Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

steve — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:21:44 GMT

Take off those rose colored Rachel sunglasses folks. She is good but not great. The top 3 year old colts were injured before the Triple Crown.

The Woodward field is the weakest ever. Seriously, DeTara racing in G1 race! laughable. Only 2 grade 1 wins this year from this mediocre older males. ONLY 2! I remember when the Woodward would not only have mulitple grade 1 winners in the current year but most of them would have won a multiple grade 1 races in the same year. The better older males were in the Pacific Classic. Oh and listen to that Borel. 'She does need to be whip because Rachel wouldn't run any faster' WHAT? Then why whip her over 20 times. Truth is, Rachel connections wants to keep the hype going. Trying to project an image that she is better than she really is. This poor filly was taken to the very limit of her ability against ok horses. She deserves all the credit and run with a big heart and deserves HOTY but to say she is one of the greats is a way bit of a stretch.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

mr know it all — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:17:21 GMT

I think RA will hold on to just beat Macho Again.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

steve s — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:44:56 GMT

TO mike Relva

SO you think that was a great ride when she should have won by daylight

If she were mine i retire her or get a new jockey

Iguess tim G(he says he smartest horse player) was not impressed seeing she got big wgt break

IF Calvin has not lost his nerve than he stupid

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Jason Shandler — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:52:27 GMT

Rendezvous baby!

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

steve from st louis — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:44:14 GMT

Dray: BTW, I don't come on here to trash you. I come on here to discuss racing respectfully with others who share my passion for the game. You are the one who comes here to trash anything not Rachel. It got old long ago.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

steve from st louis — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:33:49 GMT

Dray: I don't post here to get a rise out of seeing see my thoughts published. I've made a good living selling my opinions,first as a newspaper columnist in the third biggest market in the United States and now as a money manager in the equities market. You finally exposed your motivation for cackling like a bully 8-year-old on this site when you chide me for not being original in my posts. You, however, have nothing to worry about. You are truly original in yours. Are you entitled to your opinion? Absolutely! But sadly for you the rest of us gain little from it.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Chris — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:34:31 GMT

"So Chris, that's what you got ? 2 races more than a decade ago ? Thanks for making my point."

You're not the brightest star in the sky, but let me quote again "Try to find another Woodward in the last 30 years with higher speed figures coming into the race... I'll wait."

I pulled two from memory because the winners happen to be my favorite horses and I recall the hype for those races, one from 15 years another from 11 years, pretty simple math that 11 and 15 are within a 30 year range. Your point was not proved.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Tim G — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:30:04 GMT

Actually Dray, take the advice you gave to steve.

He is at least a fan of the horses and not just ONE horse.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Pam S. — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:29:17 GMT

All hail Rachel Alexandra. Not only is she beautiful, she's as tough as nails.

We may have seen the last of her for a while, but then again, she does seem to bounce back well.

Steve, regarding the unfortunate Da'Tara, YES!!

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Soldier Course — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:06:38 GMT

Rachel Alexandra.

Don't let the braids fool ya'.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

needler in Virginia — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:15:36 GMT

To answer the primary blog question here......... YUP, Rachel just MADE history, fellas, so live with it! You can compare, analyze, debate, question, complain, denigrate, downplay, inflate or simply crow, but win she did....with determination and a fair bit of class. Unless the original Pegasus rises from the dead, I THINK Rachel is deservedly gonna be Horse of the Year...but don't quote me on that..I might be wrong (that happened once before!) and am willing to accept that possibility. But REALLY, can anyone argue with the history she made today? Oh, hell, WHY on Earth did I have to go and ask THAT question???

Personally, I'm loving the face of racing right now. With all the warts and blemishes and problems racing has shown the world, Rachel AND Zenyatta have drawn the folks in and breathed some life into a flagging industry, and I absolutely LOVE the little girls who ask Rachel to "run like a girl". Thirteen cheers for both these lovely horses, and my hat is off to Rachel...she certainly made a believer out of me!

Cheers and safe trips.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Linda in Texas — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:12:10 GMT

It is comical to go back and read these comments now that the race is over and 'The Lady' won it!!! Macho came in second and i cannot even get a video of the race on my computer.The one and only cable company where i live is closing for business and A crying shame that it was not televised nationally. i love NFL and College football, but Saratoga Races come but once a year. And Rachel's

but once in a lifetime. How about Mi Sueno? Watch the video of how she caught up and passed everyone else. She digs in with both hind legs and pushes mightily forward almost touching her front hooves. She is one powerful filly.

But today Rachel Rules and should for a long time. Hail also to Mine That Bird back in his home state of New Mexico. I love Horse Racing and the people and all that goes with it, eventho the upsets are surprising, the injuries are devastating and the illnesses and sudden deaths of perfectly healthy horses is hard for me to understand. But Horse Racing must go on. And i haven't forgotten Zenyatta either, she is in the mix too. And so far for me, best blogg name is "Zippy Potato Chippy"!!! Rachel Alexandra Wins, way to go! Hope they all came back sound with no chips,tears or quarter cracks showing up later.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Soldier Course — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:03:00 GMT

Thanks to a comment by Lance S. on the Final Turn blog, I saw the Woodward Stakes in real time on SportSouth, which aired the TVG programming of the race. Rachel Alexandra. Indescribable.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Matthew W — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:40:05 GMT

What a weekend! First, Sea The Stars looked AWESOME!! Didn't change leads right away/was caught in traffic for 1/16, then GONE!....Second was Rachel, and boy did she put out!!.....Third is tom at Del Mar, a real nice race or three, maybe we can find a horse or two that can warm up Sea The Stars in the Classic---That will be hard to do!!!

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Matthew W — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:17:07 GMT

All I can say is: WOW!!! 'Thought once she made the outside into the backstretch, Calvin DIDN'T have to move her so soon! He almost blew it, one more jump...But that is why I DON'T have to see fillies go up against older males---Not even the top-tier types can give an all-time great filly a scare like that! Like I said, she doesn't beat Bid (c'mon) BUT she fits, right up there, on his level of greatness! NO DOUBT!

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Betty S — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:39:46 GMT

Vic S-RE the post on Bullsbay and Macho again. Hope you had the tri.

Very insightful forecast but she just would not let them pass. Amazing girl and they are very fine too.

Love ya, Rachel, so much.

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

thomas — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:15:20 GMT

da'tara is the next sarava period!!!

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Draynay — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:03:25 GMT

By the way Lazmannick I was talking about American racing not some little grass racers in Europe. Do you still have an answer ?

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Draynay — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:54:39 GMT

steve from st louis, you think coming on here to trash me makes you original ? If you have nothing to say do us all a favor and post on a site that cares about your opinions.

So Chris, that's what you got ? 2 races more than a decade ago ? Thanks for making my point. Rachel just beat a very good field being pressed by D' Tara first then by Prado on the outside and then notice how the Red Sea parted for Macho Again to come roaring through. She held him off for a very impressive win and achieved something many of the greatest never did... A WOODWARD WIN !!! Wow! PS... thanks Pyro !!!!

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Melissa — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:48:18 GMT

Oh. My. God.

Macho Again was coming on like an absolute freight train... He was the one I was most worried about...

BUT SHE DID IT!

We are so lucky to be able to say that we have watched one of the greatest fillies of all time, and we are even luckier that she's not done yet!

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Runfast159 — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:26:42 GMT

RACHEL BY THE NUMBERS:

1 - Time she has beat OLDER horses

2 - Times in a row she has beat the boys.

3 - Number of Grade I winners she beats in the Woodward, and the number of stakes records she has set

4 - The number of stakes or track records she has come close to beating.

5 - Grade 1 wins in a row

6 - Number of states she has won in

7 - Different tracks she has won on THIS YEAR and 7 Graded stakes wins overall

8 - Wins this years, and 8 stakes wins overall

9 - Wins in a row!

10- How damn perfect she is!

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

sweet terchi — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:25:30 GMT

Jason and Pam W. If you had ever had the opportunity to sit in a pure muscle car, fire up a engine ranging from a 350 to a 484, all 8 cylinders popping and the one or two 4 barrel carbs chuffing away along with the racing tranny vibrating under your hand ready to explode, and handling all that power going at 2oo mph......of course you will think it is meaningless and garbage. Exactly the same way people football is inane, with everyone trying to push each other back and forth across the field. If you don't understand it, don't knock it. ( By the way, I like football).

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

Ragsy — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:58:44 GMT

Rachel Alexandra, now did she finally prove how GREAT she is....what a filly....

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

sweet terchi — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:55:49 GMT

Just seen the fantastic video....wire to wire! Amazing filly and a excellent ride by Borel, smart way to keep any "weird things" from happening.

Go Rachel!! To all the naysayers who will say She almost didn't do at the closing..... SHE WON!

re: Woodward Analysis: Will Rachel Make History?

BigWill — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:50:42 GMT

Just watched the Woodward and I realized how Rachel can be defeated. Next race She will have to run backwards carrying Calvin Borel and another jockey. I said Curlin was one of racings all time greats. And it appears that he's the 2nd best horse Steve Asmussen ever trained. Rachel is the best racehorse I've ever seen and probably the best most of you have seen. I think she'll run in the Beldame. The only thing she hasn't beaten yet are older fillies and mares. But even Zenyatta and Icon Project won't be any match. RACHEL ALEXANDRA= HORSE OF THE YEAR, HORSE OF THE DECADE AND MAYBE HORSE OF THE CENTURY.