess Jackson wanted to help horse racing- well, what could possibly be better than a race pitting the 2 best mares in the world against eachother? synthetic or no synthetic! great horses don't need to carry their tracks with them.

[gregcz2000]

Yes, she is incredible- its hard to fault her owners for refusing to run her on that plastic garbage at Santa Anita. In her WORST performance, at the Preakness, she still beat the best 3yos in the country- she's well on her way to being one of the greats.

[thecorvis]

Well, you could say that she is ducking a race against Zenyatta. I love how these horse owners never want to match up against another horse that may beat them. God forbid we actually get people interested in horse racing again. It's so sad.

[izvestia03]

well-looks like zenyatta may come east so it may happen--can't fault jackson--i do believe its the polytrack he doesn't like--and he was a great sport last year with curlin--so i forgive him this year:)

[all66books]

Great, great, great. What else can you say?