A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

Jasmine — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:19:50 GMT

Great article!

Admittedly, I'm a bigger Zenyatta fan than a Rachel fan, but what Rachel did this year was stunning. I remember watching the Haskell, and the moment she took the lead I thought "OK well nobody's going to catch her now." And I was right.

She's such a beautiful animal, and I'm glad she's coming back this year. 2010 is going to be one heck of a year for racing if both she and Zenyatta stay healthy.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

Pasturelands — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:09:33 GMT

As they said in the movie, "Titanic".. she's a ship of dreams..and she was. She REALLY was." Rachel is everybody's dream horse, and I still pray everyday that she goes home always SAFE AND HEALTHY.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

LDP — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:50:34 GMT

Hey ABZ,

Thanks for stopping by and checking on things, and thanks for commenting. BTW, nice Oaks Top Ten.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

ABZ — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:58:18 GMT

Well done LDP! The Haskell and what Rachel Alexandra did to the top males was special. Good job of reminding us.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

Horsin Around — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:13:44 GMT

Thank you everyone for you kind comments. I have a whole little series that I did for my blog on "A Decade to Remember." If you want to read more all you need to do is go back into the archives for December. I also have a post that I wrote on Zenyatta's Classic. If you would like I could send that in to be posted on BH. Again thank you so much for your kind comments, they mean a lot.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

Risenstar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:47:49 GMT

Rachel is in a class by herself as is Zenyatta. We are blessed to be able to witness two such as these in one and now two years. Rachel's Preakness was a thing of beauty. And if you wanted to hear a crowd roar, listen to the playback when Rachel powered into the stretch at Pimlico. And when she crossed the finish line, well, the entire crowd went crazy. And I was there!!!

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

Rachel Fan Forever — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:46:25 GMT

Well I feel the same way, Curlin is a once in a billion horse to have had the chance to watch and then this filly comes along a year later and she is a once in a billion and 1 horse. Its amazing, I have their bobble heads placed in my viewing cabinet at home, and I always will, especially considering the fact that they both raced at my hometown track, Oaklawn Park.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

ruffian316 — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:08:20 GMT

Rachel made 2009 unbelievably exciting for me. Her appearance is exquisite. Her performances even more so. The Haskell was just one of many superb efforts. 2010 is going to be one heck of a year with her being bigger and stronger!

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

Rachel — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:29:28 GMT

Really well written, and thanks for reliving Serena's Song, a GREAT racehorse...!!!

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

GunBow — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:50:23 GMT

I was at Churchill for the Kentucky Oaks and knew the moment Rachel crossed the wire that I was watching a filly for the ages. Yet, as highly as I held Rachel after the Oaks, her subsequent triumphs in the Preakness(first filly since the 20s, first winner from the 13 hole), Mother Goose(record 19+ length margin and stakes record time of 1:46 and change), Haskell, and Woodward exceeded my expectations.

What Serena's Song did in 1995, winning the gr.1 Haskell and gr.2 Jim Beam but only finishing 16th in the Derby, was remarkable, and it was hard to imagine a 3 year old filly doing much better facing the boys. A year ago I would have believed it to be pure fantasy had someone suggested that a 3 year old filly could win the Oaks by 20, the Mother Goose by 20, and beat the boys in the Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward, all while remaining undefeated for the year. In North America, one had to go back to Beldame in the first half decade of the 20th century to find a reference point with which to compare Rachel. For a filly that was so calm and demure in the paddock prior to the Oaks, the intensity, ferocity, and determination with which see runs is striking. One last thing, even in her races in which she lost ground in the stretch(Preakness and Woodward when horses made up ground on her), she kept running strongly through the wire, and galloped out well ahead of any horse. This bodes well for her when she stretches out to 10 furlongs. However, in Zenyatta she would be meeting a horse just as remarkable, a horse that is able to make the same devastating stretch run regardless of the pace, surface, or competition.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

MTBFan(still) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:06:05 GMT

She's unforgettable. No matter what happens regarding Zen, I won't think any less of her. I know some people think Jackson has held her back at certain times, but no matter what "the truth" is--I will always think of her as that amazing, talented, businesslike filly who came and obsessed me like almost no other horse. Curlin and Rachel, my two loves. How ironic they are both owned by the same person! After the Oaks, everyone raved about her, but I thought she'd be another fad, even though I saw her putting daylight behind her. I wish I'd been there to see it live, though. Then I saw her put Mine That Bird, America's new love, away in the Preakness and I was staring at the television in disbelief, jaws clenched. I really liked MtB and was upset that Borel 'bailed' (I didn't understand about contracts at the time) and I wanted to deny her, but I couldn't. I started to fall for her, and I followed her online like a football fan following a team, and when she finally swept gracefully over the finish line in past the word HASKELL, like she was on a workout, I was too far gone for help--I was a Rachel fangirl.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

LadyValtaya — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:15:33 GMT

Rachel really is an amazing young champion. I can't wait to see her return to the track and I pray that she stays sound. Keep up this amazing run into history, Rachel!

She and Zenyatta are perfect specimens of everything a race horse should be. There's nothing to dislike about either of them and I adore them both! I hope they will meet on the track this year!

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

dustywhipp — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:25:57 GMT

Yep, a legend she is... Though I am Team Z!

I love Rachel though, my favorite filly of 09.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

Horsin' Around — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:46:38 GMT

Rhoward,

You are correct, it was indeed run over a sloppy, rain drenched, muddy track.

Ida,

She is indeed one of my favorites. Truth be told, Curlin is my very favorite, with Rachel a close second.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

nowhoa — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:25:13 GMT

Well stated. She is everything and more and I hope that one day soon I will be lucky enough to be standing in the stands watching her fly to another victory! She is one in a million!!

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

Ida Lee — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:20:22 GMT

Oh yeah!! Rachel is the Queen. I don't even know what else to say about this Treasure. Just looking at her makes my eyes water she's so beautiful. And watching her race.. that look in her beautiful eyes of determination and the fun she always seems to be having when she runs. It's a pleasure to watch her. Thank you for a great article. It's pretty obvious she's one of your favorites too.

re: A Decade to Remember: A Haskell Legend

rhoward — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:12:47 GMT

You forget to mention that it was in the MUD!