Coming Up Aces

re: Coming Up Aces

Love That Mare! — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 15:48:39 GMT

Cheers to Aces N Kings! Congrats to all his connections.

www.pedigreequery.com/aces+n+kings ... check out his pic!

4 for 4 for starters.

re: Coming Up Aces

sherpa — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:40:18 GMT

Aces N Kings won today! 5F in 57:41 by 2 1/2 lengths, not too shabby! He looks bigger and more developed than most 2yos and looked great galloping out & going to the winner's circle - like he knew that's where he belongs. The kid's got Class! I predict Jet Phone may get a bump in visiting mares. ;-)

Thank you for bringing him to our attention, Jason. Hope he stays healthy & happy.

re: Coming Up Aces

annie — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:33:51 GMT

Enjoyed the teaser story, it's nice to read something happy, for a change.

re: Coming Up Aces

Goldie — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:20:05 GMT

Golly, who knew, when this blog started, where it would eventually go? I'm almost dizzy from the convoluted path it's followed. There have been some really fantastic contributions, and then there is poor Mr. Draynay. I have noticed that he has been as quiet as the proverbial church mouse regarding Rachel's next "big challenge".

There is a whole lot of talent out there on the track this year. Not everyone can win, but they can show up for the dance, and hopefully stay healthy and happy. Just send out positive thoughts.....and hell, hug a tree, or a horse while you're at it.

re: Coming Up Aces

my daughter named her pet duck rachael alexandra — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:16:59 GMT

I looked up the word 'Duck' and there was a picture of JJackson alongside Daffy. Un-freakin'-believable!!

Carlos in Cali 01 Jul 2010 5:18 PM

That's just dissssssspicable Carlos. (")<....quack quack!!

re: Coming Up Aces

HollywoodHit — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:01:25 GMT

Nice try Jess. Your girl is on as much of a Championship run as Team France at the World Cup.

Don't worry though, your compliant eastern media and fans will fully support you in your phony campaign. While they bad mouth Zenyatta's connections who continue their streak of GRADE 1 challenges leading to the Breeders Cup Classic.

RA isn't going to win the Classic which she is very unlikely to run in anyways. RA will be lucky to win the Lady's Classic. Even winning the Lady's Classic won't win her a championship. Not based on what her campaign in 2010 is turning out to be.

Grade 1 races are what counts for Championships not $400K allowance races. RA has none this year and it looks unlikely that she will win any Grade 1 races in 2010.

Older Mare Eclipse: Zenyatta.

HOTY: TBD

RA: Who???

Championship campaign to what?

re: Coming Up Aces

Tim G — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:38:19 GMT

Turf race for a dead fit horse? Stranger things have happened.

Like a supposedly dead fit mare running in an ungraded race strictly for the money, when owned by a billionaire.

Maybe his grapes have turned to raisins?

I definitely disagreed with Mark Allen and Zayat trying to block Rachel out of the Preakness, but now is the time for horsemen with an eligible (cough) female to step up and enter in the LS. Then they could scratch when Rachel does and the purse reverts back to the $150,000 and then the other fillies could run at Saratoga in the races they were scheduled for.

It's time his machinations were met by like-minded deviousness.

Someone on another blog said owners were greedy and power hungry. I'm hoping this is who they were referring to when they made that comment and not all of us in general.

Last night racing at CD, then the big bang up on Monday and then on to Saratoga!

Stay in Florida Dray, they need you to wash birds, the greatest contribution you could make to your adopted home, seriously.

We'll do fine at The Spa without you.

re: Coming Up Aces

Sam Not Spam — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:19:46 GMT

Any G1 race on poly > ungraded race. Talk about taking the soft option...

re: Coming Up Aces

dustywhipp — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:49:34 GMT

TBOwner, yeah, it is, I just.. had a brain freeze? LOL.

And, at least when Zenyatta ran in the Lady's Secret ( west coast style ), is a G1. But if it's the Zenyatta.... that will be the one race she loses if she runs in it. Zenyatta can not win the Zenyatta... there's just something wrong about that.

re: Coming Up Aces

Phony — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:44:08 GMT

Early this year I posted a comment and was promptly attacked by draynay who by the way has claimed he never ridicules anyone personally. I've seen him challenge people to show him where he has ever ridiculed someone. It gives me great pleasure to remind him of what I said and what a jerk he was to attack someone for expressing their opinion. Here's the replay:

"People who question if RA can ever be better than Zenyatta? The answer is No!!

Why? you asked, Because RA will never retire with both BC wins.

She will never retire "Undefeated"

She will only be remembered for "One" good year.

She will be defeated again in 2010!

If she races at all, thats a big if...she will only run in 5 or 6 races at the most.

So all of you who are condemning Zenyatta's schedule last year? wait til you see RA schedule this year, if she races at all....

It took every thing out of her to win the last 3 races she was in...on her belly to beat Macho Again....Zenyatta would have wiped the floor with RA on any surface.....

Phony 13 Jan 2010 6:39 PM"

Phony is your name? It suits you.

Draynay 13 Jan 2010 10:09 PM

I guess we know who the REAL phony is now draynay!!!!! Pay special attention to my brilliant predictions that rachael would lose this year and the best one of all regarding wait until you see rachaels race schedule for 2010. Isn't that schedule turning out to be a joke? Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

re: Coming Up Aces

RA Exposed Again — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:09:33 GMT

LMAO, Rachael Alexandra after having to face former Claimers to get a win will now duck completely out of Graded Stakes for her next start. Why bother? Retire her to the stud barn. At least she gets to finish that race being the horse in front.

re: Coming Up Aces

joe schmoe — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:55:08 GMT

RA going in a Non-Graded Stakes?!! I guess she needs to stay facing former Claimers and low level Allowance horses to compete. This is further evidence that they totally blew the call last year with the HOY voting. The real "fluke" last year is further being exposed. The longer the year goes on the weaker the competition she is willing to face. What a crock this year is turning out to be for RA. Might as well retire her, the only thing they are doing is tarnishing her reputation which was in reality built on beating only average older horses last year anyway. I hope the East Coast writers who perpatrated the blown call last year are paying attention.

Furthermore, I think draynay needs a new set of eyes. The bobblehead hiding in his closet is really RA pretending to be Zenyatta.

re: Coming Up Aces

sodapopkid — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:30:17 GMT

I hate to say this, but I give up on trying to figure Jess Jackson out this year. His actions are compared to a person standing in a round room looking for a corner.

re: Coming Up Aces

sodapopkid — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:27:57 GMT

Aint that something, RA is going to race in the LS on the east coast, and on the west coast the LS race is officially called the 'Zenyatta Stakes' isnt it?

re: Coming Up Aces

jayjay — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:11:34 GMT

mz : If that happens, she will be racing in a GRADED steeplechase race and she will have to travel for that, since there are no steeplechase races here in California that I know of.

Runfast : I hope that that is the plan, it's the only thing that actually makes sense. At least now there's one viable explanation (if that's really the plan.) JJ probably thinks the Ruffian and PE are too close together for Rachel to run in both so hopefully this IS the plan.

Specially with the date change, it looks like they will most likely target the PE after this race. Nice comment Runfast, at least now we can relax. That is, if that's actually the plan lol.

re: Coming Up Aces

TBOwner — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:10:55 GMT

Dusty the WV Derby is on dirt.

It's not unusual for a horse to train over turf. He may have had a gallop or a work, does anyone know?

Although as Wayne says, he isn't trying to develop a turf horse, he's trying to develop a handicap horse. He needs a race, this may be as good as anything else.

re: Coming Up Aces

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:53:26 GMT

Mine That Bird on the turf is a great idea. Actually this guy might take to the turf easier than most think. He won something like three or four races at Woodbine and horses that do well on the Polytrak usually run well on turf.

re: Coming Up Aces

Paula Higgins — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:32:27 GMT

Tim G, got it-electronic medical records.

Rachel going to the Lady's Secret reflects their lack of confidence in where she is at right now. I also think they are trying to rack up some races/build up her confidence but not burn her out like they did last year. They are taking a page from John Shirreff's playbook but the difference is Zenny runs in grades stakes with some real competition (St. Trinians).

re: Coming Up Aces

2:24 — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:26:27 GMT

Just read the article about Rachel going to an ungraded stakes/optional claiming race. Immediately thereafter, I threw up in my mouth. Is this some kind of joke?

re: Coming Up Aces

Dusty — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:22:19 GMT

Rachel in the Lady's Secret? *rolls eyes* What's the point? Really, at least keep her in a G2 or even G3 level... But ungraded? I agree with the other comments regrading this, what's the point?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the West Virgina Derby ( where Mine That Bird was third ) run on turf? Which would mean he has run on turf. Still, I think an allowance on dirt might be a better option for him....

As for the Zenyatta bobble-head, I'm trying to buy one on eBay but the things are dang expensive! I hope I can get one...

re: Coming Up Aces

TBOwner — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:51:25 GMT

Was Bonnie Raitt singing about Wayne and Mine That Bird? "Let's Give them Something to talk About"

Believe it when you see it. But really turf is a good conditioning race and he says he's training for the Whitney so, maybe.

Several artists who sang "Crazy" were were definitely singing about Jess Jackson.

Interesting thought about G1 fillies showing up. $400,000 is nothing to sneeze at, hmmmm. Bet they'd bail if anyone of note showed up.

re: Coming Up Aces

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:23:07 GMT

I wonder how long it would take JJ to suddenly change his mind and look for another race if a bunch of G-1 fillies and mares suddenly showed up for the Lady's Secret?

re: Coming Up Aces

CV — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:25:02 GMT

The ungraded Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth? Really? I thought Rachel was headed to the Ruffian Handicap?

What could Jess Jackson possibly be thinking? Is this race expected to draw a better class of competitors than the Ruffian because of the newly enhanced purse?

I would think a Grade 1 race would be more of a draw for fillies and mares.

re: Coming Up Aces

Runfast159 — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:39:29 GMT

Wayne said that he isn't commited to running MTB in the Firecracker, they nominated him to keep their options open. He's leaving it up to the owners to decide to go or train on up to the Whitney.

Regarding Rachel in the Lady's Secret, well if they want to run her in a graded race in July what ARE the options? I don't see anything at 8.5-9 furlongs for older fillies available. What race am I missing? I know we think the obvious next start would have been the Ruffian a week later, but with the Lady's Secret they "could" still run her in the Personal Ensign at the end of August. Surely they want to try her at a mile and a quarter at some point?

re: Coming Up Aces

Pam S. — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 22:31:08 GMT

I'm very surprised by these plans for Rachel. I was sure she would be running in a G1 at Saratoga. Another ungraded race, regardless of the purse enhancement, makes it seem like the connections think she's "not ready for prime time." Also, it'll do nothing to enhance her championship credentials.

Well, who thinks the Lady's Secret is going to be a prep for the Woodward? And why did JJ want the date changed anyhow? Kind of detracts from Saratoga's opening weekend.