I used to respect Jess Jackson but I think taking her away from Hal Wiggins is wrong. Hal Wiggins clearly has done well by her and should be allowed to continue training her until she retires.

No, the excitment of seeing her against the colts does not take away the sick feeling in my stomach at her being unceremoniously removed from Hal Wiggins.

It's wrong, wrong, wrong.

Man sometimes I hate the people in this business!! Why in God's name would you sell a filly like that? And no, don't run her in the Triple Crown races, this sport needs a triple crown winner and if she runs, we won't have a chance of one because I have no doubt that she will kick those boys' butts! Brutal, absolutley brutal. She'll run out the rest of the year (if we're lucky) and then these people will retire her, no doubt about it.

Just disappointment all around. Part of Rachel's great story was her connections. Now that she is part of the Jackson/Asmussen empire, she becomes harder to root for. I guess Jackson must think he is single-handedly saving racing by buying up great race horses and treating them as circus side shows to draw fans. What was so horribly wrong with keeping her out of the Tripple Crown? Sometimes not knowing and wondering what if is better than the reality.

I hope she does not meet Curlin too soon.

She is spectacular.

My God, she could probably win the Dubai World Cup.

It was such a treat to have Curlin run at 4 - to have a 'hero' in racing.

I hope Jess' plans are to let her run as long as she is healthy.

Twenty lenghts.

Maybe someone with HD can tell me if Calvin even did give her a tap.

- Virgil

I feel for Hal Wiggins.  I am unsure why JJ would want to shake up something that was running PERFECTLY.  However, it sure could be a great story if the KY Oaks Winner to go on and win the remaining two legs of the triple crown.  She has the talent, we will find out if she has the stamina.

This is so sad! Her trainer is what made me like her as much as I did(i still like her)! I also hate to hear that they are pointing her to the TC races. Now Borel will have to choose between Mine That Bird and Rachel.Yes I agree it will be exciting to see her run against the boys,but what is he supposed to do? Drop Birdy for Rachel? Either way he will most likely lose the mount on a special horse. With Allison getting booted on American Idol and this news I don't know how to react anymore!

there is no reason to run her against the boys. It will not make her value increase as a broodmare one nickel. If something happens to her it will be another black eye for racing and make Jackson look like an idiot. If she wins, so what. She beats a sub par bunch of 3yo's.

I agree with poormansracehorses. And heaven forbid if anything happens to her in either race, I don't know if horse racing could recover.

I would like to start by saying that it is very sad that such an amazing story was torn apart. I have nothing against Mr. Jackson, because if I was able to purchase such an animal, I would also. What saddens me, is that Mr. Wiggins who has been there for so long with that amazing horse living every trainer's dream, all of a sudden taken away. Also Calvin Borel. What else can you say? Here is a jockey who obviously loves this horse, takes care of this horse everytime he rides her, living his dream, thinking about his future with this horse. What's gonna happen there? No offense to her new connections, but it is my opinion that even though ownership changed there is no need to change trainer, and possibly jockey on a horse that is on top of her game and in the hands of very capable and loving people.

Taking Rachel from Wiggins, we all know that was a wrong move from Jess Jackson...

Steve Asmussen is a colt trainer and trainers like Hal Wiggins and Larry Jones, fillies tend to improve under their care....  Some trainers are better with colts, some with fillies, some mix, some geldings...  

I would of purchased Rachel Alexandra in a heart-beat even before the Oaks, just loved her style, but I also would of kept her at the trainer that knew her and developed that wonderful style.

I am just glad IEAH Stables didn't get her, I feel they buy these powerhorses when they are in the spotlight to put themselves more in the spotlight.

I was very sad to hear she'd been sold.  I think she should have been left with the trainer that got her to where she is today...and I think she should stay out of the Triple Crown, at least until we see if MTB can capture the 2nd jewel...I do agree that she's special, and I would hate to see a chance for a Triple Crown be shot down...let her meet the boys in the Breeders Cup - hey, if MTB won the Triple Crown and then she beat him in the Fall - wouldn't that look even better on paper than to just blow his chances now?  

I don't know about the sale being wrong Jason. That's the business and I'm sure Jackson paid big bucks for her. As for changing trainers, Jackson could have left her where she was I mean they've done a pretty good job so far. But again that's the business, look at Helen Pitts. She nursed Curlin thru sore shins etc. only to lose him to another trainer. It does happen all the time and it is the down side to training for a living. On the up side she still has Einstein and is having a great year with him.

As far as running in the Preakness, if she's ready to roll that's their call and I don't think she put out much winning the Oaks do you?

Where does Calvin stand in all this? I Hope and pray they let him keep the mount

I like Jess Jackson , they always put Curlin first and they did right by racing him as a 4 yr old and risking his record in the Breeder's Cup. But I think putting this filly in the Triple Crown is wrong. Maybe the Travers or the Breeders Cup?? She's still young, and I do not think she should have been removed from Mr Wiggins, he got her where she is. They moved her because they knew he would disagree with running her in the triple crown. Calvin will stay on her if they have ANY sense at all.

I hope Hal Wiggins gets blessed with an Einstein, he will always be the one who brought her through the Oaks and managed her so well for so long. I don't get switching trainers, but that's business for you. I hope her grooms are doing OK, too, as their baby leaves to go to strange hands.

I hope Calvin gets to stay on the mare he loves so much.

I understand the sale, she's not a pet, no matter how much you love her, or you will go broke and not be able to pay the bills, she would have been sold at some point and would arguably never bring so much as now as a Kentucky Oaks winner taking on the boys in the rest of the TC...and Rachel needs to run with her peer group, the boys.

(I know you sportswriters will respect her more than you did Rags, who despite stumbling and running wide and beating great colts who had equaled track records you all pretty much said only won because of 5 lbs.)

Rachel

It's sad yes, but I think seeing her potentially race in the Triple Crown races makes it worth it! Too bad they didn't buy her before the Derby. If we could have had a filly do the Triple Crown, think of the history that would made. Maybe then we wouldn't have such an issue in this country of running a talented and strong filly against the boys.

Unfortunately, my honest comments would not pass moderation and approval. Suffice to say, no mixed emotions here - just deep disappointment, anger, and the desire to burn down houses.

Running her agaisnt the boys doesn't make her vunerable to getting hurt at all.  Fillies run against boys all the time in Europe, I don't know where that stigma came from (eight belles was a freak accident).  She should have run in the Derby becasuse if she did she would have won and would be on the way to a triple crown.  

I'm glad Jackson will run her against the boys, but its a disgrace that Hal Wiggins loses his once in a life time horse to a trainer who has gotten over 20 positives and is a disgrace to the integrity of the game.  Unbelivable.  

This blog needs to have the proverbial woa! JJ was a hero last year and now all I read is bad comments. The sale of RA was expected and any buyer would place his horse with his trainer. No trainer should expect to keep a horse. Wiggins has acted very dignified and we should too!

Very sad.  Sure, it's business, but if racing is going to go back its glory days, it seems a shame.  Surely horses are claimed and sold, but this story just seems to have taken a sad course.  Mr. Wiggens is such a genuine old-school trainer, and did so well by Rachel, it just seems a shame for him to have to lose her.  Hopefully it will be similar to the transition of Seabiscuit from Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons to Tom Smith, though it doesn't feel that way.

Why would you try to fix something that ain't broke? How can you improve on something that is already perfect? I'm angry as heck he moved her to Asmussen. Does Jackson really think Asmussen can do better with her? How much better do you need for for gosh sakes! I never had an opinion on Jackson before now, but I think moving her from where she was obviously thriving was senseless and downright mean to Mr. Wiggins. Her former connections were going the right route with her pointing to the Acorn. I do not want to see her in the Preakness or the Belmont. Should something happen.....wow, you think the Eight Belles thing was bad.....

Mr. Jackson, you are a fool for taking her from Wiggins. It will be interesting if she gets beat in her first start for Asmussen. Then maybe then you'll see the error of your ways.

I am glad that it was Jess Jackson that bought her. He is a throwback owner of yesteryear and will do right by her. As for her trainer, well, I can't blame Jackson there as he is showing confidence in the filly and his trainer Asmussen for if she is truly as great as she appears to be she will handle the transfer as easily as she handled the Kentucky Oaks. I love too that upon her retirement she will be bred to the great Curlin. Can't wait to see that baby. And one question, when IEAH bought Stardom Bound I didn't hear any objections on that purchase...why?

JASON: Thank you for this particular blog. We need a place to express our thoughts and feelings about this subject. Much appreciated.

You wrote: "I'm guessing Wiggins will be compensated nicely for the sale and I know this is what happens in the business world, but it's still kind of sad. I'm wondering if any of you feel the same way."

I feel exactly the same way. On the one hand, it IS a business and, legally speaking, horses are livestock. On the other, we fans get to know racehorses as individuals, and become attached to them almost like our family pets. Owning a horse of Rachel's caliber will always be an unrealized life-long dream for nearly all of us. So the thought that she could be treated like any other commodity is wrenching. Taking her away from Hal Wiggins, who clearly loves her and has done a superb job training her, only makes the situation doubly wrenching.

You also asked, "Does the thought of Rachel running in the Triple Crown races top any feelings of disappointment you may have had upon hearing news of the sale?"

My answer is no. I have no hunger to see Rachel race against the boys. It's a tough task for any 3-year-old filly to take on males in the spring. That's why so few have run in, let alone won, the open 3-year-old classics.

Fillies and mares can beat the boys, of course, but my memory is haunted by the ones who died trying, going all the way back to Lamb Chop's breakdown in the '64 Strub Stakes. Maybe I shouldn't look at it like that, but I do.

I don't think my comments would get past moderation either. Nor do I have mixed emotions.

Jess Jackson runs a sideshow-just as someone else here said.

Perhaps they should have left her under the training of Wiggins but I would have been surprised had that been done. The biggest thing here to me is we will hopefully have her run now where she belongs-with the BEST competition to really prove how great an athlete she is. The best athletes should compete against the best. She will now have her chance to do just that.

At least she was purchased by Jess Jackson and will be trained by Asmussen.  She could have been purchased IEAH and trained by Dutrow.  

Let us not forget the smiles that Curlin and his connections put on our faces.  I think Jackson understands that this sport is called "Horse Racing" and not "Horse Breeding."  She was bred to run races, so I applaud them if they choose to race her in the upcoming marquee races (as long as she's healthy and training well).  It would be an utter shame if they pampered her just so she can retire and be bred to Curlin.  If that's their intention, they should just retire her now (which I certainly don't believe they will).

    I always respected Rachel Alexandra's connections for sticking to there convictions on only racing against other filly's, Honorable!.  I feel terrible for Wiggins, like you said Jason, He is one of the most genuine people in the sport.  Yes,  This is Horse Racing, and the mighty dollar out weighs everything else(Rarely there are exceptions).  But, In this case, I wish Morrison, Lauffer, Wiggins, and Borel stayed with R.A. her whole Career.  It is Sad, But it is the nature of the sport.  I just pray R.A. stays healthy, I cannot even fathom what would happen if she got hurt. I do think that Borel will still be on her in the Preakness, though, and Mike Smith to Mine that Bird, Can you imagine if Mine that Bird beat her with a different jockey on him???, Now that would almost be a bigger shocker then the Derby!, Bottom line is I am torn, Don't wish the relationship was broken up, but I love to see her run, and to take on the field in the preakness, WOW...

Jennifer,

   I too am glad that IEAH Stables didn't get her....

Jennifer, CVT-

  Regarding IEAH only buying horses that are in the spotlight?  That is exactly what Jess Jackson did with both Curlin and Rachel Alexandra.  They bought Curlin just before the Rebel Stakes his 3 YO year-no different then IEAH buying I Want Revenge just before the Wood.  Jess Jackson bought Rachel after her brilliant Kentucky Oakes victory-No Different than IEAH buying Stardom Bound.

Why wouldn't you buy horses in the spotlight?  They are the great ones that give you the chance to win the classic races.  That is what you are in the business for.  You have to buy some good ones before you can start breeding on your own...IEAH stated when they bought Stardom Bound that she would be bred to Big Brown upon her retirement.  Jess Jackson has said the same thing about Curlin and Rachel Alexandra-and what a sturdy super horse we could dream that would be!  These stories parallel themselves, not sure how you could knock IEAH for doing the same thing that Jess Jackson has done here.

IEAH is building themselves a good stable of horses to take with them into their breeding future.  No different than anyone else that hasn't yet established a breeding program like Winstar or Adena Springs.

The following quote is from JEss Jackson-No different then anything IEAH has done.

"We record on DVD every race at every major track in America," Jackson said. "One of my employees screens all the races looking for that special race and special horse that wins the way Curlin won. Those horses are few and far between, and you're taking a chance. But the ones that have special ability are quite obvious. Curlin was that and we noticed it."

As far as Rachel Alexandria being sold that is just a part of this business. Her former owner could have held onto her and not sold her to Jess. Mr. Jackson and his team will take care of this horse. I respect and like Hal Wiggins and Calvin Borel but this is just a part of this business. Do I think she should run in the Preakness. No, too soon for this horse in changing barns. Calvin Borel is not getting off of Mine that Bird even if Jess Jackson begged him to ride Rachel A. I could see Rachael A. in the Belmont Stakes. Musket Man to win the Preakness but I'll root for Mine that Bird. Mr. Jackson sounds like he will run Rachael against the boys in the Triple Crown and in the Breeders Cup and race her next year. Yeah.

Think about the dream breeding to Curlin.

What is wrong with some of you ppl? I understand that Rachel got taken away from very good connections, but she wasn't sold to some animal abuser, or a person who will race her twice more then retire her. She was sold to a great sportsman in JJ, and SA has handled great champions before. RA old owner wasn't ever going to race her against the colts, and right now a filly racing against the colts and winning will boost racings image. JJ will run her with the boys, if she wins, he'll keep her where she belongs, if not, he'll put her back with the fillies. Does anyone remember all the things he did with Curlin last year. He will give this filly a chance to strut her stuff. If she succeeds, she may be better than a TC winner.

   Also to whom ever said we will we need a TC winner this year, i will agree, but we lost all chance when MTB won the Derby. Don't get me wrong he's a great horse who, thanks to his connections and his own appearence is good for the sport. I have my doubts though that he could pull off another win like the Derby. I say he bounces after running the race of his life.

    What I can't wait for is the battle of the fillies. Zen against Rachel. By the way my money is on rachel. I don't think even a spectacular closer can beat a speed/stalker like Rachel, unless she plans to run right next to rachel all the way around the track. Rachel has too much speed and will have such a big advantage that Zen, no matter how fast she closes, won't be able to catch her.

I think this is very sad. Unfortunately I am not the biggest fan of Asmussen. Wiggins did right by this filly. Although I felt she was ready for the boys I admired his position on keeping her with the fillies. I understand this is business....but sometimes we get sick of money being such a dominating factor. In sports it seems there is no more loyalty. Everyone and everything goes to the highest bidder. That's what I loved about Mccarthy. He stated in his interview he would not sell General Quarters and apparantly had been offered a chunk of change for him. He said "why would I sell him? I love this horse. He is like my family. As fans we need to feel like these guys really do love these horses. I am saddened for Wiggins. I just hope he knows he put the foundation on her and wherever her career takes her from here it is because of him. I think we will see her with the boys now. Triple Crown spoiler.

I really am glad to hear she probably will run against the boys in one of the Triple Crown races. I am always going to wish I'd been there at Belmont when Rags to Riches beat Curlin and I would love to see something historic like that when I go to the Preakness (which is also my birthday, so that would be great)!

As far as the sale, well, if they didn't want to sell, no one could make them. If anyone saw the Lost in the Fog documentary you would know how many offers his owner turned down for the simple reason that "I wouldn't have my horse."

Maybe winning a Triple Crown race won't increase her value as a broodmare but I bet I'm not the only fan who really wants to see a filly win one of those races and it would be great attention for racing. I really do hope it happens.

wrong, wrong, wrong - I agree with Tiznowbaby - Rachel is a star, comfortable with her handlers, her trainer and her surroundings, all the pieces of the puzzle that allowed her to grow and supported her development.  Ripping her away at her peak might not bother her at all, but then again it might destroy her, or at least upset her for a few weeks.

The class in this deal is Mr. Wiggins.  His comments today in the Bloodhorse interview show nothing but the highest character on what must be a bitterly sad day.  Yes, it's part of the game, but so is being humane, and while I respect Mr. Jackson for the work he did with Curlin, and I'm glad he has her and not IEAH, would it have killed him to leave Rachel with Mr. Wiggins through the spring campaign?  It might not have been much easier to let her go then than now, but it might have seemed less like ripping a bandage off!  If she goes to the Preakness now and loses to the boys, who's to say it's because she's not as good or because there was too much change all at once?

sigh.

Julie L-

  One thing about IEAH's purchase of Stardom Bound is that they did not take her away from trainer Bobby Frankel (though I think Dutrow is involved) as Jess Jackson has taking Rachel Alexandra from Wiggins....That seems to be what most people are upset about.  I personally understand the move, it is the same thing they did when they took Curlin away from Helen Pitts and gave him to Asmussen before the Rebel stakes.  Asmussen is Jackson's premier trainer, it would follow that Jackson would trust him with horses of this caliber.  Nothing against Wiggins, and I am surely sad for him as well.

I am Really Really Disappointed!!

This situation really takes away from what was building up to be a great Preakness... and all about MTB, is he the real thing or not? And Calvin Borel riding him in the Preakness... and now we probably won't get to see that.

And I loved the old-fashioned attitudes of the original connections and the decision about not running RA with the boys in the Triple Crown. (Travers, Breeder's Cup... now that would be great.)

For some reason this sale, sudden new connections, sudden new trainer, etc., REALLY leaves me feeling sour about this whole horse racing game, in a way that MANY past years of trials and challenges and tragedies have not.

Jackson says he is all about the sport and the fans, but really he is just like the rest of the big-timers... opportunistic and if you've got enough money to throw at the game, you can get anything you want.

I will not be rooting any more for RA, which is heartbreaking, because she's been my wonder horse.

REALLY REALLY BUMMED. Disgusted. Thanks for finally taking the blinkers off my heretofor very loyal but rather naive eyes.

Julie L,

   Fantastic post. I too wonder why everyone is so upset on this sale and transfer, while there was no uproar on the IEAH buying up star filly SB. When she is retired, i too can't wait to see the baby. If the foal is as good as it's breeding, dear god have mercy on every horse running against it. Anyhow, great post, and good luck to Rachel, her new connections and her previous ones.

This must really be sad for Mr. Wiggins, but it sounds like he's resigned to the realities of racing. I thought Calvin Borel was a good fit as a jockey for both Rachel and Mine That Bird (especially MTB), but now he clearly can't ride two in the same race regardless of the trainers' preferences.

I agree with what someone said earlier.  Wiggins would have disagreed with running her against the boys in the triple crown, so a switch to Asmussen would have been necessary. Plus JJ, trusts hims, so you can't begrudge him for taking his horse to a man he trusts.  Secondly JJ did right by Curlin and the sport and so he shouldn't be chastized for buying her.  If it was IEAH, then that would be different story.

I also felt sick when I heard the news. I feel so bad for Mr. Wiggins and his crew. I understand that this is a business but it seems to me that some things are worth more than money, Sam Riddle said "Any man can have a million dollars only one man can have Man O'War." I would never sell a horse like Rachel, she is the reason to be in the business. And I really hope they keep Borel on her, from what I have read they have a special relationship...she may not run as well for anyone else. And I have a problem with S.A. training so many horses...I don't think there is any way one person can train 600 horses(or however many hundreds he "trains") as far as I'm concerned Scott Blasi trained Curlin(perhaps with help from his wife). I bet S.A. "trains" horses he has never physically laid a hand on. Ridiculous. For me there is NO difference than if IEAH did buy her. It still comes down to greed over a love of racing. And I think it's black eye for horse racing. And I had gotten myself over my disappointment from her not running in the triple crown races(though I did scream at the tv "why aren't you running tomorrow?" during the Ky Oaks). Now if she does go in the Preakness and Belmont and wins I will just feel worse KNOWING that we could have had a triple crown winner but don't.

Makybe Diva, I had to bust out laughing when I read your blog because those are my feelings exactly. Steve Haskin is a gentleman because he didn't post what I wrote on his blog. :-) It's a shame that Jess Jackson took this wonderful horse away from a trainer who cares for and has done right by her and who hasn't done anything wrong with her. It may be 'playing the game', but it's not being a good sport. He took her out of an environment where she knew the people and the people knew her and put her with a trainer who has so many horse, he probably knows a lot of them by billing name only. How is that putting the good of the horse first?

As for her running in the Preakness, she is thrilling to watch and it would be a good race, but I think it would be a lot better for the sport to have a Triple Crown winner and then, if she must run against the boys, run in the Travers or Breeders Cup Classic. Judging by Zenyatta's loss of HOY last year, she will have to run against them sooner or later.

I couldn't believe it today when I saw that Rachel had been sold! That is soooo what was needed for her, too bad it didn't happen BEFORE the Derby, as she would have won it hands down! I cannot wait for her to race against the boys, as she will conquer. Bring it on, Preakness, Belmont,Travers, Haskell, Breeder's Cup, she will win them all!!! As for Calvin, he should still be her jockey, and they need to stick Chantal Sutherland back on MTB as those two were a winning connection, however, if Rachel is in there, then everyone else is running second.

With that being said, I hope that Asmussen and JJ don't treat Rachel like with what happened with IEAH/Dutrow & Stardom Bound. I really don't think they will, but you never know what can happen!

Rachel is an exceptional racehorse who hasn't even been shown the whip, much less been hit with it! Definitely awe-inspiring and she will be Horse of the Year hands down!!

My heart breaks for Hal Wiggins losing the beautiful and talented Rachel but who didn't see this coming. If I had the money, I would have bought Queen Rachel in a heartbeat but, unlike her new owners, I would just keep her safe in a field someplace. That, of course, is a dream but you can't keep a star of Rachel's magnitude away from the best the race world has to offer. And I'm sure if she stays healthy, she will run as a 4 year old just like her new owners did with Curlin. Jackson and Asmussen did great by Curlin - I'm sure they'll also do great by Rachel. Let's pray that Rachel stays healthy and safe and that she will continue to bring the fun and excitement she has brought to the racing world to the Preakness and maybe the Belmont.

If the KD wasn't a fluke, and MTB can duplicate what he did in the derby, running his last quarter in a Secretariat like 23:1, and last half in 47:1, with something still in the tank, then it doesn't matter what filly, colt or gelding runs against him...

Sad, Sad, Sad. That's all I can say. I'm just glad Michael Iavarone and Dutrow didn't get her. I hope she stays strong and healthy - and not end up like Rags to Riches, burned out after the Belmont.

I have no mixed emotions. I feel that the sale was absolutely and completely horrible.  I know it's a business but there are somethings in this world that are or should be priceless.

Like a champion 3 yr old filly. Even, heaven forbid, something happens to Rachel and she doesn't race again this year.  Asmussen would be the "trainer" of the Eclipse award winning 3 yr filly not Wiggins.  That's just wrong to take a champion out the hands of all of those at his barn that cared for her.

I don't think that running in the Triple Crown races would help make her better or more popular.  If she won the races that compose the "Triple Tiara" in the manner that she won the Oaks it would be pretty special.

And yes, I didn't like the sale of Stardom Bound either.  But in that case, the owner had serious health issues and it could be at least understood.

Very sad.

I'm not sad that she was sold but I'm wondering why upon buying her he would send her to Asmussen? She was clearly doing well and thriving under Hal Wiggins. As far as running her against the boys, I'm all for it. Fillies aren't weaker and I believe she would have won the Derby if she'd run but that's neither here or there. I would love to see her run in the other TC races and win them. My TC hopes ended when MTB won the Derby. He could get the Belmont but there's no way he could win the Preakness.

Jason –

“taken from David and given to Goliath”

Agree.

Rayctrac –

“She beats a sub par bunch of 3yo's.”

Agree.

Jennifer, CVT –

“I am just glad IEAH Stables didn't get her”

Agree.

Jason –

“This morning, after hearing the news that Rachel would likely be pointed to one or both of the remaining Triple Crown races, some of my feelings of disappointment turned to excitement.”

While I would not be against running her in the Belmont, honestly, I’m not feeling any added excitement in the least.

Maybe because it’s a different scenario than the ‘Rags’ story regarding expectations.

In this case, the shocker would not be that a filly has won the Belmont, the shocker would be if Rachel did NOT win the Belmont as the post-time favorite.

My expectation:

- if she skips the Preakness

- if she runs the same or better than her Oaks performance

- given the potentially (likely) smaller field for the Belmont (than the Preakness) THEN

Rachel should be the post-time favorite and should dominate.

Vanessa –

“Sometimes not knowing and wondering what if is better than the reality.”

You sound like such a tease ;)

- V

I for one am very happy that horse is no longer owned by a person who says the Derby is a showcase for future stallions.  

The former owner did the horse wrong by not entering her in the Derby.  She ran against a bunch of glorified allowance horses in the Oaks.  

She needs to be tested and it won't happen in the Acorn.  

This political correct BS that she shouldn't race against colts is what is destroying this sport.  

She is a race horse and the best race horses run against the best race horses in the biggest races regardless of sex.

Kudos to Jess Jackson for once again buying a horse and given it the opportunity to live up to it's potential.

It does bother me that they took her away from Wiggins. Did they ever stop to think maybe thats why she is who she is? I know she has talent but a great trainer that cares surely helps! I would love to see her take on the boys but I would rather it be with Hal Wiggins. This man seems to really care for her!

Sorry but i don't think that there is any way that Borel would choose Mine That Bird over Rachel. I believe that given the choice, we would see for the first time a rider jump off the derby winner.

For Big Red:

IMO fillies/mares often times have bigger hearts than the boys. Anyone who has ever ridden horses know that mares, attitude and all will just give you more try. Obviously there is exceptions to this rule but in general, it really is true. I have heard many cowboys say if you can find a good mare, she will out work the boys any day of the week. Unfortunately I think that is what happens when these fillies race the boys. They lay it on the line and many times it is the end of their racing career or lives. So I agree, MOST fillies are not ready to take on the boys at 3. However I must take a different stance on that with RA. I think she would have been ready for the boys in the Derby. Of course this is just my opinion. However it didn't break my heart to not see her run against the boys. For me the biggest issue is taking her away from Wiggins and giving her to Asmussen. I just don't like that guy. I don't care how "good" he is. Like anti-Asmussen's post says. He just doesn't represent clean racing in my eyes. To many red marks on his record.  And yes.... these horses are treated as commodities.

If Borel is asked to choose... he will choose RA. I honestly believe that. He says he has never been on the back of a horse of her caliber and that speaks volumes.

I do wish she had been left with Hal W and hope CB will continue to ride her.  I have no need to see her run in the TC races.  I think they are letting ambition lead them astray if they do this.  (There will be irony if she wins the Belmont for them!)  I think they should go on to the Acorn, rest, and then on to the late summer classics against the boys (and Zenyatta).  I do fear she will not be properly refreshed when needed and become like Curlin, racing without enthusiasm, eking out victories on talent alone (Curlin after Mo'W).

dbjr8 - Curlin was purchased after his first race/maiden victory.  That's hardly a "sure thing".  

Jason,

I was so heavy hearted after hearing about the transfer - not the sale.  It is a business, after all - and I was frankly shocked that Godolphin or IEAH didn't get back into the mix after the Oaks and try to grab her.  I have respect for Jess Jackson - I think his vision for the purity of racing as sport and his dream of bringing a stronger, tougher Thoroughbred back to the gene pool is forward thinking and really, really needed.

That said - why take RA from Wiggins and the staff?  Why ask for the bad karma and shake up a routine that was working?  You are SO correct that the connections to the filly made her just that much more special a story.  My youngest daughter actually cried when she heard - she thought Wiggins and his wife were the best part of that winners circle outside the horse.

And this has nothing to to with Assmussen - who I've followed since before he broke into the big leagues and is actually a really good horseman (though the drug thing is tough to reconcile with that.) I'm sure that - upon purchase - Jackson would have caught a lot of flack from Assmussen if he hadn't transfered her.  

But why make a perfect story less so?  That's the problem with Jackson - his heart's in the right place - but he is so insensitive to how his steamrolling style comes off to the fans and the little guy in the game.

And so now she runs in the Triple Crown races - and I'd bet money Borel gets replaced by Albarado.  He's their first call rider after all.  And maybe she wins both final legs and wouldn't that be fantastic?

But wouldn't it have been a little more so to see Hal Wiggins lead her to van upon retirement from an equally prestigious filly career?  

I'm afraid that this sale has turned a true MGM ending to her story into little more than a Lifetime movie of the week.

It is part of horse racing business. It sad but true... It should be done weeks before derby, we might see another filly won the derby and probably the triple crown.

I just hope that she will stay in the game until next year. And also able to see her racing against boys.

I'm with you, LDP.  Zenyatta is an impressive animal, but Rachael Alexandra even more so.  

LDP - I totally agree with you!

I was honestly ticked off that the owners made that comment about the Derby being only for the boys.  No, the Derby is for the best 3 year olds period.  It's pretty sexist to think that no matter how good a girl is she just isn't "allowed" to compete with the boys.  Get real.  

And I think the difference with IEAH is that they crave the publicity and would have retired Big Brown right afterwards if he had won the Belmont.  At least Jess Jackson keeps his horses doing what they are supposed to do - race.  Which is the whole point of horse "racing", right?

Regardless of any of this, Rachel Alexandra is awesome and we'll all be anticipating her next race no matter whose silks she's carrying.

I am sad for Hal Wiggin's and will most likely be feeling sorry for Calvin Borrel! I don't see them sticking with him, unfortunately. I understand that it was a business decision, and glad that Jess Jackson was the buyer. That gives me hope that she might be back next year. And while I would love to see her run against the boys, I am hoping that it is not in the Triple Crown, so that there is at least a chance for one!

TO LDP: "RA old owner wasn't ever going to race her against the colts, and right now a filly racing against the colts and winning will boost racings image."

I mean absolutely no disrespect to you, but I am absolutely sick of being told we have to worry about boosting racing's image. No way! (Wish I could use stronger language.) The racing industry quite happily neglected its image for decades while ethics went into the sewer, drugging horses became rampant, catastrophic breakdowns became daily occurrences, and various forms of cheating just metastasized throughout the sport.

I also am not one who automatically thinks Rachel will win either the Preakness or Belmont. She might, but dominating small, moderately talented fields of fillies is vastly different from running against full fields of colts and geldings.

All I can say is thank goodness IEAH did not get her. But I am sad. It was so nice to see such a wonderful horse racing for the small owner and trainer who have waited all their lives for a horse like her. Then along comes fat wallets and strong-arm, aggressive sales pitches, and she is in a powerhouse stable. It makes me sad. I feel she was only purchased to satisfy egos--to have a good horse in the Preakness and Belmont. It was so refreshing to hear Mr. Morrison say fillies should stay with fillies and colts with colts. I am not thrilled with pitting the two sexes against each other--look at the tragedies of Lamb Chop and Ruffian. And Rags to Riches was never the same again after her Belmont performance. For that matter, neither was Winning Colors after her Derby triumph.

Money talks, and her owners are up in years and were probably given an offer they could not refuse, and the money will someday be left to their children and grandchildren.

With her old owners, I felt they truly loved her, as did her trainer. With Jackson and Asmussen, whom I have to admit, I am not a great fan of, I feel Rachel Alexandra will just serve as an ego booster.

Oh well, again, at least not IEAH--I think I would have vomited if she had gone to them and Dick Dutrow.  

Why would anyone be blaming the jacksons??? they didnt twist the arm of the previous owners to sell the horse.  Obviously it didnt hurt the owners to cash the 10 Mil check that was given to them, did it???.

DR-

The preakness will still be about MTB and whether or not he is good enough.  The entry of Rachel Alexandra doesn't take away from that-if she is actually entered.  I for one would rather see him when the TC while beating the best horses out there-whether they be Filly's or Colts.

If Calvin Borel chooses Rachel over MTB, then that says something to me.  Aside from that, there is nothing stopping the Jacksons and Asmussen from changing jockeys either...Borel might not even have a choice to make.

To the posters who keep erroniously keep stating that Wiggins would not run RA against the colts in the TC - you are confusing him with his owner, Dolphus Morrison.  He was the one who clearly stated prior to the Oaks and also in the winners circle that fillies should run against fillies and colts against colts.  Wiggins has been quoted more than once as having the desire to send RA to the Belmont - but he knew his owner would not allow it.

So again - why the need for the transfer of barns other than that Asmussen is his "first call" with his best horses?

I think the sportsman thing to do would be to run her in the Belmont.  At least then you can give Calvin a fair choice as far as picking who he wants to jump off of.  And also, I would hope he would get the mount back on either of them.

This still makes me ill. I don't mind the sale, but I have a problem with the trainer transfer.  It didn't need to happen this way.

I'm not suprised she was sold. I'm a little wary about Jackson's plans for her, however. I hope he means to keep her in training for at least another year, barring anything unforseen.

I don't know why he wants to breed her to Curlin at the end of her racing career. He's unproven; the only upside to that breeding would be the potential profit from selling the resulting offspring. Why not breed her to a stallion with a proven record?

If Jackson is determined to improve the breed, he needs to start in the breeding shed and stop breeding for commercial purposes.

Dave-

 Why the knock on IEAH?  They do right by there horses as well which is why Big Brown was retired before the Breeders Cup Classic....They did right by Stardom Bound which is why she wasn't entered in the Kentucky Oakes.

RobfromBMore,

      Calvin has already stated that if he had to choose between Rachel and Bird, He would ride Rachel. He said after the Derby, that he would ride the filly if given a choice between the two.

   “I’d ride her,” he said. “I think she’s the best horse in the country right now.”

    Also, In the Bloodhorse artcle, Wiggins said he recently spoke with Jackson’s bloodstock agent, John Moynihan, who indicated that if Rachel Alexandra does run in the Preakness, jockey Calvin Borel could take the mount on the filly instead of Mine That Bird.

I can't wait til the best horse in the world, Rachel Alexandra, runs in the Preakness. The decision for Calvin will be a no-brainer, Rachel is the only choice. Mine that Bird, got a dream trip along the rail in the Derby. Being the smallest horse of the bunch, he glid across the Churchill strip like he was on ice-skates. POTN, Papa Cleam, Musket Man, were all laboring in the mud, locked in battle for 2nd. The only thing the new connections have to do with Ms. Alexandra is keep her happy, and her superior talent will do the rest. This horse will beat anyone male or female on the planet, guaranteed. At any distance or surface! This could be the greatest horse ever. And that's why my friends Jess Jackson has to have her. This horse is even better than Curlin, wow!    

mcap, I agree with you.  I'm glad IEAH didn't get her.  Although, I'm sad that Hal Wiggins will not continue to train her.  I wish that they would just let her run in the Acorn like Hal Wiggins planned.

In terms of public Relations and public reaction, it would be a negative move to run her in the Preakness as this would upset Calvin Borel's triple crown bid one way or another, that is, forcing him to abandon the filly or beating him in the race (assuming that she can also beat Big Drama).  Many fans wouldn't appreciate that scenario as Calvin is quite a star right now.

After his big P/Relations score with Curlin last year I think that wisdom will prevail with Jess Jackson.

For me, a Rachel Alexandra vs Big Drama Preakness match up could be the race of the year so far.  If RA doesn't go Big Drama will score by open lengths.  Try to beat him if you can, but enjoy.

Wiggins seems to indicate that Calvin would have a choice to stay with RA.  I don't even know what to say if they take him off the horse...  I know this is business, but this aspect is why racing does not have any chance of retaining the fans it manages to gain.

kris-

  Actually IEAH said they would run BB through the Classic last year regardless of whether or not he won the Belmont.  also, I read shortly after his retirement that there was also a thought about running him as a 4 year old, but the vet thought they would be taking a chance with some of his feet issues, etc.  They are bringing Benny the BUll back for a late summer campaign...It amazes me that people get so turned off by the brashness of IEAH that they fail to look beyond that and see all the good they have done for racing.  The Ruffian Equine Medical Center opening outside of Belmont Park is testament to that.

dbjr8

    IEAH did not do right by BB, that horse was in pain after the Belmont, and should've been retired when after the Haskel. Those brittle feet were hurting him on dirt, and the only reason IMO why he did so well before the Belmont is because the steroids he was on masked the pain. Once off he could feel the pain and when it even showed itself more plainly in the Haskell the should've retired him. But no the kept on going and didn't retire until forced to. Also racing that colt in the Belmont with a quarter crack, that they said was supposedly said was just fine, but wasn't was cruel. That horse would've been great had not been for his feet, and to keep racing a horse that talented with that much heart when you know darn well he's is in pain is not doing right by the animal no matter what way you spin it.

I personally commend the sale of Rachel Alexandra to Jess Jackson because I believe he is justifying her talent by running her against the boys. However, with this said, it is still gut-wrenching to see Hal Wiggins lose such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, yet those are the moments we cherish the most because they are so far and few between.

As far as giving Mind That Bird a chance to win the Triple Crown without her, if he really is as talented as he showed in the Derby, he should have no problem running against Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness and/or Belmont. This would really prove that he belongs among the best. And as far as history is concerned, if Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness and the Belmont, what kind of unique story will be there?

I have full faith in Jess Jackson in making the right jockey decision. He is, after all, the one who brought Curlin back to the racing scene as a four year old.

I am so very upset about this whole mess. I met Jess Jackson last summer when I, along with Influent's (1997 Man O' War winner)father gave the winning trophy in the winner's circle at Belmont for the Man O' War. We had the VIP box, right next to Mr. Jackson's box. We talked for about 10 minutes. He said he is very interested in improving the racing industry & agreed it needed "new life".But, this whole new series of events is NOT the way to go about it, not even close. This year's Derby win has attracted many new fans to the sport. In my own world ( the Emergency Room in a hospital where I am a nurse), so many people have been so excited about the result & want me to keep them posted on the next race where Mine That Bird & Calvin race again. They want to watch it. This scenerio is playing out all over the country. How do you think they will react when they find out that the "big money" spoke again to the detriment of the little guy?? Jess Jackson should never have taken RA away from Hal Wiggins. It is just wrong on so many levels. Who fires someone who is doing a great job?? People will shake their heads in disgust & walk away again. So much for breathing new life & new fans into the sport; a sport that has been steadily losing fans for 30 or 40 yrs. Calvin Boral is known for being honorable. He has said publicly that he will ride Mine That Bird in the next 2 Triple Crown races. I heard him say so in the TVG piece on him on Lady Luck last night. If he gets off Mine That Bird in the Preakness, if RA is entered, then I am done, so done with racing. So, Mr. Jackson, so much for attracting new fans, huh?? Whenever I have spoken about racing at work, everyone always felt that it was a cut throat, only for the rich, business. That is what kept them not interested. I am talking about doctors & other nurses!! This Derby has them excited & starting to think otherwise.

This country needs a dream to get excited about right now, just like when Sea Biscuit was racing. But that dream will only exist IF Mine That Bird & Calvin are a team.

I would have no problem with Jess Jackson buying RA if he kept things as they were, with Hal Wiggins remaining the trainer & not rocking the boat with the Preakness knowing that her jockey also rode the Derby winner to victory. If he truly had the benefit of the sport in mind,he would have left things alone. He'd leave RA in the Acorn, with Hal Wiggins & leave Calvin to run the Preakness on Mine That Bird, as he should.

If it plays out that Jackson does what everyone thinks he will & Calvin does the dishonorable thing & comes off Mine That Bird, then the industry will gain zero new fans & will have, in fact, lost some...me.  People don't tolerate such blatant disregard any more & unless they change that whole mentality, nothing will improve for the racing industry as a whole.

This has so taken the excitment of the rest of the Triple Crown races for me. RA with the smaller time trainer & Mine That Bird's story would have done wonders for racing. There was nothing to fix. Why can't people leave something good, even great, alone??

Colette

Sorry to hear about this. Sometimes changing trainers doesn't work out too well.  Case in point for those old enough to remember: Cure The Blues.  Bernie Bond had him as a 2yr. old and did wonders with the horse.  With advancing age and infirmities, Bernie wasn't able to withstand the rigors of the Triple Crown trail, so the horse was transferred by the Firestones to Leroy Jolley.  His management of the horse didn't result in the horse reaching his full potential to say the least.  I hope Rachel fares better under Asmussen's tutelage....

jshandler,

Good question. That would be a difficult call. You know I hope that Mine That Bird was not a fluke. Nothing taken away from his performance, but I honestly feel that she is a better horse and especially now that she is with new connections and Borel doesn't normally ride for them, I feel that if he wants to hang on to that mount he would have to go wherever she does.

C'mon, greatest horse ever?  That has to be the dumbest comment I've heard yet.  Greatest filly ever?  I'd take Ruffian anyday, anyplace.  I'd take Rags anyday...  I'd take Secretariat, Sham, Slew, Forego, Dr. Fager, this is getting just plain silly...

For all of you naysayers who say that they hope that RA doesn't run with the boys for fear of her getting hurt is just ludicris! ANY racehorse who races has that chance of getting hurt or something happening to them. That is why is it called HORSERACING! There's no statistics showing that female horses running against boys get hurt more than female's running with females or males running with males. It's all the same, getting hurt/injuries is part of it and I'm not saying a Ruffian type thing is going to happen when she races against the boys, but hey, it could happen!! Oh ok, let's not run any of the colts against her for fear of them getting beat!!!

The only sad thing about this is the trainer change. Hal Wiggins seems like a wonderful guy who did a great job training her.

I think people need to remember - it was the owners choice to sell her -They could have chosen to keep her. No one should be blaming Jackson.

LDP-

  Then Quality Road should be retired now too, eh?

Every "expert" that went on TV this year saying Quality Road shouldn't run with the quarter crack are all the "Experts" that said that Big Brown wouldn't be affected by it in the Belmont.

Trust me, I am the BIGGEST Big Brown fan you will ever find, and I was HAPPY they retired him last year because I did NOT want to see him run again and have a catastrophic event.  

I would, however,  like to know how you are so sure he was in pain in the Haskell.......he was not in pain walking to the winners circle or when Desormeaux had an extremely hard time pulling him up....and he certianly wasn't in pain bounding through the stretch during the Monmouth stakes when he looked like a dear in a meadow....

why should her career be secondary to what racing should want, or need?  i would love to see a filly triple crown winner!  that is not an easy a task as most believe. especially the coaching club. it is a disservice to the sport to think only colt races are the measure of a horses worth. even europe had special races just for fillies that are equal to the male counterparts.

let mtb run in the preakness, and ra in the rest of her triple tiara.  

after all, if the ai argument is struck down, then embroyo transfers are next, then clones. sooo just clone mtb and breed to ra. two triple crown winners producing a foal, now that is front page news!!!

I too feel bad about Hal losing her but in no way will I bad mouth JJ or Asmussen.   If you want to be mad at someone for it blame the original owners who sold her.  I don't for one minute believe they didn't run her in the Derby because they felt like it was for colts only - they didn't want to put up the $$$ to nominate her.   Too bad JJ didn't offer to buy her before the Derby.    

Karen in Indiana, I second all of your comments - those have been my thoughts exactly.

I think this could be one of the best moves for this sport this entire year.  If Rachel Alexandra runs in both the Preakness and Belmont (who can't beleive that she wouldn't be the winner of both, or at least very competitive) I will personally attend both races.  I'm glad she changed owners, Jess Jackson understands that horse racing is all about taking big risks, and when you have a big horse like Rachel it's your responsibility to showcase that talent.  

 Go for it I say, there's only one chance at this, take the shot, I personally am of the opinion that no matter what happens she would not lose either race!!

as my 2 year old granddaughter would say "Not nice!". I think that sums it up.

I hope they don't enter her in the Preakness because 1- I hate to see Calvin Borel forced to make such a decision when she can't win the triple crown anyway and he could (if it had been done earlier and she ran in the Derby fine), and 2 at this point in time why cheat the so far class act of the owners of MTB of their jockey when the world has a chance at a Triple Crown. 3 remember Eight Belles and Ruffian - please don't do it!

I am sorry for the loss to Higgins also. I cannot imagine why for the life of me anyone would sell her now! Or how I would feel if I were him. Agree to after her career or in advance for breeding rights with Curlin, but now is "not nice!"

Jess Jackson made the racing world happy with Curlin, but I think he screwed up this time. Big time!

For Big Red,

    Racing is doing what it can right now, and taking steps in the right direction. I would like to see racings image improve because i would like racing to stay and not be taken from us because PETA gets the government on their rediculous side of racing is cruelty to animals, and has them eliminate it for good. Also, even if racing was the biggest sport in America i'd still would love to see her race the colts, because of the fact that it provides excitement. Now if she's unhealthy, no, i don't want her to race at all, but if she's 100% tell me what is wrong with having her try the boys? Yes i understand that fillies have broken down while running with the boys, but they also break down when racing against there own sex too, as well as colts do. It's, unfortunitly part of racing. And when i say that sentence i truely mean it because like many my heart breaks when i see a horse go down. I got to see Pine Island, Barbaro, and Eight Bells, and still feel sorrow when i think of them. That however does not mean we don't take risks. Risks are what make champions, they seperate them from the pretenders, and when the champions come out on top it's a great feeling. We'd never have that euphoric feeling though if we never atempt to scale new heights. Also, Rachel make no mistake is a great. She may be only dominating small fields, but to dominate by twenty lengths, run your last eighth in 12 seconds, and almost set a stakes record, all while galloping under restraint is not done by anything less than a great horse. This filly deserves the chance to scale new heights, and i have no doubt in my mind she'll succeed.

IEAH bought I Want Revenge AND kept the trainer. His prior owners did right by Jeff Mullins & IEAH bought him agreeing. I fault L&M, who sold her, without a clause to protect Hal Wiggins, as much as I do Jess Jackson. For Jess Jackson to even consider putting her in the rest of the Triple Crown races, knowing that the Derby winner's jockey is also her jockey is as wrong as wrong can be.There is no way one can convince me that a wrong is right. There is no price tag on right from wrong. Right is right and wrong is wrong, period!! This country needs the dream of Mine That Bird WITH Calvin and it has nothing to do with betting. Nothing has ever upset me in racing as does this. I don't follow football, I don't follow baseball. I follow racing & now I feel like I will no long have that.

Colette

A little off the subject but.........Mine That Bird ran the fastest final half mile in history at 1 1/4 Miles.  It was faster than Spectacular Bid's Final Half mile when he broke the world record.  It was 20 lengths faster than Affirmed's Derby final half mile.  More than 20 lengths faster than Seattle Slews final half mile time in his Derby.  He came home in 47.1.  That is amazing!

I don't like it.  I don't like taking RA away from Wiggins to give her to Asmussen, who seems shady and as others have mentioned can't give her the same level of personal care.  I don't like the conflict that now crops up for the rest of the Triple Crown.  I don't like the thought that Calvin Borel might lose the mount on RA on top of everything else (although I think he would pick her above any other horse no matter what if given the option).  I don't like the drugs and the worry and the over-inflated commercialism and the bad breeding practices all around.  I want Jess Jackson to reconsider the change in trainer at the very least--what is the best way for him to know how upset the public really is?  I haven't been able to find an address for Stonestreet Stables, but here's the info for Kendall-Jackson where a letter might ultimately get to him:  

7111 Hwy. 128

Healdsburg, California

95448

United States

Tel:(707) 433-9463

Lot of strong feelings out there. Thanks, Jason, for giving us the chance to air our thoughts and feelings.

I'm not a hugh MTB fan--yet.  I like RA, but she beat absolutely no one in the oaks.  Her main competition was scratched.  I can't help wondering what if RA wasn't in the Oaks and MTB was, and he unleashed a powerful half in 47:1, and quarter in 23:1. Just how many lengths would he have won by?  He flew by POTN like he was in slow motion.  I wonder what it would have looked like against the Oaks runner up?

I just found out about the sale and have seen everyone's comments.  I wish Jackson hadn't pulled Rachel from her trainer - Asmussen is good, but I agree with others that he has too big a stable and how hands on will he really be with Rachel?  I think she skips the Preakness and runs in the Belmont - that would be the fairest thing for Calvin and it's not turning her around in two weeks time for no good reason.

TO GREG J. (and other Friesan Fire fans) -- Just an FYI in case you miss the B-H article, which includes the following information, to which all I can say is WOW!!!

The morning after the Derby, Jones’ wife Cindy was still trying to figure out how Friesan Fire got a piece of black vet wrap lodged so far up his hoof they had to remove two nails from his shoe in order to pry it out. After first, they thought it was part of the horse’s hoof.

“I talked to Bob Baffert the next day over at Cracker Barrel, and he was telling me how amazed he was that Pioneerof the Nile came back with a hole in his bandage, and he has no idea how he could have gotten that. I asked him, ‘You didn’t have on black bandages did you?’ He said, ‘Yes I did,’ and I told him, ‘Well, I know where it is, it was stuck in my horse’s shoe.’”

TO ALL: No one should just assume that Mine That Bird will win the TC, or that Rachel Alexandra will "spoil" his chances to do so. Only last Saturday we all should learned or re-learned the lesson that ANYTHING can happen in horse racing.

JJ IS NOT A BAD GUY NOR IS STEVE, BUT HAL WIGGINS SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE FILLY....KEEP HER RUNNING AGAINST THE GIRLS AND WIN THE TRIPLE TIARA...SHE HAS A CHANCE TO DO THAT,WHERE SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING THE TRIPLE CROWN..KEEP CALVIN ON BOTH RACHEL AND THE BIRD AND LET HIM WIN BOTH THE TIPLE CROWN AND TIARA....WOULDN'T THAT BE SOMETHING!

My first thoughts when I saw this were not disappointment...they were "YES!!!!!!" In fact...disappointment never entered my mind.  Just relief and excitement.

Not only will we see a much less conservative path for the filly in her racing career, we may see her for longer (I don't see Jess retiring her at the end of the year if she keeps on being as good as she is).  I think this is a very good thing.  It's business.  Horses get sold, break down, or are forced to new trainers/riders every day.  It's a part of the game, these people know how to handle it.  It's not like someone is taking candy from a child.  I'm honestly excited about her being moved on to new connections that will actually give her a chance to be one of the greats as opposed to sitting back and being conservative and running her against 3 year old fillies until the end of the year.  Mr. Jackson gave the fans what they wanted with Curlin, and I think he'll do right by us with Rachel as well.

This was also a brilliant broodmare purchase for Curlin.  She's another high quality mare to add to his future books.  The theoretical foal is nick'd an A.

I'll say it - she will turn into just another commodity.  After the great high of her win in the Oaks and Mine that Bird winning the Derby, this is just back to business as usual.  I'm sad Wiggins and I'm sad for this horse

jshandler,

It would be nice if her new connections would tell us if Calvin Borel has been at least given the option to stick with her. I know that would at least answer some of the questions that we have. We are already saddened by the change of trainer, which I understand that owners have their select trainers, but many large outfits have several trainers.

I could not even stand to read through half of these comments. Jess Jackson has done more for racing in running Curlin then anyone ever. He is one of none rich folks that are not about the money. He had nothing to gain by running Curlin at 4 except for the joy of watching him win and growing the sport. Now he will do the same with Rachael, would I rather see her run in the Acorn against no one, if that's the case just retire her now, she'd win by thirty in a hand ride. With Rachael running against the boy's it can only grow the sport. One tragity in the 25 years should decide the faith of a total sport, cmon. Eight Belle's breakdown has absolutely nothing to do with running with the boy's, if you think it did, switch to the peda blogs, not the bloodhorse ones.

Go Rachael beat the boy's,

Go Jess grow the sport, this is a great day for horse racing, media coverage will double and so will the handle.

We should all be happy this sale went through.  Yeah, it kinda sucks that Hal Wiggins isn't training her anymore, but wouldn't you rather see her run in bigger races rather than 3 year old filly races in a 4 horse field?  This will be good for racing.  Obviously her last owners were more concerned about money and were definitely gonna retire her after the Breeders Cup.  Now, the door is at least open a little for Rachel to return as a 4-yr old.  Jess Jackson is already loaded with money and likes to do whats best for the game.  I'm sure Hal received a cool million from the owners.  You can complain with that.

I'm really confused.  What's the problem?  Could the owners not have said: NO, I am NOT selling my filly?  Did anyone force them to sell her?  Could they not have taken (as someone previously already said) the Lost in the Fog approach: he's my horse and I'm keeping him because the fun of racing overcomes the lure of bucks?

But racing is less and less a sport/love affair and more and more a business, isn't it?  Money talks.

If Morrison and Lauffer already had money, I'm sure it would have been easier to turn down $millions.  But who of us who are not millionaires would be able to say no to millions?

Re: running against the boys, what's the problem?  Do fillies and mares have fewer legs or less heart?  They run fillies and mares against colts everywhere else in the world without wrapping them up in cotton.  Let her run.  Let the rest of us have an opportunity to watch something that might potentially be great and wonderful.  We've had too little "wonderful" lately in horse racing.

I do feel sorry, however, for the trainer and Borel if he has to make a choice between MTB and RA in the Preakness (but more especially in the Belmont). But hey! isn't that horse racing?

(at least, that's what they always used to say)

The comments about how Rachel should not run in the Preakness and Belmont to allow there to be a triple crown winner are cracking me up.  Thanks guys, I needed a good laugh.  Maybe all the other horses should withdraw as well to assure Mine that Bird's success?  

Don't like wine, don't like running fillies in 3-crown events, don't like the possible negative impact that a now announced "chip" in a fetlock would have if it should bother her on national tv. I do like Wiggins and as a horseman he is tops.

While I feel terrible for Hal Wiggins, I am very excited at the prospect of seeing her run against the boys.  I just wish it happened a couple of weeks ago, because I really think we could have had our first filly Triple Crown winner.  I too would love to see a Triple Crown winner, but as I watched the Derby, I couldn't help but feel like we were not seeing the best three year olds.  I can understand that those who were injured had a valid excuse not to run, but felt like we were all a little slighted in the Derby with her not running. I don't mean at all to take anything away from the winner, but to me a great race horse is a great race horse, no matter the gender, and they should run against each other.  Also, I hope that Jess Jackson, provided she stays healthy and is still running good, runs her as a four year old.  The sport needs champion horses to follow over several years, like Curlin and Zenyatta, as bad as it needs a Triple Crown winner.

dbjr8......

Jackson et al purchased Curlin after his maiden race.  How does that qualify as buying a horse when he is in the spotlight?  Curlin was not on anyone's radar at that point.

To the others who think her retirement is imminent, what makes you think that?  If Jackson was willing to bring a HOY colt back to race as a four year old, why wouldn't you think he would bring RA back as a four year old at least?

Also, if you are Jackson and Asmussen just finished training your 2x HOY without him being DQ'd for a positive, why would you not trust him to do the same with RA?

This happens every day in horse racing.  Steve Cauthen lost the mount on Affirmed for God's sake.

I see alot of comments about Jackson's greed in buying up horses.  Which horses?  1. Curlin 2. RA.  That doesn't make him nearly as bad as the Godolphin/Darley outfit.  

Where are the comments decrying the greed of the sellers?  No one forced them sell.

Aside from that...everyone wanted her to race against the boys and her old owners were adamant they wouldn't.  Now we will all get our wish.  Great news.

Would you all who blame JJ please just stop. Notice that if Rachels previous owner said no to JJ none of this would be going on. There would be no transfering of trainers. So if your looking for a person to blame, blame her previous owner. That is where this rock got rolling, and built up. Without the sale there would be no transfer. Also JJ gave the filly to his best trainer, whom he trusts, what person wouldn't. IEAH did not get complete interest in IWR, so it was you can't say they kept the horse with the original trainer out of the goodness of their hearts, when the other owners had a say in it too. To blame JJ is what is wrong, since technically none of this is his fault.

One other note....

This is at least as bad as what McCarthy did to Darren Miller with General Quarters.

I don't hear anyone crying for Miller.

If anyone was going to buy her, I too, am glad it was Jackson. He is great for the sport. I only wish he would have got her before the derby. That would have been nice to see her. With Calvin on her, nobody else gives MTB that rail ride and we wouldn't even be talking about him. So I say put her in the TC races and let's she how good she really is, which I believe will be awesome. On paper, she clearly is the class of the 3yolds. This is a business I know, but I am sad for wiggins. He truly is a great trainer, but he also understands this is how the sport stays alive. At least he got the Oaks with her. I think Calvin stays on her if she goes in the Preakness. If he does, that tells the bettors something, passing up a chance at a triple crown!

TO ADCOOK (and ALL): You wrote, "Mine That Bird ran the fastest final half mile in history at 1 1/4 Miles."

Not even close to true. Secretariat ran the final half mile of his Derby in :46 2/5. He ran the last quarter-mile in :23 flat, and about 11-and-a-half seconds for the final eighth.

Even though Red still holds the Derby record, his 1:59 2/5 for the race isn't even close to Spectacular Bid's 1 1/4-mile dirt track world record of 1:57 4/5, or Double Discount's turf world record 1:57 2/5.

BTW, both Bid and DD were 4-year-olds when they set their  records.

I think that Jackson should leave her with Wiggins.  He has obviously done a good job with her, so why would he want to risk anything with this great filly? What if she does not acclimate well in Asmussen's barn?  I think running her in the triple crown races is exciting but it also smacks of pure greed.  If she does run, I hope she wins and comes out of the races safe!

TO LDP: Re your 1:35 PM reply to me, we will have to politely agree to disagree. :)

Darn you Jess Jackson! Your money buys you everything. Wiggins did Great by that filly & protected her. Changing things around & running against colts could hurt her.

Can't wait for the next Triple Crown Winner that comes from the coupling of the great two-time two-time HOY Curlin and Rachael Alexandra. Just think if Curlin were racing again this year it would come down to him and Rachael Alexandra for HOY.

Shame on Jess Jackson for pulling her from Wiggins, and maybe Borel. Proof that money can buy most anything except class.

Diane J.---Steve Asmussen probably will be as hands on with RA as he was with Curlin. She will most likely be assigned a special team headed by Blasi, and her surroundings will be tightly controlled. Just speculation....

For Big Red(and other Fire Fans):

    Friesan Fire will be in the Preakness Next Saturday!, Said Larry Jones. Jones said that Friesan Fire returned to the track Thursday morning at Delaware Park. Jones said he intends to ship Friesan Fire to Pimlico on Monday and work him over the track on Tuesday.  As far as his injury,  using a paste that is prescribed for use by diabetics who have wounds that won't heal, the area has toughened up, according to trainer Larry Jones.

    "It is healing extremely fast," Jones said. "We feel like there's a really good shot we can make it."

    I know that Jones would only let Fire race if he was 100 percent fit and ready....

Its not that we are badmouthing JJ, its just that he took Rachel away from Hal Wiggins. I liked it better when people bred their own, raced their own and retire their own and took care of the retirees. That is how it should be, not how much money you can get. I am very saddened by this as well. They did it with Curlin and now Rachel, who is next. I do agree with what other people were saying about IEAH/Rick Dutrow.

BUMMER!  I'm spittin' nails I'm so upset, and have been since learning the news earlier today (rumors were floating around yesterday, as usual)!  Some folks love to get their jollies one way or another, huh?  

But, what really boils me is to read some of you posting that RA would've won that Derby had she been a contender!  That is totally uncalled for and you know it!  How dare any of you try and strip Mine That Bird's victory win from him!  How dare you! MTB's win Saturday was the best race and the most exciting race I've seen in many, many years, or ever hope to see again!  

I've had to delete most of this post!  My only wish now is for Rachel to be a happy horse in her new surroundings.  

Money talks and not wanting to run her against the boys was a dumb theory. Wiggins didn't own the filly  this happens often in racing and she won because of her talent not because of the trainer. Now lets see her run with the guys and see just how good she can be.

This is a business and I am sure the former owners made a ton of money and are happy.It's not their responsibility to take care of Wiggins afterall that could have been a deal breaker that would have killed the deal.Let the best run against the best.Her running anymore against the very weak filly 3 year olds would have been a joke . To be considered the Horse of the Year you have to run against the best. I'm glad that she may now have a chance to mix it up with the colts.Wiggins will survive and should be happy he had a chance to train her. Jackson has the right to do as he wants including who trains her.Please no gator tears.Her last win was like a jog so this 'too soon turn around' is baloney, the colts do it no big deal. Steve will give her special attention and is a better trainer then Wiggins whom I'm sure 90% of you's never had heard of before RA.

Triple ditto everything depalma13 said. I am beyond elated that this once in a lifetime filly was taken away from  Dolphus Morrison. Now we'll see what's she's really got... bring it on!

I have mixed emotions about the whole thing.  She is a phenomenol filly, and I think she deserves a shot at the boys.  That is something that I was hoping for.  I also would like to see her and Zenyatta face off eventually.  However, I am very  disappointed that they took her out from under Hal Wiggins. I know that Jess Jackson has a relationship with Asmuson, but Wiggins got her to where she is today.  Why would you want to change something that is obviously working out so well?  I just don't understand the logic.  I hope that Jackson will keep in racing next year as he did with Curlin.  He said himself that keeping horses in the game is good for the sport, I pray that he keeps his word on that.  She needs another year to show her stuff to the world.  I am excited about the rest of the TC races, they are going to be awesome to watch.  I am also anticipating RA's future races...that is one thing I am very happy about.  Real racing, blowouts are fun and all, but we already know that she dominates every other filly out there other than maybe Zenyatta.  Fun fun season ahead of us.

I'm a FF fan, also.  It has been reported that he will ship to Pimlico on Monday, breeze on Tuesday and they will call it from there.  He apparently is healing up very well.  

I have to agree that I feel very sad about the sale of Rachel.  I'm sad for all the connections - trainer, grooms, exercise riders, jockey.  They did right by her, they cared and loved her; that's part of the reason she is so good.  She was a happy horse.  But, I'm also sad and concerned for the filly.  They may think they can sell her like a commodity but she is a living, breathing, feeling spirit.  Most horses, young, old, colt or filly are very sensitive about changes in their world, their routine.  Especially, thoroughbreds because they are so high-strung.  No matter what, she will be affected by this change.  If they'd left her in her accustomed stall with her favorite people around her, even though she'd been sold, Rachel wouldn't have known the difference.  But now, she will and there will be noticable consequences, like there were with Stardom Bound.

About the Preakness, I am conflicted.  I would love to see her run (but I would've gone to any track to see her)but I loved Calvin B on both Rachel and MTB. I want him to ride MTB in his attempt to go forward with the Triple Crown.  They are melded together in my heart-they are the team that has caused such a wonderful sensation.  But I don't want him to lose Rachel; I don't want him to have to make that choice.  It just takes the sparkle off the whole thing to even think about either horse running without Calvin.

I was just talking in my blog about these exact mixed emotions. My initial reaction was actually happiness, because I think Jackson is a good sportsman and will race the filly where she deserves, on the biggest stage in racing. On the other hand, I do feel badly for Hal Wiggins and her old connections for having her taken away when she's at the pinnacle of her career. All I want is what's best for this fabulous filly.

What I'm curious about is the reaction of the public if she enters the Derby and takes the Preakness over Mine That Bird. Will it be a good or bad thing? Will the public root for the champion filly, or the underdog who won the Derby?

I also hope Borel remains in the irons. It would be a huge mistake to replace him, and I would think Jackson would understand that. However, I don't know the situation about jockey contracts and ownership. Apparently, Borel has rarely ridden for a Stonestreet horse, so the odds aren't good. I really hope Jackson does the right thing and keeps the Cajun on our Rachel.

How did Hal make out in this deal financially?  I agree it's not the right move to switch barns...but I am interested as to what piece of the pie a trainer would get in a transaction like this?

Any insight?

Jennifer, CVT: You obviously didn't see the Asmussen-trained Four Gifts best Just Jenda in the Eight Belles Stakes. Asmussen knows more than colts. He's a completely capable trainer.

It is sad that horse racing has turned into a business, and has moved away from being a sport. A filly like this does not come along very often, yet these greedy losers put a price tag on her. Rachel Alexandra is priceless, and it is sad to see her former owners do not feel that way. Too bad for Mr. Wiggins, as you know his heart is broken. This is undoubtly his best horse ever, and she was snatched away because of the almight dollar. This is a dark day for horse racing, and puts on display the transition from sport to business.

Friesan Fire Fans

FF has a better chance of getting Rachael in foal at Pimlico, then he does beating her in a race.

I think it's terrible that RA was sold to Jackson,I bet you five bucks he will try and run her until she has the same amount of money as Curlin. Even though It's Wiggins who has done all the hard work in getting her ready to race to begin with. And if and when RA does do it Jackson will take the credit. I don't trust Jackson,and I never will. But of course some will disagree. How about the guy who had GQ,same thing! When the horse did good he wanted him back. Just one treying to trump another!! Sad

Calvin did nothing in RA's last win that any other jockey couldn't have done. It was stroll in the park and Calvin just went along for the ride. Now the Derby was different Calvin did a great job.I think if he stays with RA it'll hurt Bird then if they had to find another jockey for her. She's pushbutton.Remember what happened to Vinyard when he was sold for a outrageous amount, doubt Frankel has any regrets.

Jason,

Is R.A. Nominated To Triple Crown

Ok i dont think its wrong wrong  wrong. Every horse has a price and stonestreet must have given an exceptional price. It doesnt really change things just different silks. But i think she should stay with the fillys and win the fillies triple crown :)

KEEP HER WITH WIGGINS!

I can understand when the owner get an "Offer he can't refuse"...but why would you want to change Trainers after such an awesome Ky Oaks win????....I think that will put more pressure on Steve...then again maybe that is why he is so much "GRAYER" these days!!!!

One quick question for all you that are hating on JJ for buying such a great horse in RA.  Why not be mad at the owners for selling such a great horse.  Afterall, they didn't have to sell.

It ISN'T part of the business.

It's part of the business for the ultra rich like Jess Jackson and Sheik Mohammed.

Lots of owners have had offers to sell exceptional horses and said NO. Especially a filly. Where was the guy who said he thought TC races were for the Colts as a preview and building a resume for the breeding shed? (Not that I agree with that but that's what HE said and this goes totally against it).

Here's what's happening in racing on the upper level. You have people like this, buying up farms, horses etc with a frightening frequency. Sound eerily familiar to MEC buying up all the racetracks? We all know how that's ending up.

What happens when the rulers of Abu Dubai decide to call in their debt from Dubai? What happens when Jackson passes away or the new reality of even the insulated rich getting wiped out hits him?

Yes, owners move horses around with trainers sometimes, but usually due to something happening that they don't like or don't approve of or just a bad chemistry between the owner/trainer.

Hal has done EVERYTHING right. Maybe I'm prejudiced because he got his start here in NM, course so did Steve and a lot of others. Just, Hal is one of the good guys. No sideway looks or whispering like there is with Steve.

The way it's going now, lets just let Godolphin and Jess have every horse and Steve can train them all. Any time a trainer has as many starts as this guy does already, we all know he can't be watching it all. Or maybe he is, that's even worse.

Wow... imagine the best horse actually racing in the biggest race... Go Rachel Go !!!

Bad move - money talks unfortunately.  If the decision is made to run her against the colts, God forbid anything should happen.  On behalf of myself and all fans of her, if we lost her like we lost Eight Belles, Go for Wand, Ruffian, I don't think horseracing would survive and I myself would never watch another race because it would be too painful.

Blasting off is the name of the game.  I agree with certain aspects and heartly disagree with many others.  JJ had the money and the right to buy RA and that is all fine and good with me BUT when he blatently tood RA from Hal Wiggens who had a rapor with her, knew her inside and out and a small stable so she could get his quality care and then throw her over to Asmussen makes me sick.....

He has had more positives than horses and has so many that he has probably lost count so you know how much loving care his horses are given.....Secondly if RA does run in at least the Preakness than Calvin should have the first right to refuse riding her....he knows that filly like the back of his hand.  Nothing against Robbie but at least give RA a chance to be familar with her trainer and rider and Asmussen is NOT that trainer with hands on care.  So I have said my piece.  Leave what was not broken alone.

The last person I would want to see train this filly is Asmussen. Ugh.

To the person who said "why didn't anyone say anything when Stardom was sold" No one said anything because she was bought at auction, that's why and I Want Revenge's owner still owns him in Partnership with IEAH.

Karen in Texas is correct - Blasi will train the horse as he did with Curlin. Asmussen rules the empire but does not train horses day to day. He has good assistants and Blasi is the best of them all. He should go out on his own and he would be in the upper tier of trainers.

I think there would be a whole lot less upset people if JJ left the rest of the Triple Crown races alone, kept Hal Wiggins with RA with Calvin as her jockey & allows us the opportunity to possibly have a Triple Crown winner. Didn't everyone say that Mine That Bird had no chance in the Derby?? Well, they were wrong!!He won!! Now, lets see if the team of Mine That Bird & Calvin can go on thru the Preakness & the Belmont.RA has already shown she is great. She doesn't need to be in the Preakness or the Belmont to show that. There are many other big races to put her in , with the boys, if they want to, after the Triple Crown races. They can even run the Breeder's Cup Classic. But, leave the possibility of a Triple Crown winner, with his jockey alone.

Colette

Greg J.

Please elabroate more on FF.  I do trust Larry 100%.  I just can't believe what I just read.  :(

My heart goes out to the trainer Hal Wiggins for losing Rachel Alexandra.  And I truly believe 3 yrs old mare do not belong in colt races.  There is not one instance that a filly who had beaten colts in a grade 1 race ever raced the same after that.  They all lose their forms.  I know in Europe they all do it but for some unknown reason in the US they win then they fail.  I hope they reconsider and if they don't I wish that she does well.

For Big Red

I would also like your input on this FF thing.  I am confused.  Really confused.  

To all who disagree with running fillies against colts...What are you thinking? Remember Eight Belles, remember Ruffian? Does anybody remember Go for Wand? If you do that should rule out a race for Rachel against Zenyatta, remember Pine Island? Fleet Indian? And really colts probably shouldn't race against each other either...remember Barbaro? Remember George Washington? Remember Prarie Bayou? Come on people horses break down, it's terrible but it happens. And not always in races it happens in training(remember Invasor) and in their stalls(remember Nashoba's Key?). I bet horses would survive in the wild, without all of the girls being eaten by predators while the superior males ran away. Why don't we try remembering Winning Colors, Genuine Risk, Regret, Personal Ensign and Rags to Riches(who broke down in a race against fillies after beating the HOY in the Belmont) instead of focusing on the negative. Every race holds the possibility of a horse breaking down I really don't think it matters who they compete against.

I guess the Dubai connections must have been asleep at the wheel on this one.

Its off to the breeding shed now, Wrong to race her in the TC. It seem every time we get a horse and connections we can root for they go to big money. Nothing againist Jackson but he should have left her with Wiggins.

One other note....

This is at least as bad as what McCarthy did to Darren Miller with General Quarters.

I don't hear anyone crying for Miller.

jamesb 07 May 2009 2:07 PM

Totally untrue.

GQ was Tom's horse, period. He only gave him to Miller to train due to some medical issues he was going through.

Tom nearly bought the horse at sale, claimed the horse, won the shake, had Miller as his 'caretaker' briefly.

Tom is a trainer, why would he have someone else training his horse if he were able to do so?????

Plus MARK Miller trained the horse for 3 starts I believe.

However I guess we can feel sorry for DARREN Miller for whatever may have happened to him.

I find this incredibly disappointing. I don't think she should bother with the last two legs of the TC because she didn't run in the Derby. If she'd run in [and won] the Derby, it would make a hell of a lot more sense to me.

I really feel for Hal Wiggins. His waited his entire career for a horse like this, and he just gets on top with her when she's taken away. That's terrible.

I didn't take time yet to read all the comments (wow!), and somebody probably said this already but...

The filly's former connections seemed like thoroughly nice people but as you said, they were adamant that she would race only against her own sex.  I was glad to know we would see her on Belmont day, but in the Acorn, where there would be a short, overmatched field and she would crush them.  We've seen that already, four times this year.

Now we will get to see something different, and I think nearly every fan is excited about it.  Jess Jackson knows Rachel could be a horse for the ages, he wanted to find out, and he had enough money to make it happen.  

I don't feel sad for the former owners, because pretty much anything has a price, and this one was probably life-changing.  The trainer, yes, I feel a bit sorry for him, but he can take comfort in knowing he helped make Rachel what she is and will become.

I think Asmussen is humbled to get such a great filly and I believe he will never lose sight of her best interests.  But right now, I don't think her best interests are in conflict with trying the boys in the Preakness -- not at all.

Yay! I prefer Rachel with Jackson and Asmussen! Even if her old owners/trainer were nice, I didn't like their "stallions with stallions", "fillies with fillies", and "triple crown for boys" ideas.

I wish she would have run in the Derby, and I hope she runs in the Preakness and Belmont. I know a triple crown winner would be nice, but if MTB gets beaten, then he just isn't good enough to be the Triple Crown winner. I

SHOULD BE GOOD PREAKNESS WITH RACHEL IN>BUT THE WINNER WILL BE GENERAL QUARTERS INSPITE OF HIM BEING OFF FORM AND CANT GET THE DISTANCE.

The last time I checked you still had to RUN the race to Win it ! Not Many on this blog gave MTB a snowballs chance in hell to win the Derby, now that he did every one seems to want Rachel to go away and not strip him of a chance at the TC  and while Rachel is a VERY talented Monster , Monsters do get beat ... If she runs in Pimilco and IF MTB could pull off another mystical race then he would be a truly deserving TC Contender  ... Hey the measure of true greatness is not to have something given to you

Stardust,

      As far as right now, Jones is pointing Fire towards the Preakness. It all depends on his work next tuesday.  I trust Jones completely, He will only do what is right for Fire, Stardust.  He would never run an un-sound horse, Remember, the cuts and grabbed quarter(Slightly), are superficial, Here, Read Steve Haskin's article on it, It will explain the whole scenario:

www.bloodhorse.com/.../tuesday-work-to-determine-friesan-fire-status

barb,

Colts break down against other colts. Have you seen this filly?

She's a monster.

Fillies have run against the colts and done just fine, that's not really the total question here.

It's taking the filly from Hal.

P.S. Ever hear of Winning Colors or Genuine Risk?

Something else..as far as remembering Eight Belles goes, she clearly proved she belonged in the Derby, she was an easy second. I think she would have had a much harder race in the Oaks, I won't speculate whether she would have won or not but she would have been in a dogifght with Proud Spell whereas she had an easy race in the Derby. Larry Jones called her a "stumbler" so what happened to her could have happened at any time, it's beyond unfortunate that it happened on racings biggest stage but..."that's racing". It's like saying a guy ate at Burger King and then got in a car wreck...Burger King causes car wrecks!!

I'm curious about this comment from the former owner:

“(Rachel Alexandra) is one step away from not being a racehorse anymore, and that’s the way this business goes. (Jackson) was pretty aggressive (in the transaction), but I held my ground, and I’m satisfied with our deal.”

It makes me wonder if RA wins the Preakness she will be immediately retired and bred to Curlin.

Jason,

    Question for you, Since RA wasn't entered in the Triple Crown, I know Jackson has to pay the $100,000 to nominate her, BUT that still doesn't guarantee her a spot, right?, I am confused on this, The Derby horses have first shot, then other horses that were nominated, then her, Right????

I don't really think the issue under discussion is whether colts and fillies should race against each other but, on that subject, I totally agree with you Barb.  Horses break down and horses get hurt in many different kinds of situations, not just racing.  However, racing injuries can be reduced substantially by having connections who know their horse, love their horse and make decisions based on the horse's best welfare.  After reading in the article on Bloodhorse, the statement by I Want Revenge's vet that the decision not to race him probably saved his life, I did want to congratulate his connections on their care.  That choice to do the right thing should be loudly applauded.  Amid all the shouting about our sport being just a business full of greedy, uncaring businessmen, this should prove that there are true horsemen who put the horse first.

One minute i was shedding tears of joy at the news that the 3-year old boy that got lost in the woods were found safe, now my i am filled with sadness for Hal Willy and his wife.

Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird

are both the FEEL GOOD story for

ailing thoroughbred racing industry, why fit them against each other? Let them go their separate way to fulfill their own destiny. Life is cruel.

katsan....

you are right it was MARK, not DARREN Miller.  Wrong sport.

Thanks for the correction.

And yes, it is true that McCarthy always owned the horse, but with him as trainer GQ did next to nothing with McCarthy.  

He did not win a race under McCarthy as a 2yo did he?

Miller is one the one who straightened him out and got him to win two stakes and the Sam Davis.

Once he got winning, McCarthy came back in and took the horse.

You could argue based on the Derby performance of GQ, that he was still feeling the effects of Miller's training when he won the Bluegrass.

GQ may have been better served being left with Miller is an argument that only time will bear out.  I just happen to agree with it.

I think McCarthy got lucky in the Bluegrass, and only time will tell what happens from this point on.

YEA YEA YEA,

LEST NOT BE SENTIMENTAL.

we all want to the this filly beat the boys, and it was pretty obvious she was not going to get that opportunity. She will get it no.

Great For racing

For Big Red,

   Never meant to be disrespectful. If i was sorry, i can get very passionate and opinionated when it come to horses, lol. If i was rude my apoligize. I have very strong opinions, and sometimes tend to get a bit pushy. To agree to disagree is fine with me. I normally agree with your posts, so i'm not going to try and interlock us in a never ending battle, lol. You seem very insightful, and smart when it comes to horseracing, and i respect that.

Having read thru most of the comments,....they all seem to say the same thing underneath....when it comes right down to it.....the owners of Rachel did have a choice...to sell or not to sell...seems it's as simple as that!!!!!

Well I hope she doesn't go in the Triple Crown races but just continues to the Breeders Cup and maybe Dubai in the following spring.

I'm glad she's now in the hands of someone who will let her race where she belongs, in the top 3 year old races.

Holding her out just because she's a girl is NOT what's best for the sport.

In fact there's funny instant karma in the fact that owner, Dolphus, held her out because the "Triple Crown should be about showcasing our future stallions" and then a GELDING wins the KY Derby!  HAHAHAHA...the racing Gods have a great sense of humor!

I just hope they run her in the Belmont, so Mine That Bird at least has a chance at the Triple Crown and it won't force Calvin to choose, cuz if Jackson forces Calvin's hand, the racing Gods will get him...Bad Karma man!

BTW Jess jackson is wrong about Rags to Riches not being the same after the Belmont.  She got a clean bill of health all summer long, she just took a bad step at the end of the Gazelle...it had nothing to do with the Belmont.  He can be a sore loser!

Okay, to be honest, I didn't completely read all 154 posts (sorry).  

But, how many commented on (or would comment on) the fact that Godolphin bought West Side Bernie today?

Face it.  Racing is a sport and a business.  This happens everyday.  Horses are bought and sold.  Taken from trainers, jocks removed from mounts.

Let's just hope for the best for this talented filly in the future.

I think it's terrible. Who are all these supposed race fans that jess jackson is trying to please? We were pleased already. Race fans are tired of big money buying up all the good horses - leave some for the little people, though i guess it's as much a matter of greed on Morrison's part as anything.

First off if someone reiterates "God forbit if somethings happens to RA it will be horrible, don't run against the boy's" on more time I might throw up. Should no horses run then anywhere at any track. What about a colt that breaks down today at some no name track, screw him????. Running filly's and colts together is no different the running in the same gender, 9 out of 10 times the great filly's are larger then the rest of the boy's in the field anyway. Maybe show horses should be the hoppy of some of you.

Second on FF, I don't get what some of you don't understand about Friesan Fire running if he might be hurt or not recovered. Jones does not race horses unless sound, so obviously like most trainers they make up an excuse why a horse doesn't run well in a big race. We'll it happened here also, FF was fine all along, couple of scratches just like every other horse that runs in the roses.

My heart goes out to Wiggins and his entire staff.  It must  be terrible to lose such a wonderful filly.

As to her new plans, why wheel her back in two weeks to run in the Preakness?  Why not wait for the Belmont if they want to give her a classic win against the boys?  Or even better, run her in the Acorn and look to the Travers or the Haskell.

Mixed emotions my eye, I'm mad as hell. I have no respect for Jesse Jackson because he associates with Steve Asmussen. Jackson did the exact same thing with Curlin, i.e. jump in when he saw a great potential, reaping the rewards from someones' hard work. MONEY TALKS and MONEY STINKS sometimes.

Let's set the record straight on Curlin. Yes, Curlin did just break his maiden but EVERYBODY and I mean everybody was buzzing about him imediately. Helen Pitts and her staff nursed that horse for almost a year when nobody wanted him and then when she had him ready to show his potential, Jackson swooped down and grabbed him. Which is okay, but don't go around acting like you were responsible for creating such a good horse. He couldn't win the Tripple Crown ,beause he didn't win the Derby or the Belmont. He couldn't retire unbeaten so they set out to get him Cigars' title. Picking and choosing, going after the most money for the title. He won the most money title but in fewer races than Cigar and he couldn't get any where near Cigars' string of wins in a row. That didn't stop them from claiming Curlin one of the greatest! Huh, he was a very good horse, but one of the greatest? His jockey said on National Tv, Breeders Cup day, that had Curlin been on the outside of the filly he would have won. Smirking, I might add. Well, someone should have told him that great horses can run inside, outside, on the lead, from behind, whatever it takes. Ala John Henry! Yeah, all I can see is Helen Pitts' barn staff the morning Curlin left her barn. Shocked and broken hearted.  Did they recover? Sure, that's racing.

Now for General quarters. Someone said nobody mentioned him, well I was just about to get started. All Derby week I watched the press go on about McCarthy and how he was a one man show with his horse. McCarthy was there smiling and taken it all in. I was sick to my stomach. Not one mention of Mark Miller and how he turned General Quarters around after the great start and then flop under McCarthys' care. Miller deserved better treatment than that. McCarthy may have been caught up in the hoopla but if he was the gentleman people said, he would have included Mark in the praise of General Quarters' accomplishments.

I didn't have a favorite in the Derby, but I knew who I didn't want to win. General Quarters and both Godolphin horses.  The same reason I wouldn't root for Curlin. Breed them yourself or buy them and take your chances with their early training, but jumping on the back of someone elses hard work, acting like you did it all, doesn't cut it for me.

I don't care if it's the little guy or someone with big money, I want them to succeed, providing theres a little hard work and a whole lot of integrity.

This is just my own opinion of course, but thats who racing fans are. People with opinions.

Zenyatta deserved to be horse of the year. If Rachel Alexandra wants to be, she'll have to race against the boys. The same people who cry and wring their hands when fillies run against the boys are the same ones who claim the fillies don't deserve more credit because they didn't. I want the best horse to win. No matter where or when. Be it colt or filly but I will root for the filly because of the bias the American fan has. Not so in the rest of the racing world, where it's common place.

Thanks Jason, for the opportunity to vent. I hope Jesse Jackson reads all the comments and GETS IT.

FYI,

NTRA Top three-year-olds

1. Rachel Alexandra

2. Pioneer of the Nile

3. Mine That Bird

4. I Want Revenge

5. Quality Road

6. Musket Man

7. Papa Clem

8. Chocolate Candy

9. Friesan Fire

10. Mr. Fantasy

    Don't agree 100 percent with their list, but pretty close...

If she does go in the Preakness, What an incredible story it would be for the sport. The best three year old, male or female, against the rest, and the biggest underdog, Mine that Bird, I, for one, cannot wait for this to all un-fold in the next ten days, It should be exciting, regardless of where you stand on her running...

10 Million Dollars

Sell Sell Sell

Travis L--

Thanks for lightening the atmoshpere!  I literally cracked-up upon reading your comment (now all my co-workers are shooting nasty looks my way).

And I agree!  She is a great filly and I was royally p-o'ed when she did not compete in the Derby.  What's with this sudden nonsense that the fillies can't compete in the top stage of this country!?

It is sad about the trainer, but, good god, she is still in good hands.

THEY NEED TO KEEP BOREL ON HER BACK!  Would be absolute knuckle heads to take him off (and I don't think they are)

Everyone take a deep breath.

I agree with most of the other posts. I don't feel good about this sale. If Jess Jackson really cares about racing's future he will leave her out of the triple crown races and leave Mine That Bird to have a shot.

Unfortunately, he will probably try to capture the Preakness, just like her new "future mate" Curlin. Mr. Jaskson may have good intentions, but he's trying too hard to carve a place in history. Her sale and possible entry in the Preakness or Belmont is not good for racing.

All the years I worked on the track, this is one thing I could never get use to. Why Rachel is being taken away from a trainer who has done such a great job with her is beyond me. Jess Jackson has proven himself to be no better then the rest. I hope he finds a way to take his riches with him when he passes on to the next life. Because he won't be leaving much of a legacy- not the kind that counts.

As an owner -selling a horse usually means the horse changes trainers as well.  In this case, RA goes from a small barn and is catapulted into a conglomerate- everyone is bashing Jess Jackson for taking her from one trainer and putting her with another trainer.  Instead of looking at the glass half empty look at it half full --JJ is committed and loyal to his trainer- and those desired traits will transfer to RA as well. I do hope that she runs in the Preakness as I feel she is great and should be promoted as such.. For what he paid for her, she will be well taken care of and will be bred to an extrodinary stallion.

TO STARDUST: You asked for my comments on the Friesan Fire situation. Wish I had the answers. As mentioned before in these blogs, I only just got pulled back into closely watching races this year after keeping my distance for about a decade. So I really know zero about Larry Jones other than what I've read here and a few other racing sites, plus what I've seen on TV and in videos.

Also as mentioned before, I'm a natural skeptic. So I'm not taking anyone's word at face value that LJ -- or any trainer, for that matter -- always puts a horse's welfare ahead of other considerations. Personally, I think the Rachel story tells us quite clearly the horse is NEVER put first by most people in the industry. We must get it through our thick little heads that they are commodities, and we're not supposed to fall in love with them. The Jockey Club really ought to stop registering them with names, only with their tattoo numbers. For the clueless among us, I'm being deeply sarcastic.

Anyway, here's what I can say: (1) Ultimately, the owner decides where and when his horses race. The owner is where the buck stops. (2) I'm reassured by the fact that the connections of FF and Papa Clem were the only two who opened their vet records to the New York Times before the Derby. (3) There's mixed signals on the meds issue, though, because LJ is currently serving a one-week suspension for a drug infraction. (4) I'm not reassured by LJ putting Saez back on FF. (5) Reports out of the LJ barn are that FF had cuts on all four legs, at least one on a tendon, as well as the stepped on or grabbed quarter. We fans have no choice except to hope it's true that they are all superficial injuries and will heal quickly. (6) Stupid me. I love FF and hope only the very best for him, but have little reason for optimism should he run in the Preakness. Sigh.

james.

He won one race under Miller, one under McCarthy.

Lots of 2 year olds don't win races. Can think of one off the top of my head who didn't come into his own until near the Derby.

No matter how you try to spin this, it isn't the same thing, period.

Mark knew the horse was only with him temporarily. Tom gives him kudos and has great things to say about him.

The Derby? Why did a lot of them that were supposed to be 'right there' run up the track?

Tom said he didn't handle the track, it was sticky. Calvin even said that's why Mine That Bird did so well, he is a very smallish horse and he was just skimming over the top of the ground.

If you know racing from the inside you know what a difference that can make. Trust me, if we had one of our own, being trainers we would be training it ourselves, so would ANY ablebodied trainer and owner.

Better served? Tom loves the horse, takes care of him better than most people take care of their kids. Wouldn't sell him for huge offers (so far). That is the deal here.

RA in the Asmussen factory? hmmmm.

Blasi, yes he trains the horses, one string anyway. Couldn't get the leeway, clientele etc Steve gets.

For the person who said they were glad I Want Revenge connections did the right thing? Lord, me too, all racing needs is another Derby winner with a trainer with multiple drug positives.

Oh my God, Jen!!  I entirely didn't make the truly ironic connection between his statement about the Stallion Showcase and a gelding winning the Derby.  Don't you just love their sense of humor - the racing Gods, I mean!!  I'll carry that one around in my head now forever.  Thanks for pointing that out.

s

I'm a racing fan and after seeing Curlin's maiden win I fell in love with him, followed him through the Rebel and Arkansas Derby and through the Triple Crown. Any other owner and I repeat any other owner would have sent him to the breeding shed, we'll my dream came true I got to watch Curlin run for another year. Everyday checking in on his status and wondering what race he would run next. For me, it gave me something to look forward to in my life. None of that would have been possible if not for Jess.

I'm not a supposed fan.

colette - So, are RA's owners just supposed to put the dreams for their *new* horse and all their horses on hold just so that maybe, just maybe the one-hit-wonder MTB can try to win the Triple Crown?  Really?

"Leave the rest of the Triple Crown races alone"?  For fear that <gasp> someone might beat the Kentucky Derby winner?  No one has stepped aside in the past 31 years - why start now?

Don't get me wrong - I don't dislike any horse.  But to treat MTB as if he's something special that should just be handed the Crown with minimal challenge is just silly.

Greed?  Mr. Morrison is in the COMMERCIAL breeding business.  Rachel Alexandra has been for sale since she was conceived.  That was why Lotta Kim was bred.

This is a business folks, and at least she was sold to someone who will race her where we can see her.

Only in the Americas is there this huge reluctance to run fillies and mares against males.  She's a big, strong mare, and there just isn't any competition for her in the distaff division, outside of Zenyatta who was screwed out of HOY because she stayed there.

I am sad only for her trainer, but that is horse racing.  Its not for the fragile.

 YOU KNOW IF THEY WERE ONLY PLANNING ON SELLING HER IN THE FIRST PLACE THEN WHY NOT RUN HER IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY?  JUST THINK IF SHE WOULD HAVE WON. THEY SOLD HER FOR BASICALLY CHUMP CHANGE AND, COULD HAVE COMMANDED A FAR FAR LARGER PRICE.  THIS WHOLE DEAL JUST SUCKS AND SHOWS YOU THAT ALL THOSE OWNERS CARED ABOUT WAS MONEY AND THEY ONLY GOT 3 TO 4 MILLION WHAT A JOKE!  RACHEL ALEXANDRA IS PRICELESS AND SO ARE HAL AND CALVIN I REALLY FEEL FOR THEM! THOSE OWNERS ARE STILL GOING TO BE IN THE GAME ONLY THEY SOLD THERE ONE IN A MILLION FILLY.  I HOPE IT WAS WORTH IT TO THEM.  BY THE WAY DID THEY RUN THE SALE BY THE LITTLE GIRL SHE IS NAMED AFTER? I WONDER HOW SHE FEELS?

I don't understand why people are mad at Jess Jackson. I don't think any amount of money would have bought Secretariat or Ruffian! If you want to be upset with some one, it should be her original owners. If I owned her, I don't care what money I got, I would want her!

That said, I'd like for her to win the black eye susan, then the acorn, then beat Zenayata and then beat the boys!!

By the way Genuine Risk who won 1st in the Derby, 2nd in the Preakness and 2nd in the Belmont raced into her 4 year old year, and would have still raced if she didn't get loose and crash into a fire hyd.

This news was shocking and I'd love to know what the price was, but I think taking her away from Wiggins was wrong. Although she will be running against the boys sometime for sure. I can understand why her owners didn't want to run her against colts but her is how I see it, if a filly is good enough then she should run with the colts. That is what IEAH was going to do with Stardom Bound and still might. This would be good for the sport- one filly against a field of colts! I wish Jackson good luck with her and I wish her even more luck.

One other thing- when she retires she does have a champion waiting for in the breeding shed!

Katsan...I think you misunderstood what I said. Have I heard of Winning Colors and Genuine Risk? Go back and re-read my post :) I do not think gender has any bearing on breaking down. I want to see the best horses run in the best races period. I love it when the best is a filly/mare...like last year when gender bias cost the best horse HOY. If I am remembering your posts correctly I think we are on the same side of this fence :)

Rachel is a great 3yr old, but wait until she hooks a TRUE CHAMP later in the year: "ZENYATTA"!!!! Good luck to that "old man" Jackson. He thinks he can buy whatever he wants and thats sad. He is the perfect example of the greed in this country. And he has a chip on his shoulder, thinking that everyone he works with in this business, is out to get him.

I am struggling to understand why anyone would suggest that RA should be kept out of the Triple Crown races just so that we can have a TC winner this year. In what sport is it acceptable to keep a top tier athlete out of competition to give others a better chance? I forget who it was that said she shouldn't run because it would be wrong to ask Calvin to choose between two horses, but that's not a factor that should even be part of the decision. I'm not entirely convinced that they intend to keep Borel on her anyway, but if they do he'll have to choose. It's an uncomfortable situation and a tough call, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time in history two horses with the same jockey have gone to the same race, especially in the Triple Crown. Honestly, if it's a decision that Calvin really struggles over then MTB must be something else because on paper, RA wins (granted, paper may mean nothing when it comes to MTB... we'll see). I can empathize with those who are afraid she'll get hurt running against the boys, although I'd like to see someone substantiate that argument. If she doesn't run in the Preakness/Belmont, so be it, but I sincerely hope Jess Jackson doesn't announce that he made that decision so that MTB would have a chance, or to spare Borel from having to choose between mounts. That would be an insult to his connections, no?

I do wish he would have kept her with Hal, just because he was obviously doing a great job with her and I have a lot of respect for the guy and the way he handles his horses. That said, owner-trainer relationships are everywhere in racing, and I doubt there was any question in Jackson's mind whether or not he would move her. I won't judge him for it. He's enjoyed a lot of success with Asmussen and has no experience with Wiggins (to the best of my knowledge). I would have loved to see him leave a winning team in place, but I can't fault him for wanting his new, expensive horse to be in a barn that he has a comfortable and established relationship with.

Though I'm glad Sheik Mohammed and IEAH didn't get her, I'm still thoroughly disappointed in Rachel's former owners. Money makes me so sick.

If she contests the final two legs of the Triple Crown, fine by me. I just wish she would do it while carrying her former owners' silks.

I am going to enjoy watching the FLUKE get beat in the Preakness.  Maybe then we can stop talking about the FLUKE.

I agree with most, how sad taking her from Hal.  I felt sorry for everyone involved, especially Rachel.  These kinds of moves have to hard on the horses.  I felt sorry for claimers that went home after a race with someone new.  Just glad that IEAH didn't get her!!  Also, think they should pass up the Preakness and see what happens.  If Mine That Bird wins wait to meet the boys, if not go and take the Belmont. And for goodness sake keep Calvin on her.  

dona,

Obviously you didn't read the posts or know much about GQ. He was TOM'S horse from the time he claimed him, he almost bought him as a yearling. He had him for all but a couple months and Mark only trained him for THREE RACES. What do you not get about that?

Tom IS a one man show. Does everything for his horse. HE won the Bluegrass a MONTH after he took the horse back. He gives a lot of credit to Mark.

That is absolutely nothing like buying a War Emblem or a Rachel Alexandra, or actually even a Curlin or a Big Brown.

Guess everyone on here is an ex trainer who got out of the business.

Sorry--if it's not broke, don't fix it!  Hal Wiggins made this filly and she would have been the big horse of his barn.  In Steve's, she's just another number.  Besides which, Steve doesn't seem to have a real good touch with fillies.  If you just couldn't stop yourself from changing things, then go with a proven filly trainer, like Bobby Frankel.  I think this is absolutely NOT the right barn and right trainer for this filly, PERIOD!

As far as jockeys go, just about anyone would probably do as long as they leave her alone and let her do her thing.  A more agressive rider would not be a good fit for her.  But it would be a crying shame to pull Calvin off of her.  If you're concerned about the PR (although apparently you aren't since you moved her out of Hal Wiggin's barn), you don't mess with a winning combination.

Also, changing her routine in the middle of a campaign is one of the most bone-headed moves a man could make.  Look at what happened with Stardom Bound once she was sold--new trainer, new barn, new groom, new routine.....everything is different and the poor girl just hasn't been the same.  Horses are living beings and they form attachments.  They are not emotionless robots you program nor are they souless comodities, even though they are bought and sold as if they were.  Upsetting her routine is not a good thing to do.  A lot of races are lost before a horse even loads in the gate when they get upset about something, including a change in routine.

But without a doubt the absolutely most insane idea of all is breeding her to Curlin!  His sire, Smart Strike, is by Mr. Prospector and her damsire, Roar, is a grandson of Mr. Prospector.  This is BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD!!!  If you want to inbreed, for God's sake, pick a sound horse to do it to, not a cripple.  I have no problem whatsoever with Friesan Fire being inbred, but there is a HUGE difference between Mr. Prospector and SECRETARIAT!  For one thing, SECRETARIAT never took a lame step in his life, and he pounded the track, and second of all that sucker had the cleanest legs of any retired race horse, bar none.  And I know because when a friend and I visited Claiborne and saw him, she was able to actually feel his legs.  AMAZING!  Mr. Jackson--you want to breed the next Super Horse--then you need to try for one more like Secretariat than Mr. Prospector.  Don't matter how fast they can run if they can't stand training.  For God's Sake, let's try and minimize that awful fragility that comes from Native Dancer by way of his cripple son Raise a Native who in turn gave us another cripple in Mr. Prospector, who has since contaiminated the breed.  I think you need to breed her to a sire that has a lot of Secretariat to capitalize on that double cross (5x5) that Rachel Alexandra has to Sir Gaylord (half-brother to Secretariat).  Four crosses to Somethingroyal trumps a double-cross to Mr. Prospector any day of the week.  Failing that, I'd find a truely durable runner completely free of Mr. Prospector or Raise a Native, aka EINSTEIN--now there would be a very interesting offspring.  And if Mr. Jackson REALLY wants to improve the American Thoroughbred to make it a sounder, more durable animal, then go get a Gr. I SW German bred and bring him over.  That just may be the saviour of the breed.  But, do NOT breed this lovely girl to Curlin just because of the sentiment.  It's definitely not a good idea unless you want another Eight Belles--she of the multiple crosses to that whole Native Dancer-Raise a Native-Mr. Prospector line of glass-legged horses.  That would be an abomination!

Its just too bad. The hype regarding MTB the Derby, and the Triple Crown boosted interest in horse racing, yet again.

If purchance, Rachel does run in the Preakness, there goes most of the drama.  However, she would be bring much attention with her new connections, both positive and negative.

In my view, people are just not ready to watch another girl race with the boys.  Last year's Derby is still fresh.

Heaven help racing if something were to happen to Rachel Alexandra.

By CGC:

"I would hate to see a chance for a Triple Crown be shot down...let her meet the boys in the Breeders Cup - hey, if MTB won the Triple Crown and then she beat him in the Fall - wouldn't that look even better on paper than to just blow his chances now?"

Here here.

You have two "feel good" stories in racing and one of them is blown away by big bucks.

Keep RA with Wiggins.

For that matter, why not let RA take the fillies triple, "Tiara," and let MTB have a shot at the other triple, the "Crown."

Wouldn't it be neat to have a king and queen in the same year?  Plenty of time later to lay down the gauntlet and run them against each other.  MTB isn't going to the breeding shed and I hope that Jackson won't immediately retire RA to same.

On the other hand, I don't know this is as much about racing RA as getting her to try to prove Curlin at stud.  

There are better matches for RA than Curlin, if you go by nicks.  Stephen Got Even, for one.

Drayney, do you enjoy acting as you do?? If I were you, I would be ashamed of myself & wouldn't like what I saw in the mirror. I realize I don't know you, but have always been a good judge of people by how they talk. You are talking via the internet, but it doesn't matter. You are not the kind of racing fan this sport needs, that is for sure. I am not trying to insult you, just stating a fact, in my opinion

God forbid something happen to that horse in the Triple Crown races! She has nothing left to prove and the effort that it takes to run against the boys may ruin her. Rags to Riches was never the same after the Belmont and was retired shortly afterwards. I repect Mr. Jackson and Asmussen but Rachel should run in the filly triple crown and and not against the boys.

First off, I have nothing against feeling empathy for older people, but its just...wow, so many people commenting on here about how they feel sorry for Hal Wiggins losing Rachel. My feeling is, it's because hes old. Would this be being talked about if the trainer was, say...35? I would say no. In ending, it's all about the almighty dollar bill, which apparently, JJ has a few of those laying around.

I have read several of the posts and I completely understand many of them.  If I were Mr. Wiggins, I would stand in Rachel's stall and cry.  I'm sure he just loves her, I know I would and I feel badly, really badly for him.

I was shocked to hear that RA was sold!  Why on earh would anyone who owns a horse like that sell her?  One word....MONEY.  They must have made a great deal and a great deal of money.  We, the fans, are sentimental about the horses.  The people in the business, meaning owners, usually are not.  It is merely a business.  I'm not saying they are all like that but for the life of me, I wouldn't have sold her.  I would have ridden that tide till the end.

As far as Jess Jackson is concerned, you can say anything you want but he makes sure his horses are well cared for and happy.  Curlin was treated very well and did extremely well under SA's care.  I agree that Blasi was really the trainer and he seems a wonderful man.  I think RA will do well with SA and I wouldn't worry about her health or soundness.  I believe she will prosper.  She will go on to be the great horse she has always been.  One like her only comes along about every 25 years or so.  We are all so lucky to witness her greatness.  She will be talked about by generations to come.

It's not so terrible that she was sold and it's not so terrible that Jackson has her.  After all, it's the Jackson's of this world that pay the bills that keep racing going.  If we had no wealthy owners like Mr. Jackson, we'd have no racing or at least not on the level we have now.

As for her spoiling a TC, that remains to be seen.  Racing will survive without a TC.  It has survived all these years since Affirmed.  One day a horse will come along who will give us that thrill but I honestly don't believe it will be MTB.  He might do it, I don't say it's impossible but I doubt he will.  We will have to see.  If one gets mad that RA spoils that TC, then he isn't much of a TC horse is he?  We have to make sure RA doesn't enter a TC race so he will win?  Come on!  He has to beat all comers no matter what!

In closing, I feel badly for Mr. Wiggins but he knows this is part of the game.  It happens all the time. Let's just wish him the best and wish RA all the best in her new situation and that racing will benefit from her special presence in it as it already has.  Good luck to them all.

This was strictly a business move and this is what happens all the time in this business. I hope Asmussen keeps Borel for the Preakness run because I know he will chose her over the fluke. Ra would have won the KD by 8 lengths over MTB.

JIm C,

I couldn't diagree with you more!  Entering RA in the Preakness and Belmont is not bad for racing.  It will be good for it because this filly is magic. If she beats the boys she will be HOY.  If MTB can't beat her, then he isn't a TC horse.

Where to begin???  Borel will never ride Rachel again, Albarado rides for these guys and he will take over the mount.  That discussion is fruitless.  Running in the Preakness is out as well, winning a Triple Crown Race with a filly is certainly nostalgic but running her in a spot like the Preakness just 2 weeks back after the Oaks sets her up for failure not success, there is legitimate speed in the race that RA has not yet seen and as impressive as she has been she has not yet seen the pace she will see in the Preakness so it is more logical that after a five week rest she comes back to Belmont with its wide sweeping turns and gallops home a winner...The Preakness is the least desirable of the TC races to win on its own and in this scenario dosen't make any sense.  

Well it always seems to boil down to who has the big $$$. Not that J. Jackson is an owner I dislike (Curlin racing at 4 helped the sport out a great deal), but I feel very heartbroken for RA's trainer & stable crew.  Honestly I'd keep her where shes at because the movement could distress her and the trainer/crew have only done great things with her so far. Nevertheless, Rachel Alexandra is a superb filly and I will be rooting for her....

I was disheartened about the sale to Jess Jackson and the transfer of Rachel Alexandra to Steve Asmussen at first (I fantasized  that she would go in the Preakness and lose because she was pining for her trainer, that would show them what a bad decision it was to switch trainers).  I agree that if Hal Wiggins had got her this far then he should have the honor of guiding her farther.  The more I thought about it though the more at peace with the decision I have become.  It occurred to me that Jess Jackson bought her specifically so she could run against the male three year olds (my assumption).  It might have pained him greatly to see her not racing to her potential.  Who was she going to run against if she had been kept racing against fillies and mares?  The only likely choice would have been Zenyatta and there is no reason to not still run against Zenyatta but her horizons have expanded gloriously.  Her ability would have been wasted if she had not been sold.  Now, she can really show what she is made of (the 108 Beyer speed figure in my estimation was too low for the Oaks).  I think that Mr. Asmussen will be as good a trainer for her as Mr. Wiggins.  In fact, I think that Mr. Wiggins will be in contact with Mr. Asmussen via Mr. Asmussen calling upon Mr. Wiggins to learn more about RA.  He didn't get to be a top trainer completely on his own without any help whatsoever.  I agree that she should not be in the Preakness or the Belmont.  Not because she wouldn't have a good chance of winning, I think she would have a great chance of winning.  She should be given time to acclimate and see if she and her new handlers get along.  Remember, Mine That Bird did not win any races this year under Mr. Wooley until the Derby, then he exploded onto the scene in a most spectacular fashion.  This sale is a good thing and we the fans have to keep in mind that there were probably offers from Godolphin, IEAH, and others for RA (and they were probably as generous as Mr. Jackson's).  Money was not the final deciding factor.  I think that how she would have been handled by her future owners must have come in to play at some point in the decision to sell.  That made the sale a good choice for her previous owners.

i was heart broken to hear she left hal wiggins barn. hes the nicest best guy in the sport. hes a sweetheart and a real old fashioned horseman-better known as the good ones!=] i hate that she was taken away from hal i rally do. im going to the belmont stakes and wanted to see hre run in the acorn. i wouldnt have sold her for a billion. these horse dont come around often. she's so special<3 im not a big fan of steve a. or jess jackson, but for rachel i hope they do the right thing and treat her weell!

we all love you rachel!!!!!!!<33333333 keep kickin buttt:)

R.A. has thus far demonstated that she's a quite talented filly. She has not yet done enough to convince me that she has the ability to be a "great". More than likely Jackson paid an amount = for one who is "great". Jackson may eventually learn that his perspective is somewhat lacking. R.A.'s owner and trainer were likely well overpaid.

I agree with most of the posters on here.  It made me sad to see Jackson buy her and move her to Asmussen.  He at least should have left her with Wiggins, but that's big money for you.  He can do what he wants and run over who he wants...

I was saddened to hear that Rachel had been sold. I hope that Jess Jackson keeps with the plan for her not to race the boys.  Zenyatta is going to make history and has never raced the boys. But like most think she will and it is sad.  What a let down for Hal and Calvin.  But its all about the money not the horse. Sad sad sad if Rachel runs in the Preakness I don't think I could watch it.

It will be interesting to see who trains RA while Asmussen serves out yet another suspension? It appears he is up for a six month suspension in Texas. That will be great PR for racing, especially if it falls during the Breeder's Cup. I'd like to know why JJ preaches about "cleaning up racing" and then sends a classy filly who is directly in the limelight to a trainer with numerous drug violations. How do you think the racing public will feel about that feel good story?

To be honest, the prospect that she might meet the boys in the Triple Crown does not thrill me. I would've rather seen her beating up fillies and mares under the care of Hal Wiggins.

I just feel extremely sorry for Hal Wiggins and his connections.

I can't help but feel cross that the former owners pulled a fast one on him.

BUT YES, I KNOW. IT'S BUSINESS, I GET IT. :(

Like others, the sale is bittersweet for me. The next few weeks will shape my final judgment on the wisdom of this change. But the most important thing is that Rachel gets the opportunity to fulfill her potential and is healthy throughout her career. It would be truly amazing to watch a Rachel/MTB rivalry build over the years. However, I'm not yet convinced MTB is nearly as good as Rachel is.

If Rachel continues to run like she has been running, I doubt anyone will blame Jackson and will simply be grateful for the chance to watch a spectacular filly own the boys.

Wow! 197 comments in less than half a day, as I type this. The topic really hit a nerve.

My objection would be if RA runs in both the

I FEEL RUNNING R.A. IN THE FINAL TWO LEGS OF THE TRIPLE CROWN WOULD NOT BE IN THE INTEREST OF THE HORSE.SHAME ON THE NEW CONNECTONS IF SHE WERE TO GET HURT RUNNING 3 RACES IN 5 WEEKS,IF THIS IS THE SUPER HORSE SHE SHOULD BE RUN IN THE BELMONT ,TRAVERS ,BC CLASSIC NOT IN 3 RACES IN 5 WEEKS.

Now I've heard it all.  Given the outlandish expense to insure a four year old top tier colt--the reason jj didn't send Curlin to stud was the legal complications surrounding the minority interest.  As for the move to Asmussen-combination of different barn, different handlers, and a 2 week layoff is a recipe for disaster.  Like Curlin, I don't see how RA fits well into the Asmussen/Lake et al.  high turnover/class dropping model.  Then again, I loved Dunkirk last Saturday.

Let's not feel too bad.  The trainers, vets and others make money on all horses they service and that is before the winner commisiions they receive.  Most owners are losing money in this game so if you purchase a horse you have the right to move the horse to your team that does not make anyone a bad person.  It is no different then someone purchasing a business.

barb, sorry guess I did misread it.

I agree. it's racing and the best should run against the best, regardless of gender.

After Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks, her owners seemed so moved and felt so blessed to have her.  You got the impression from the brief interview they gave that she was priceless to them.  Now less than a week later, they have sold her.  Ah-h-h-h!!  How money talks, yet again!

Dont see why the filly has to be taken away from Wiggins. I see the money aspect, the owners were offered dollars they could not refuse, but why do you have to sell the entire filly?  Keep 50% make 5,000,000 and run her where you want?  If Jackson has to big of an ego for that, forget him, someone else will jump on board.  If you dont believe the filly should run in the triple crown?  Put that in the contract!!  They are calling you, you have the ability to set some terms.  Selling and stiffing the trainer, jockey, groom etc etc is classless to me.  I know the money, I get it, just say you need to keep the trainer for 2009, Keep the jockey for 2009, no Triple Crown..If the filly comes back for some idiotic reason in a week for new connections in the Preakness and runs up the track, it will be another sad event for racing.

This is terrible news!!! I don't doubt for a minute that she will be well taken care of. She does not need to run against the boys!!! This is awful!!!This is not fair to either horse. This is nothing but massive egos with too much money.

Actually, I do have something against Asmussen. It's the number of times he has been suspended for foul play. On top of that, his record this year of late has been, shall we say, not so hot!. There is no logic, really, in Jackson taking her away from Hal Wiggins. I bet the cowboys that just upset everyone in the Derby would probably say, " If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and that applies to this situation. I have respected Jess Jackson for most of his actions in this business, but I can't help but feel these moves are heavy handed and very unfortunate. Not just for Wiggins and his wife, but for all us "players" that are the backbone of the sport.

I have to say I'm surprised at some of the vehemence on this blog regarding RA's sale and Jackson's buying her.  Seems there is pure hatred of people who have money and perceptions of these people may not be correct.  I doubt that many people on this blog actually know the people being discussed but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Yes, racing is a business too, and although I do feel for Mr. Wiggins, Mr. Jackson has his own team, and rightfully, they will be calling the shots now. I do hope however that they sit the Preakness out, for a few reasons. First, the race was never in her plans and it is only 2 weeks since her monster Oaks score. In addition, it will be her first start against colts, I think it is asking a lot of her. Rest her up and prepare for the Belmont or better yet, try to nail the Triple Tiara and aim for the Travers.

KEIFER: I share your sentiments.  Goes to show you that the "love of money is the root of all evil" ...only, this time the rich buyer is not the culprit.

If "Rachel" runs against Big Drama in the Preakness we will forget about this heartbreaker transaction in a flash and racing will be none the worse for it.  Let's get it on.

It drives me nuts that people here are so convinced that running a filly against the boys is a bad thing and likely to lead to injury... that is so ridiculous!  In every other country fillies meet, and oftentimes, best the colts, including in Quarter Horse racing.  Why we don't do it here in America is just old superstition and tradition.  Not all fillies can run with the boys, its true, due to basic differences in form, but the ones that can should be able to without people going nuts thinking it could cause some injury they wouldn't sustain running against other females... that is just totally bogus!  Accidents happen in this sport, it sucks and everything in the world to prevent it should be done, but refraining from running fillies against colts is in no way affecting the breakdown numbers.  If this filly is good enough, let her run in the TC races, it would give momentous good publicity to the sport.  And if, good forbid, something happened to her, racing should have the wherewithal to educate casual fans that her running with the boys in no way increases her chances of injury... if she's fit and sound, she should be fine, notwithstanding any true horrific accident, which we all know nothing can prevent.  Let her run, with the fillies or the colts, who cares, but don't use potential injury as an excuse to avoid races, that just makes no sense.

The sale of Rachel to these connections makes me sick.  No matter where or who she runs against.  I would have like to see Hal Wiggins keep the filly.  Steve may be a top trainer, but with the number of horses he runs, I could come close to his numbers in a year or 2 also.  

It was the good ole boy story that added to her charm as she thundered down the stretch.

Thank you draynay. I agree with that fluke remark. Just wait till rachel alexandra steps on that speed favoring pimlico track. She blow those colts away especially mine that bird. By the way private purchases happen all the time whether you like it or not. Her daddy was a private purchase for bobby frankel. If you don't remember.

ALL -- In this USA Today article (www.usatoday.com/.../2009-05-07-alexandra-owners_N.htm), Jess Jackson says he's skeptical of running Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Here's the key paragraphs from the article:

"Jackson, in a phone interview Thursday afternoon, said of the Preakness, 'She has the potential to be a factor in the race if we run there, but it's up to me to look out for her well-being and what is going to keep her sound.'

'Running fillies against boys isn't always the best choice. I've been watching racing since 1939, and I've seen a lot of disastrous things happen.'"

So you see...you folks who've mocked those of us expressing concerns about running young fillies against colts in the spring have the same opinion as both her new owner and her prior one. No, this is not sexist, as some have posted.

Andrew Beyer wrote this in a Washington Post article two years ago: "...why do fillies appear so rarely in the U.S. Triple Crown races? Many years ago I talked with the late trainer Angel Penna -- who twice won the Arc de Triomphe with fillies -- about gender in thoroughbred racing. His explanation was a revelation. Just as with adolescent boys and girls, Penna said, young horses develop at different rates. As 2-year-olds, colts and fillies are relatively equal in strength. But by the spring of their 3-year-old year, the colts have spurted ahead in their development. The fillies don't catch up until the fall."

For those who are unfamiliar with Angel Pena, he was a great international trainer from 1950 through the 1980s. A member of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame, he also won training titles in Argentina, Venezuela and France. Some of his best horses were Allez France, Bold Reason, San San, Pawneese, Crow, Waya, Private Account, and Relaxing. In all, he trained more than 250 graded/group stakes winners. He was especially good with fillies, and won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with two of them, San San and Allez France. He won the 1976 Epsom Oaks with Pawneese, then saddled her to win the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes later that year. (BTW, the Arc is run in October.)

It is sad for Mr. Wiggins, but it is the business. It happened before and it will happen again. That said, I am sure it does not feel right to him or his staff. Nor does it feel right to the fans.

He, (Wiggins), joins a long line of past trainers, ( Bob Barbara, Pat Reynolds, H.Pitt, Billy Turner, etc) who give their all, and then find reality takes it away. It stinks, and it in general does not help the Trainer-Owner relationship.  

Just when you thought racing was getting back on track, these owners threaten to derail it.

As someone who has seen firsthand how Mr. Jackson treats his horses (broodmares, yearlings, and racehorses alike), I know that Rachel Alexandra will be given great care. He truly cares about his horses and wants the best for them. While it is unfortunate that Mr. Wiggins will miss out on racing this fantastic filly in the future, we must all remember that some trainers AND jockeys would give their left legs to have had her for just ONE race. Good luck to Mr. Jackson in whatever he decides to do.

Money, Money, Money.  That's the name of this game.  No thought was given to Mr. Wiggins or to Rachel Alexandra.  

I feel so sorry for him and also that Rachel Alexandra will now wake up every day not being loved and cared for by Mr. Wiggins.

Guess maybe racing is something that I shouldn't be watching.

I can't even express how sad this makes me. We've lost the sport of horse racing.  Where is the honor, the glory, the pride? Nowawdays its about the bottom line and the best investment. Sure you can make $1.2 million on the sale of the horse, but that is NOTHING compared to the legacy you could have created.

Rachel Alexandra will never be a Ruffian, or a Barbaro, or a Seabiscuit, or a Secretariat...not because she isn't good enough, but because it's the people behind these horses who made them extra special.  Horses like Skip Away and Cigar were great horses, but they lacked that extra human interest with their connections.  Rachel had that, and now its gone.  It's Walmart taking over your hometown hardware store....not the same.

I don't know how much longer we can stay a sport if this continues. Right now, I can't even let myself follow any of these horses because I know they will be retired in a year.  Too valueable for breeding and all.  Thank God for geldings...we get the likenesses of Better Talk Now, Funny Cide, and Lava Man who go on to race for many years.

I don't mind that Mr. Jackson bought her, I would have too if I had the money and the power to. What really bothers me is putting her in the triple crown races. If she gets put in she's almost guaranteed to beat up on the colts almost easily. Why not the Triple Tiara races and then face the boys later on? Right now, any chance at a Crown winner this year would be destroyed if Rachel shows up and racing could use a big hero right now, and Mine That Bird would make the perfect hero. I am also hoping they don't take Cal from her, to take the trainer who got her to where she is is bad enough, but to take away the jockey who knows her so well and has so much confidence in her, it would be terrible.

Greg J.  

Thank You.  So essentially what you are saying if I read your words right is FF just didn't do well.   He needs a better jockey on him.  I know the best have the best mounts but I believe it would make a world of difference if he had a jock that was in the Gomez/Prado range. :)

Katsan,

GQ was floundering under McCarthy.  His BSFs were anywhere between 71 and 81.

In 3 races under Miller he went 78, 90, 102.

Back to McCarthy and he goes 81, then jumps to 95 for the Blurgrass.  Who knows what he got for the Derby.  Seems to me that aside from one race, McCarthy can't get the horse to perform at the same level Miller can.

But we will just have to agree to disagree.  I respect your opinion though.

As far as RA goes, JJ owns her now and can do what he wants.  If he had transferred her to Larry Jones you all would be shedding tears right now.

How would you like to be Steve Asmussen?  How do you improve upon perfection?  There is no upside for Steve unless he can keep her healthy and undefeated and , by the way, beat males.  Small order.  Don't screw up.

This is a business first & foremost & money talks. You expound on the virtues of your horse one day & sell him/her the next. So much for Jackson being one of the good guys. Wiggins would never do - he's not an elitist. In summary: new owner, new trainer, new way of doing business: throw her in with the boys, let's see where she lands.

As much admiration that I have for Steve Asmussen, I think it would have been more prudent and honorable to retain Hal Wiggins as Rachel's trainer. Horses know, believe it or not mr. owner, the difference between people. I'm sure Rachel is pretty concerned about her re-location. If you big owners with all of the money actually care about the horses that you own, you would make sure that their well-being, both physical and emotional, is paramount in all of your decisions.

Just some comments.......

Seeing Rachel be sold would only have been positive had it meant she'd be entered in the Derby and have her shot at the Crown. Since it's too late for that, it's just some pretty downer news.

In the end it's about the horse, not the connections. Rachel Alexandra deserves a shot at the great races.

Holding her back so the Bird can have a shot at the Triple Crown makes a mockery of the Triple Crown.

I think we can pretty much count on Jess Jackson's ego to see Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Curlin wasn't retired as a three year old because there were legal problems involving the co-owners being sued. It had little to do with sportsmanship. And Jess Jackson likes being the center of attention. I agree with the comments that if he was really thinking about the horse, he would not have put such a big change on her in the middle of a campaign. What he says doesn't match what he does. If he was thinking about the sport, like another blogger stated, put her in a position to win the Triple Tiara and let Mine That Bird have the chance to win the Triple Crown. That would be a feel good story - to those who already love the sport and those who would be interested because of the back stories on the horses, trainers, & owners. But I give the chances at 99.9% that he'll run her in the Preakness. Because really, it's all about him.

Just finished up my book "Tales from the Triple Crown" by Steve Haskin. It was amazing in just the last few stories how many times this happens. It is a part of the game I guess and one that has been going on forever.

I am bothered by the trainer swap as I stated before because I don't like SA. Frankly I think he should have lost his license a long time ago. Who knows what they will do with RA. Chances are she will be in the breeding shed by the end of this 3 year old campaign or sooner. It's a given. Atleast if MTB turns out to be something special we will get to see a lot more of him.

I feel great joy for Hal and the time he had with Rachel.  I will always connect her with Hal and her breeder/owners.  I will still root for Rachel.  My map for her probably wouldn't include the triple crown.  I would like to see her run against the next best racehorse in the country, Zenyatta.  If she was still on her game in the fall, I would take a long look at the(boys)Classic.  Though the commercialization will take something away, I am thrilled to have witnessed what she has done since last Fall.  Thanks Hal for just being you!!  Hope you get another big horse soon!!

She'd be the favorite in the Preakness--I hope they don't run her v males---males have a huge edge from 7 fur to 1 1/4 miles on dirt--a strength edge and there's no reason to run her in a classic--it won't up her broodmare value one bit--keep her on track to face off with Zen---that is the real prize--

For Big Red, thanks for that quote from Andrew Beyer. That does give some perspective on why so many fillies have had their careers hurt in the long run after running Triple Crown races, even if they win them. And Zarkava did most of her very good races last year towards the end of the year. What Angel Penna says makes sense.

Katsan, as far as General Quarters goes, I like the horse, mainly because I like Sky Mesa, but when I saw him in the post parade it was evident he did NOT like the mud. He reminded me of a cat being forced to walk in water. Too bad, because he could have done better than he did.

I was a little surprised when I learned of RA's sale. But when I read the article further and learned that IEAH had been in negotiations and vetted her I was only surprised we had not heard of the many offers the owner must have been receiving. It seems Darly, IEAH and others always try to acquire the next "hot" horse.

Mr. Morrison is a commercial breeder and I do not in any way fault him for selling RA. I am happy he sold her to JJ.  I think JJ will be a great owner for RA.

I am very disappointed they chose to move her to SA's stable. I can understand why they did, comfort with SA, comfort with security and knowing all the personnel,etc.  When someone buys a horse they can't wait to take possession "grin".  I really wish though they had left RA with Mr Wiggins. I know he has been in the horse business for a long time and knew this day would come.  That being said, I have great admiration for Mr Wiggins in the way he handled the interview and what he said about JJ and SA. In my opinion he is a very fine gentleman and sportsman!  Mr Wiggins obviously did a superb job with RA and she was happy.

Personally I would be reluctant to move her, especially if she is going to be pointed towards Triple Crown races. Maybe I am wrong but I would not stress her while she is racing at such a high level.

PS...can anyone explain what is meant by 'winning the shake'?

For Big Red:- I sure hope you have that quote right, because it makes little sense to me. While it is true (in general) that filles develop (mature) more quickly than colts (in general are on par or better through mid 2 yr. old year), once the colts do catch up there's no looking back (and why should there be?). But let's just say that they're still equal as early 3 yr. olds, and that they might seem phyically equal through the spring of their 3 yr. old year, but for the fact that the fillies tend to come in season during that time (this can effect performance). So, if Penna's quote is indeed accurate, he would have them (fillies) backing up (mentally) during the spring (due to hormones?) and then resumming their prior position through fall of their 3 yr. old year. -I'm trying to help him out with this scenario.- His quote ends there, but are we to believe that he feels the fillies then catch up permanently? I knew Mr. Penna, and he did have some fairly novel ideas. Incidently, the King George VI...is run in early summer as I recall. The real truth is that once those male hormones really kick in (stimulate muscle development) they usually gain quite an advantage. It is true that the european fillies tend to perform better against their male counterparts than is the case here. The turf, and the undulating courses may have much to do with this.      

A Canuck's Comment - I could not agree more with you. Well said!

I think Mr. Jackson will take very good care of RA. It is sad Mr. Wiggins can't be a part of her future. I totally agree with that point of view. But let's face it, this is a business for most people, and for many, money talks. If it were me, there would be no amount of money that would get me to sell her, but it's not my decision to make. But you are talking to a woman who has never left her dog in a kennel/vet for even one day of his 11 years. I am a complete pushover where horses, dogs, and cats are concerned.

A friend of mine has a great saying "It is what it is." So just hope for the best possible scenario for RA, Calvin Borel, Wiggins, and MTB. Yes, RA is an amazing horse but MTB may not be a one shot wonder. As someone said, RA has not raced against the same competition MTB or POTN has. Let's wait and see. All three are good horses with lots of potential.

As for racing RA in one or both of the remaining triple crown races, I am not knowledgeable enough about fillys to know whether this puts them at more risk or not. I am thinking it's not much more riskier than for the boys. Horse racing is inherently risky for both the horses and the riders IMO. In short, it is what it is. The goal should be to minimize the risk as much as possible.

Makybe Diva, I laughed like hell at "burning houses down." You are a hoot.

I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE !!! STOP!!!

Horses are bred to run... RUN !!! Filly vs. Colt who cares; run them!

Rachel should have been in the Derby and the owner messed up and let a FLUKE WIN.  Rachel Alexandra is the best 3 year old period.  Thank the heavens there are new owners that will run her where she belongs... against ANYONE dumb enough to face her. Run her run her run her !!! Preakness, Belmont, Haskell, Travers, and then the Breeders Cup vs. Well Armed.

Katherine: When more than one person drops a claim in on a horse they "shake for it". They use peas with numbers on them. Each person draws a pea and the claim slips are numbered as far as there are claims in on the horse. The peas are in a bottle or something that will shake them up hence the "shake".

In the NY Times article about the sale of RA - “...Jackson also acknowledged that Curlin had been trained on steroids by his trainer Steve Asmussen.”   Perfectly legal at that time but right for the horse?

  Hal Wiggins did right by Rachel.

How was he rewarded?  

  Improving the breed - give 'em riods!

This is exactly why I hate the big time players of this game. Just because you have all the money in the world when the little people like Hal Wiggins are struggling to make it doesn'tup  mean you should flaunt it by buying up every decent horse there is (and yes I'm talking about the sheiks too) This is so wrong!!!! I think running her in the Preakness and Belmont is a terrible idea because if something were to happen to her or any horse for that matter the racing world will NEVER hear the end of it we can't take another hit like that  

I'm disappointed that yet another horse racing blogger claims that Rachel running against the colts is great for racing.  The public just doesn't care about filly-colt match-ups, as evidenced by the VERY poor TV ratings the Rags To Riches Belmont drew.  

And Rachel against the colts could do enormous harm.  Think what will happen if she gets hurt in front of millions of Preakness viewers.  If she has a serious or fatal injury this sport is finished.  Even a relatively minor injury would hurt racing's already tarnished image.

The colts could get hurt, too, but the animal rights people are already making noise about the possible filly-colt Preakness match-up.  Don't give them any more fuel.  

The URL of the article with the quote about Curlin & steroids is

Rachel Alexandra Is Sold and May Run Preakness

www.nytimes.com/.../07racing.html

Halo America you forgot BEST PAL! Criminal Type and Rhulmann ended Bayakoa's reign of terror as the odds on favorite in the Santa Anita Handicap. Very few girls can beat the boys (Lady's Secret...loved her).  Let Rachel put on some weight, grow up a bit, and take on Zenyatta.  I would pay to see this.  

Gee, you'd think that the new owner has announced that he's about to sell Rachel Alexandra at an overseas slaughterhouse for horsemeat. Does anyone remember how this guy raced Curlin at 4-year-old? Moreover, does anyone remmber how the owner raced him in the Breeders Cup, even though it was going to be run on a synthetic surface for which Curlin showed no affinity? (He dithered a bit on doing this, seemingly doing it reluctantly because he knew the track surface would likely put Curlin at a disadvantage, but realizing that it was "good for the sport," he opted to run him in racing's preeminent event.) Yes, this is a business, but clearly, this guy is sportsman cut from the cloth of yesteryear, a man who appreciates the breed and enjoys horseracing beyond pure economics; if he was purely a guy who looked at the "bottom line," he certainly wouldn't have raced Curlin as a 4-year-old, right.

How's this for a prediction: Jackson and/or Asmussen decide NOT to run in the Preakness, opting instead to train her for the Belmont. Meanwhile, Mine That Bird comes back and ROMPS AGAIN in the Preakness, thereby setting the stage for a filly to try colts for the first time while simultaneously trying to thwart a potential Triple Crown winner. How good would that be for the sport? How many people would be complaining if this set an all-time attendance record with a race for the ages, where the pair were able to draw off by themselves and one of them won a narrow victory?

The bottom line is that despite the mawkish sentimentality here, most everyone who enters this game knows that IT IS A BUSINESS, not a re-enactment of National Velvet or some such feel-good story. Horses get bought and sold. Horses die in training accidents and on the racetrack. Unappealling owners win big racesand the "little guy" often doesn't enjoy  storybook ending with the underdog horse.

Still, all in all, this is a moribund industry, with fewer and fewer patrons, an aging fan base and a challenged business model beset with problems, ranging from the competition borne by an expansion of casino gambling and lotteries to a recession that has curtailed discretionary income. So, along comes a dynanmic owner, a man who decides to inject his passion and MONEY into what many people have eschewed as a likely money-losing waste of time. Is he doing this for purely laudatory or selfless reasons? Well, no, probably not -- there's doubtlessly a degree of ego, here. But hey, that's what drives the engine, no? Without deep-pocketed people like Jackson -- and Godolphin and Darley and others of this ilk -- this industry is in danger of descending into what the standardbred industr5y has now become. (Years ago, Roosevelt Raceway used to draw 30,000 fans on a Saturday night, but the track doesn't even exist any longer.)

So, rather than being praised, this guy gets flamed on this board by people who somehow suspect that the "feel good" story of Hal Wiggins and his super horse is better than someone INVESTING MONEY to boost interest in a withering industry. I'm flabbergasted, in that many people here are usually rather savvy and would seem to know better. The odd thing, I suspect, is that a guy like Wiggins probably isn't nearly as broken up about this as many are suggesting. Is he disappointed? Doubtlessly, he is, for if he wasn't, he'd be nothing more than an emotionless drone. Still, I would imagine that he knows that this is part of the ground rules. And while I have no doubt he's a nice enough fellow, I would guess that on more than one occasion, he's claimed a horse from a small-time owner that was being trained by someone who had only a handful of horses in his care. And probably, he didn't agonize about this. You know why? Because he he may have made the claim on a client's request or simply recognizes that "it's business, not personal."

As for Asmussen, well, despite his past violations, he's a GREAT  trainer and nobody can convince me that he's anythign but suburbly qualified to managine an animal like this.

And until Rachel Alexandra loses, or until her career falters, nobody can convince me that Asmussen is any less capable than was Wiggins. Besides, when you're talking about a freaky talented horse like this, well, the trainer is rather incidental to the horse's success, no? I mean does anyone doubt for a moment that Spectacular Bid wold have been great in anyone else's control than Buddy Delp? Would not Personal Ensign have been a monster without Shug McGaughey's tutelge? Can anyone doubt that Dr. Fager wouldn't have been a devestating horse without John Nerud? This isn't to denigrate the contributions of any of thse trainers, but rather, to highlight the point that none of them were likely to have been as a key component in the lofty uccess of the particular horse they trained as was the prodigioius talent that each had as a birthright.

Rachel Alexandra will be just fine, I suspect. And Hal Wiggins won't be cursing the gods for how unfair racetrack life is for people like him. Rather, he'll be thanking his lucky stars that he had the opportunity to have handled a horse like this for as long as he did.

Best,

Phileboy

i wish JJ bought her 3 weeks ago-then she would have won the derby..

not this poor excuse for a derby winner,, mind that bird..i gotta tell you..another blog here about the derby has been pretty blind about what really happened last saturday..even respected turf writers are comming up with total bs as to how or why this  little gelding won the derby..from training in the high altiude(how come then when they ship to santa anita or hollywood park-in cheaper races-we don't see the same results)-to the rail was the place to be-even though the rail was NOT the place to be for 2 solid days..

PLEASE!!!-if it was dutrow or another trainer who pulled this off

the poor horse would have been dissected already and charges and all other sorts of storys would be flying around-all anyone can come up with is how the trainer dressed-

not to mention that nobody connected even bought a win ticket-not even to slip in calvin's boot??...there is just something not right about that win,,,thats all..prove me wrong Bird-i doubt that that little gelding will ever win another major graded stakes win again...

now,,, does anyone even think that any colt or gelding is gonna beat this filly??

EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT RA LIKE SHE HAS ALREADY WON.  SHE HAS NOT, PLUS THE CRITERIA FOR HOY IS MORE POLITICAL THAN RACING FACTS. REMEMBER SMARTY JONES?!

 THE FEW MARE WHO HAVE WON HOY, HAVE ALL BEEN OLDER MARES.

NONE HAVE EVER BEEN 3 YRS OLD.

 NOW THINK OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF RA DOES NOT WIN THE PREAKNESS. SHE HAS RACED BACK AFTER TWO WEEKS, HOW LONG OF A REST WILL SHE NEED?  WILL IT SPOIL HER CHANCE FOR A TRIPLE TIARA?

 RA IS NOT GOING TO WIN HOY BECAUSE OF AN OAKS, OR TC WIN IN ONE RACE.  3 YR OLDS HAVE A PRESCIBED PATH TO FOLLOW. ONE FOR FILLIES, ONE FOR MALES. RA MISSED THE DERBY, HER BEST HOY IS TO WIN THE TRIPLE TIARA THEN GO AFTER THE BOYS IN THE GC CLASSIC.

NOT WINNING THE REST OF HER CLASSICS AND NOT WINNING ANY TC RACE HER HOY IS DONE.

 WHAT IF THE RACING GODS LOVE MTB?

 WHAT IF BY SOME FLUKE MTB BEATS RA IN THE PREAKNESS?

 ANYONE WHO KNOWS RACING SHOULD KNOW THE BEST HORSE IS NOT ALWAYS THE HORSE WHO CROSSES THE LINE FIRST.

Jason, Do you have any idea of how much Wiggins might be compensated because of the sale? Just wondering. Thanks.

YES! it IS part of the game that horses are bought ans old ALL the time.  And yes, trainers lose GOOD horses in the bargain.....but ie would NOT have killed Jackson to leave Rachel where she was....as someone said previously...IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT!   I respect Mr.Jackson for wanting to all the filly to his "collection" and I am VERY glad IEAH and Dutrow didn't get her.   BUT, ASMUSSEN has alred been tarred with the brussh of "substance" abuse with some of his horses and I'm sorry, but you can't just say "Oops" and keep getting the good horses.   What the industry really needs is one SET OF RULES for the entire country.....you violate the rules and you pay the price, whether you are a BIG TIM trainer or a bush league trainer.   As NICK ZITO is always saying.....if youwant to level the playing field.....make 'em all run on HAY, OTS & WATER and THAT'S it!   Then you will sse who the truly TOUGH, HEALTHY bloodlines are!  Here's hoping ASMUSSEN doesn't SCREW this up and have RACHEL pay the price!

Sam Riddle refused to sell Man O'War for a million dollars in 1920. He said it best...lots of people have a million dollars (even more today) but there is only ONE Man O'War. Once you have millions in purse money (or you will from RA's future babies if you sell some of them) how do  you justify selling a horse like that? What are her former owners going to do, go out and try to buy something that turns into what they just had? Get some granite countertops for their kitchen or a sports car? How common is that.  I don't blame Jess Jackson either, at least he is an American and as the owner of one of the best retired racer males and now the best female, he's working hard to improve the genetics of our often too feeble breed. Still...how do you part with a once in a lifetime horse for money when she has and is capable of making you all the money you need? Crazy!

First time on a blog,,,maybe we should all just be glad that RA is at least staying in th good old USofA and not shipping to Dubai or some such place overseas...

all of you make me sick!!!! come on people this is a business!!!! Jessie Jackson is probably one of the few owners that love the sport. He could have easy retire Curlin at the end of his 3 year old season... but HE DID NOT!!! he brought him back as 4 yeard old...... so don't feel bad for wiggins which I'm have nothing against him I'm sure he's nice guy, but jess jackson has done nothing wrong here, he's just a smart businessman and I Garantee you that Alvarado is going to be her new jockey from now on

This is horrible, this is terrible, god forbid we might get to see one of the best horses of all time race for another year and a half. How can anyone let this happen, it is going to hurt horse racing if we get to see Rachael accomplish something no other filly has ever done before. Jess Jackson is a very naughty person, how dare he run Curlin so others could see how great he was. This is so upsetting to me. Why would anyone in thier right mind want to promote and grow horse racing. I feel for all of you. I think Rachael should only run in 6 furlong allowance races against filly's so she doesn't get hurt. Or maybe just turn her into a show horse.  

Stick to this plan!

Acorn

time off

Prep race

Travers!

I dont know if she will run effectively in the Breeders Cup since it is run on lint! skip it and train and prep for Dubai '10! IMHO!

TO SCEPTRE: At 07 May 2009 10:34 PM, you wrote, "I sure hope you have that quote right, because it makes little sense to me."

Here's the link: www.majorwager.com/.../150837-andrew-beyer-where-fillies.html

Sceptre, I prefer to be polite and respectful, but sometimes one has to take the gloves off even though this forum style doesn't make it easy. I want to use much more colorful language in responding to you than is possible here. But, since you're demanding proof from me, turnabout is fair play. At least I can now ask where is all the proof for your puffed up claims in these blogs? Huh?

So now you know more about fillies than Angel Pena, one of the greatest international trainers of the post WWII era. Right.

Get back to me when you're name goes in racing Halls of Fame of several countries. In the meantime, I'll just give your posts about the same weight I give Draynay's.

I went to Oaklawn this spring and they mentioned her several times that day it was so exciting knowing that the best three-year old in the country possibily the world was in a barn not that far away from where I was.  But now that excitement is gone.

For Big Red,

Regarding FF and Larry Jones, I think Jones is very trustworthy.  If you haven't been following racing until this year, you may not be aware of the history behind that medication infraction Jones was accused of.  It all happened within a short span after the death of Eight Belles, and Jones’ barn was targeted by someone who had an axe to grind.  Some of his horses were found released from their stalls and Jones’ pony, Pal, was found to have had a blistering agent put in his mouth.  Poisoning a horse?  Pretty extreme.  Anyone who would do that is capable of anything.  The autumn before, one of his fillies was sponged by someone.  Jones claimed the drugging incident was sabotage like the other events.  He’s never had a drug infraction in all his years in the business.  But as the trainer, the track held him responsible and would not accept his appeal.  So, I don’t consider his current suspension a true reflection on his integrity.  And if you ever watched him with his horses you would see how much he cares about them.  And I believe the same about Rick Porter.  This is a man who also cares about his horses and racing.  Whenever his horses are retired (and not just the successful ones) he finds them a good home and he’s raised money for horse rescue as well.  Not to mention that FF is already a valuable stud prospect for Vinery.  All that tells me that no one connected to the horse would take any chances with his well-being.  My feeling is that if he’s not fit, he won’t run.

Big Red,

    Thanks for the info from Beyer and Jackson.  My first thought when I saw how quickly the sale was pushed through, was for them to get RA in the Preakness, but, now after reading what Jackson said about running fillies against males,  I am leaning towards her not running in either the Preakness or Belmont, or, for that matter, against any males at all.  I will take what he said with a grain of salt also, saying one thing and doing another is always a possibility.  After thinking about it , I hope they don't run her against the males, I couldn't even fathom if , God forbid, something happened to her.  I have nothing against the sale, it is a business, bottom line, Jackson did right by Curlin, So I have no problem with that aspect.  I just wish, I know this is un-realistic, but if they could have made some kind of stipulation in the sale that Wiggin's remained as her trainer, either temporary, until she got adjusted, or permanent, I just feel terrible for him, not fair, he is a huge part she is the way she is, INCREDIBLE!, We will see how this all unfolds, I am amazed on the amount of comments in such a short time, Jason, It has touched a nerve, on both sides, alot of various opinions, either way you feel, it is great that there is so much interest....

Also, This was from Rick Porter on Friesan Fire:

    "I know many of you have you have read information in the press. I did give an interview this AM to Dave Grening of DRF and Steve Haskin. I went down Monday morning to see FF. He was doing great and his foot looked terrific. It was not sore as I palpated it. The other nicks were very minor. After speaking with Larry, it was obvious that if he continued to do well, we would point him to the Preakness. He galloped well this morning and had no problems with his foot when he came back.

    All looks good right now and we are planning on shipping him to Pimlico on Monday. I don't feel he has suffered any setback from the trip in the Derby. It is up to him now to run they way he is capable of running. Larry will blow him out Tuesday morning.

Maybe running in the red and white will bring us good luck!!"

Rick

It's amazing how one race can make everyone lose their mind. Yes, RA is a good filly, but no one knows how good she really is. She beat a bunch of claimer quality fillies in the Oaks. She may be able to beat what is left of the triple crown contenders but I highly doubt she would beat the best of the colts (QR, IWR). Unless there's a muddy track of course.

There is no good news in this story. Jess Jackson took a feel good story of a great horse that was feel good in large because of her connections (specifically the jockey and trainer) and tainted it by sending her to a cheater.

Saw this this morning,

Possible Preakness Field/Odds:

POTN 3-1

Mine that Bird 5-1

Friesan FIRE 6-1

Musket Man 8-1

Papa Clem 8-1

General Quarters 12-1

Big Drama 20-1

Conservative 20-1

Hull 20-1

Take the Points 20-1

Charitable Man 30-1

Flying Private 30-1

Terrain 30-1

Tone it Down 30-1

Rachel Alexandra 1-10

(Only kidding on RA!!!)

Interesting Odds, I thought....

It doesn't make sense for her former owners to sell her, at least not to me. The interview I read with Mr. Morrison said that he was a commercial breeder. So he has the best filly in a very long time, and what does he do? He sells her. He could have made more by keeping her, letting her run for a couple of years and then selling her foals. I am sure he could easily have gotten her into Curlin's book, even if Stonestreet didn't own her. If I were a commercial breeder, and I had a filly like that, you couldn't get her away from me for any amount of money. And it's not right that Hal Wiggins should lose her, he got her to where she is now, and should have the job of continuing her development. Steve Assmussen may be a "top trainer" but he is also a trainer with a lot of drug positives. That alone would keep me from sending horses to his barn, never mind the huge number of horses he has that his assistants deal with instead of him. And it wasn't fair to put Calvin in the position of having to choose between Rachel and Mine that Bird. He will be on Rachel for the Preakness, but I will be rooting for Mine that Bird. I love that filly, but he won the Derby and is eligible for the TC if he wins the Preakness and the Belmont. For those who think he can't handle the Preakness, look at his form. He won a mile and sixteenth race wire to wire a while back. So he has a good chance, if Mike Smith doesn't get over eager and mess it up. In my opinion, informed by 30+ years in racing, Calvin is the better rider, with better hands, cooler under pressure and much quieter in the saddle. I just hope the filly stays sound and healthy. And that Mine that Bird manages to win the Preakness, in spite of her. I would love to see her take the filly Triple Crown instead of spoiling the chances of the "little gelding who could". A Triple Crown won by a small underdog would be so good for racing. Seeing a big girl like Rachel come in and spoil it for him wouldn't be good for racing. At least, not in my opinion.

I respect Jess Jackson i think he made the right move i was just supprised it didn't happen before the oaks i know you all are woundering what Calvin is going to do as far as the Preakness he said yesterday on a pod cast on this site that Rachel Alexandra was the best horse in the country.  ON the NTRA website my connections said they have not heard from Balous as of yet.  Which leads me to beleive that she might already be in the preakness and have calvin aboard i would not be supprised how ever if Robbie doesn't get on as jockey of mainstream.  However if she is that good it shouldn't really matter i know wiggins is disappointed i think he is alittle off guard from what i could tell but they probley needed the money.  See you have to understand horse racing is all about money these days not nesasarrally the horse.  I wish her all the best of luck and i will bet on her in the preakness and the belmont if she is entered.  

My Emotion hearing the sale of RA was sadness.  Hal Wiggins did a great job with her and brought another great trainer out of obscurity.  I like having MORE numbers of great trainers, not fewer.  She should have stayed with the connections that made her great.  I would like to see Calvin retain the right of being her jockey but Calvin does not ride much for the Asmussen barn, does he?  Possibly she does not need Calvin Borel on her to win because she is that good.  I would emotionally like to see him retain the mount.

Nothing against JJ and Asmussen.  Although I do find thoughts of negativity about money running everything.  Yet it does.  I,too, have very mixed emotions with IEAH stable.  Perhaps their image is too Wall Street and no one likes Wall Street thses days.  They built the Ruffian Center which is absolutely the best thing to happen on the land next Belmont Park.  My problem with Dutrow started with the Trash Talking last year to 'get Curlin'.  I don't like Trash Talk.  What I would like to retain about 'The Sport of Kings' is the ability to behave like gentleman and women to the press/public.  I think this is what it means to be professional.  Dutrow is a capable conditioner and horseman.

Frankel did not train Stardom Bound as a 2year old, Chris Paasch did.

What will be will be.

Why is it that no one ever focuses on the impact of a transfer of this kind on the psychological & emotional well-being of the horse...RA certainly has strong bonds to her previous connections & environment...how does/will SHE feel about being thrust into a whole new, unfamiliar "home"...how much will SHE miss the people/place SHE loved...how will SHE adjust to the change? These beautiful horses are intelligent, sensitive creatures who are often bandied about, with little or no regard for THEIR intrinsic needs, as well as those of the owners, trainers, etc.

Of course, we all look forward to the possibilities & short/long-term goals that may be fulfilled as a result of such a change. But how well would they have done, & how much HAPPIER would they have been, had they stayed in their existing situation?

When Curlin was in the prime of his racing career, much was made & said of the extremely close bond he had with his then stablemate, Pancho; the two were well-publicized, on his website & elsewhere, as "inseparable" companions for each other. But when it came time for Curlin to go to the breeding shed, Pancho stayed...and Curlin went. It was then reported that Curlin was "enjoying" his retirement, but got depressed when he was put in his stable because (according to people's reports) he missed racing. OMG!! What about how he must have missed Pancho...after sharing years of his life with this beautiful white horse...and now suddenly being alone. (And the same would be true for Pancho, as well, of course.)

As we pursue our human goals, do we not break our horses hearts, time and time again...is THIS right...? And my heart goes out to any colt or filly who, in the wake of such a radical change in his or her life, just never seems to do that well afterward. They are living, sentient creatures...not machine-like commodities.  If only we would treat them as such.

My heart genuinely goes out to Higgins.  The loss of THAT filly must be devastating and money does not fix all.  Yet, having been an ardent follower and fan of Curlin, I trust Jess Jackson totally to do everything possible to help Rachel Alexandra rise to her total level of talent and not hold her back from anything because she is a filly instead of a colt.  I am tremendously thankful that it was not some Sheik or IEAH that got her.  Instead it's an owner that honors the history and the values inherent in the American race horse, is dedicated to seeing the best breeding possible to bring this sport back to the best possible results in strength and durability, who can see great potential in a horse and will aim to foster it without a bunch of ego and bravado.  When and if I will get extremely upset, and probably leave this "camp" is if he takes Boral off of her.  If Jackson and Asmussen cannot see the pure magic that happens between this particular horse and rider, it will be their mistake...a very very big mistake.  Look past his quirks Mr. Jackson.  He's the real deal...just like Rachel Alexandra.  From the more business/fan perspective side of it all, you'll loose repsect and fans if you separate this twosome.  Rachel Alexandra started winning when Boral got on board.  Boral and Rachel Alexandra are permanently planted in our hearts and minds from the Oaks.  That's how we want to see them both fulfill their destiny's and their legacies.

Very sad to see her leave the barn that obviously she relishes. Jackson keeps promoting himself as trying to promote the game but how can he justify sending horses to a trainer that has one of the worst reputations for medication offenses in our industry. If you love your horses like we do, you would make sure they are with the most reputable trainer possible. Choice of trainer tells me all I need to know about the motives of an owner. I still love the game but realize that to participate means losing to these types of trainers (we certainly have)and owners. There are enough class people still involved to make it worthwhile for us and sometimes the good guys do finish first, but not nearly often enough. Just look at the leading trainer stats at some tracks and then research the history of violations.

This whole thing is exactly why horse racing has an image problem!! JJ buys Rachel, I get that, horse racing is a business & making a profit is what enables people to stay in business.  The part that saddens me and is ultimately bad for the game is the fact the horse was taken from Wiggens and given to of all trainers Asmussen!  Wiggens had done nothing wrong with this filly, she looked like new money, ran like a monster, and most IMPORTANTLY did it all sound & happy.  Enter Asmussen, how many positives has he had in the past two years?  I've lost count!  Horse racing is supposed to be cracking down on these repeat offenders, how is he still racing horss??  The fact that people have sais she will be in capable hands - I'm not so sure about that one!  And by the way, I am so over Curlin- Was he a really good horse? Yeah, great horse? don't think so.  He won some races over very mediocre  older horses, looked very average on the grass, and even more average in t he Breeders Cup.  Zenyatta would have smoked him!!!  Asmussen loved to blame the synthetic for his subpar performance, but truly great horses run on anything and that horse just didn't have it towards the end of 08 - bad management. I feel bad for Rachel and all of her old connections, this is not good for the sport Jess!!

I am sickened that she was sold, sickened that she was taken away from Mr. Wiggins.  I know money talks, but why in the world would someone sale a "once in a lifetime" horse?  One was sit and look at their money in the bank--nice green color-- and one can sit and look at the filly demolishing her rivals time after time.  I know which one I want to sit and look at.  For Morrison she went from a "gift from God" to "anything has it's price" in a matter of a few days. I don't care for Jess Jackson or Asmussen so the fact that she went to them just makes me sicker.

I'm reading some of the comments and am suprised to see how threatened some are with the likes of Rachel Alexandra running against the boys.  If RA stays well, keeps maturing, and shows up, she has all the potential to be the best horse since Secretariat, yet so many seem stuck in this old and archaic segregation perspective.  It's baffling.  You can list all the "science" and facts you want, but the fact is that all of those facts get smashed apart first by the exceptions - those that break out of the rigid restricted box that they have been relegated to, and it is always the exception after exception that slowly forces us to grow past our long held attitudes and open up the norm to the reality that this is no longer the exception.  If we are ever going to get past these bizarre segregation attitudes in this sport, even while fillies compete with the boys on many other continents simply as a matter of course, the fillies have to run.   And the boys (humans and colts) have to accept that they are going to get beaten some of the time by a filly.  Welcome to the 21st Century!!  We went 102 years before we got Rags to Riches.  Now 2 years later we may have in Rachel Alexandra what is far beyond Rags (WOW!!).  And then we'll have another, and another, until, hopefully, we get past this prejudice and just let the horses run....colts and fillies, horses, geldings and mares...together.  The true value of the filly will NEVER be recognized or acknowledged until we reach this point in our country's racing history.  The fillies, and their connections, and a lot of fans are certainly willing to loose a bunch of races along the way to get there.

I am sickened by the whole thing.  I can't believe they sold her, first off, as she was bringing in plenty of money for them and she was a horse of a lifetime.  Second, to take her away from Higgins and put with Asmussen after what Hal Wiggins has done with her, really is unbelievable and I feel Jackson seems pretty arrogant here.  And if they run her in the Preakness, I will be very, very disappointed.  She will in all probability take away the hope of a Triple Crown winner.  They will probably let Calvin ride her, which is unfair to Mine that Bird and his connections.  If Mine that Bird loses the Preakness, then I would be all for them putting her in the Belmont.  But let's let Calvin ride Mine that Bird in the Preakness and see if we can just maybe have some hope for a Triple Crown winner this year.

Must be nice to have the money be able to just go buy whatever racehorse you want after it is already shown it's a great horse.  Anybody rich guy can do that....

I have to say I didn't think I would see so many people respond like I feel. It gives me hope. I thought it was so neat to see the trainers of the oaks and derby come from somewhere other than the "big money".  Now it appears that once again those of us who try hard and work hard are bought out by the almighty dollar.  I also use to respect Jess Jackson but now it appears that if he wants it he gets it at the expense of the little guy.  My hats off to Wiggens for the job he did.  Hope he remembers that we all remember that HE is the one who took Rachel to where she is and regardless of the outcome from here on out he guided her to this point. Sad to say but her record from her on out will not be nearly as impressive!  If she fails whos fault will it be and what exactly is failure.  Too bad she couldn't have stayed and that Jess Jackson couldn't respect where she came from ... only enough to take her away. Will the jockey follow the money.... will be interesting to see.  I just lost my interst in the preakness. I will go back to my home track and enjoy watching those of us who live for our horses and put them first.  As much as I try to get involved in the BIG GAME I end up feeling that it isn't about the horses as they claim it is always about the money.  Too bad!  Isn't suprising that horse racing is suffering. It seems easy to see that when things were good it was about the athlete now it is about which big check book can buy the talented horse only to retire them and put the prices out of reach for the rest of us! I certainly hope that the little tracks with the little guys don't have to go down with the big flush!

I don't see how the owners of RA are going to derail racing.  That's quite a remark to make.  Also, yes, it's about money.  You cannot be involved in racing as an owner and NOT have money.  Greed?  Most owners lose money each year.  They are in it mostly because they love it.  Yes, there is money to be made but the real money is made in the breeding shed.  There are so many negatives to owning race horses it's not funny.  Just how big would racing be if you didn't have owners with money?  I know I wouldn't want the expense of running a string of race horses even if I did have the money.  Thank goodness these owners keep in the game or there wouldn't be one.

Stephi S and Intothebridle, I couldn't have said it better.

I can't believe people think having her in the Preakness and Calvin aboard her instead of Mine that Bird is good for racing.

And taking her from Wiggins to Drug positive Asmussen really sucks.

phileboy: Well said! No disrespect people but I can't understand why some of you are so against this sale. The TB business is just that, a business. The owner did what he felt was in the best interest of his business period. With the economy in the shape it's in no wonder he sold her. It's okay to have high ideals but you need to be grounded when you run any business and don't let your heart rule your common sense.

As far as the filly being psyhic'd out common guys,horses get moved to different shedrows every day for different reasons. She is a mature 3yr old and has a very professional attitude, her adjustment should be minimal. Your putting human emotions on an animal and don't think for a minute that they won't do right by her. It's not like they took a child away from it's mother. Please look at this in it's proper perspective.

TO MAT: Thanks for your 08 May 2009 9:56 AM post to me. Believe me, I very much want to believe in Larry Jones and Rick Porter. I think the overwhelming majority of the nearly 300 replies to this topic Jason kindly started for us just screams that racing's most loyal fans are desperate for something to believe in again.

BTW, I'm not new to the sport. Been involved with it since childhood. Only in a small way, though. My memories in the sport go back to 1960. In my late teens, I galloped horses for an Ocala stud farm, both at the farm and at Hialeah. Also worked for The Jockey Club for about a year processing registration paperwork, back when TJC HQ was still in New York. I galloped horses for a little while on the NY-NJ circuit before getting my head screwed on straight and going to college.

As the catastrophic breakdowns piled up, and as other things changed in my life, I kept my distance from the sport for about the last 10 years. What I mean by "kept my distance," is that I stopped following the sport closely, day to day.

I would have been happy to see Rachel be the fastest female in the country and then retire and make nice babies.  She's got nothing to prove with boys.  When will we let boys be boys and girls be girls.

At least let her stay with the connections that have just that a connection.

I do not agree, if in fact they do decide to run Rachel against the boys in any of her future races. I agree with her previous connections, that fillies run against fillies...There is no need to prove a point by seeing if she can run down the boys. I feel badly too, that Mr. Jackson has moved Rachel to another trainer. Mr. Wiggins did a wonderful job with her and Calvin too when riding her.

Crushed fan---It is not a secret that Curlin was on anabolic steroids during his spring '07 campaign. However, he had been withdrawn from them late in the fall before he ran in Dubai. He ran twice in Dubai and, of course, was tested post race and found to be medication free.

Many trainers in the U.S. regularly used anabolic steroids until their recent ban. Mr. Asmussen will not be giving them to Rachel Alexandra.        

TO SIOUX D: Love your post at 08 May 2009 10:46 AM. :)

I am getting sick and tired of Jess Jackson.  First he buys Curlin after he wins his first (I think) race and takes him away from Helen Pitts, who was doing a wonderful job getting the colt past all of his physical problems (I root for Einstein every time he runs - I think he may be a better all-around horse than Curlin, because he can run on ANYTHING!)  Then Jackson takes Rachel Alexandra away from Hal Wiggins.  What exactly was Wiggins doing wrong with Rachel - should she have won the Oaks by 30 or 40 lengths?!!  No, I am fed up with Jess Jackson taking horses from "unknown" trainers who are doing a superb job with their horses (and who have gotten the animals where they are today) and handing them over to a "big name" but not necessarily better trainer.  Finally, I don't think Rachel Alexandra should be pointed toward the Preakness.  She was being prepared for the Acorn, the same day as the Belmont.  I am afraid she will not be ready for the Preakness and may either perform poorly (shattering her image and that of racing fillies in general) or worse, suffer a catastrophic injury as a result of tiring.  In my opinion, Jess Jackson is a villain and a publicity-hound.

Well ... I was ECSTATIC to learn that JJ bought Rachel. He will show case her like nobody else in this world would.

Curlin brought me back to Saratoga, and I hadn't been to a racetrack since Secretariat ran there.

I do hope he DOES NOT bring her back for the Preakness, which I feel is too soon after the Oaks, and too soon followed by the Belmont.  

I would love to see her take on the boys in the Belmont, and I do hope that Mine That Bird wins the Preakness, and America can anticipate a showdown between them in the Belmont.

Racing needs more than a triple crown winner; it needs great horses and great horse races. They won't be fooled by a Triple Crown winner when a horse like Rachel is kept out of it.

And I was ecstatic to learn that she will eventually be bred to Curlin!!!

Go Jess Jackson, GOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

To For Big Red:

Thanks for that link-yes, you cited Penna's quote accurately. Now, take a look at the paragraph that directly follows:-Beyer then stated"...but overall colts are better and faster..." Isn't that remark rather similar to what I was attempting to convey? In a sense, Beyer himself was contradicting Penna (in that one could infer from Penna's remarks that he believed that colts and fillies were equal once past spring of their respective 3 yr. old years.). For Big Red, your original post on this matter would lead many to believe that there was equality (in performance) between colts and fillies. Who knows, you may believe this yourself. I think otherwise, and feel it important that others not potentially accept erroneous information on matters related to racing or breeding. If this causes you ego problems, I suggest you learn to deal with it.        

Say Goodbye to Rachel now.  You know they're going to throw her into the Preakness and Belmont Stakes because Jackson needs some attention and obviously misses being in the limelight. What a special filly and what a shame what they're going to do to her.  I just hope racing fans don't have to watch her demise on live television.  Say goodbye!

Sioux D.....BRAVO............I agree with For Big Red. GREAT POST!

For a lot of us..this is the heart of the matter...period....It is that simple. These horses have no say in the matter. That's what makes it hard.

I think all the past and present connections of this horse are worthy and good horsepeople, but I hope changing the filly's surroundings and daily handlers won't upset the apple cart.  I think people forget to consider the emotions of the horse, keeping them feeling confident and content is in everyone's best interest. There wasn't much of an explanation for why Stardom Bound stopped thriving....but it did coincide with a similar situation.  I just hope R.A. stays happy so she can continue to WOW us like she has been.

"First off, I have nothing against feeling empathy for older people, but its just...wow, so many people commenting on here about how they feel sorry for Hal Wiggins losing Rachel. My feeling is, it's because hes old. Would this be being talked about if the trainer was, say...35? I would say no. In ending, it's all about the almighty dollar bill, which apparently, JJ has a few of those laying around.

Curly Fries 07 May 2009 5:54 PM "

Actually you're totally offbase here. Most of us felt bad for Helen Pitts when Curlin was sold out from under her. Most of us felt really bad for Patrick Reynolds when he lost Big Brown to Rick (Pompa even kept a portion of him and then let him be turned over to DUTROW over Pat????) Sure these aren't 30 somethings but not 'old' either (40's and 50's) Yes it happens and it's never pleasant for the person who has given their heart and soul to the animal for one or two years. It's usually MUCH harder on the humans than the animal. % of a sale? That happens some times, but as you could tell from Hal's response it doesn't make you feel much better.

You know at the higher levels you'll lose them sooner or later to the breeding shed but this came out of left field.

The issue most have with it is the comments by the owner after the Oaks and those comments made him seem less mercenary. Well once again.........

As for Jess and Steve?

Maybe the top of the top but look at Steve's history.

Jess, sadly he's not much like Doc Ballenger, his uncle who got him started and was loved and respected by everyone who knew him in the old days,I looked at him as my own uncle.

Wow what irony. A kindly country Dr (actually one who was published in many journals) with a LAWYER for a nephew.

He is a 'bit' of an attention seeker, isn't he?

This sale is another reason why we cannot attract fans IMO.While I will not say anything bad about either side in the deal it leaves the general public with no one to cheer for.Another rich guy just bought the best horse.Some of these types of owners while good for the sport do not attract support from the fans.From the Sheikh to IEAH to Jackson there is no one for the regular guy to cheer for.

They just announced that Calvin will ride RA in the preakness. I would love it if they put Joe Talimo on MTB and he beat everyone.

Im tired of Jess Jackson. I never liked him. He always reminded me(as foolish as this may sound) of a little kid trying to seem innocent and insisting he didn't take the cookie.  He thinks he's a great sportsman and is just head and shoulders above everyone else just because he has enough money to pull great horses away from people. God,anyone please own this wonderful filly but him. ANYONE. I love RA dearly,but it's so hard to root for a horse when you hate everyone surrounding it. Steve A...again,never liked him. There's something about him that I find..creepy...

Also..he's the leading trainer in the U.S..he gets great horses all the time and makes money. he doesnt need another horse like this. Let Wiggins have her. He's already done a fine job with her..there was no reason to switch trainers. I lost even more respect for Jess yesterday. Also,I hope she doesnt run the in TC races. I want a TC winner..and with her in there there's no chance AT ALL. Without her theres little chance..but still there's some. There will be plenty a time to race her against the boys. Which by the way-wont do anything for her. Im quite disappointed...

TO SCEPTRE: In your 08 May 2009 12:52 PM post to me, you wrote, "...your original post on this matter would lead many to believe that there was equality (in performance) between colts and fillies."

What?!!!! ROFLMAO. Anyone can read my posts above @ 07 May 2009 12:28 PM, 07 May 2009 1:00 PM, and 07 May 2009 8:34 PM see the exact opposite.

Sioux D---I understand and agree with your 10:46 A.M. post as well. The separation of Curlin/Pancho, Smarty/Butterscotch, etc., was painful for me to contemplate.

Greg J.

Those odds make NO SENSE to me.  Please explain why FF is lower than most of the horses.  

While I am not surprised a RA being sold, and thankful IEAH did not buy her and Mr. Jackson did, I am very disappointed that Hal Wiggins is losing the filly as a result. If Mr. Jackson is truely the sportsman he says he is and acted on in the past, he would listen to RA's millions of fans put her back with Mr. Wiggins, not just because we the fans ask, but also because its whats good for the filly.  There is plenty of time to move her to Steve Asmussen's barn, preferably as a 4YO.  Why change what is obvioulsy working. Mr Wiggin's has done an outstanding job with RA and KNOWS her. Look at what happend to Stardom Bound.  She has not been the same filly since she was moved from Christopher Paash's barn.  The change can be attributed to a lot of things but certinally it played a big part.  These animals have a routine and association with the people they see everyday. It does make a difference.

   RA IS the best 3YO in the country bar none.  However, while I don't necessarily agree with RA's former owner, and think she should take on the boys, I can wait til the fall to see her do it.  Frankly I would rather see her pull a Davona Dale and win the 'traditional' Filly TC and win the Triple Tiara.  We haven't had a TT winner in 16 years and pretty sure the last to win the FTC was Davona Dale in 76 which means 33 years.  Too bad the races are so close together with Black eyed susans on 15 May, Mother Goose on the 27th of May, Acorn on th 6th of Jun.  There would be a break with the CCOA on 25 Jul but that's a lot of races in a short period of time and don't think our 'modern' horses can do that anymore. With the change to the TT with the final leg being the Alabama on 22 Aug, it would prevent her going to the Travers. But there are plenty of races in the fall for her to shine in, the Jockey Club GC, the Mass Cap, Super Derby, Goodwood and BC Classic.  We need a TC winner, regardless of gender and there is nothing wrong with her staying with her own sex for now and filling that bill. Then kick the boys butts later in her bid to be HOY.

  But as we are just by standers in all this, lets just hope she stays on her winning ways and stays sound the whole year and not rushed off to see Curlin until shes a mature been there done that eclipse winning 5YO!

Hey people, can you IMAGINE how confused everyone will be if Mine That Bird wins the Preakness on a dry track with a new rider over Rachel Alexandra? (Probably won't happen) BUT WHAT IF.... I know I'll be tuning in, probably throw a cookout and have the whole family over to watch! That would be soooo cool...I think the filly is lovely, but I'm rooting for the little guy instead!

A couple things.  There is nothing wrong with running against the boys.  In every other country around the world the girls commonly run against the boys.  If shes healthy and happy let her do it.  She's earned the right the race in the world most prestigous races.  Now that said.  I guarntee two things will happen with her sale to Jess Jackson.  1.  She will prematurely be retired.  2. We will hear the following phrase from Jess Jackson "There isn't a race or race track that is worthy of her".   No Mr. Jackson, you are not worthy of such a fine animal and no you are not worthy of the worlds most beautiful sport.  

This sport needs more Harry Aleo's

MichaelM,

Most people who first get interested in this sport, know nothing of the owners.  Nothing.  All they know is the horse and maybe who trains them because the owners have nothing to do with the conditioning of the horse.  All they want to know is where the horse has run, against whom and how did they finish.  The people who are aware of owners are the people who have been around racing for years.  As far as the regular guys, how many people do you know, who are regular guys, own a horse that is worth millions of dollars?

I don't understand why everyone is so down on people with money.  By the way, Jess Jackson has announced that Calvin Borel will remain the jockey for RA and he has chosen her over MTB for the Preakness if she runs.  Does that give you any clue as to how he thinks she will do?  

Jess Jackson - buy a horse that's been training for a race in 5 weeks, move her to another trainer and then move her schedule up to race in 2 weeks. And this is good for the horse how? And good for the sport how? And good for anything but feeding Mr. Jackson's ego how?

To: For Big Red.

Thank you for your insightful comments and the research data you have provided to racing blogs. Just know, you are appreciated.

I too, have backed off from racing over the years, because of the many breakdowns and "unfortunate accidents".  I have loved this sport because of the horses and only the horses.  Hopefully, Jess Jackson will follow through on his words to hold back RA from the Triple Crown.

I truly don't believe for one second that RA will die in the preakness.  Come on!  She's a big strapping filly that will probably outrun every one in the race.  It isn't even for sure that she will run there.  They will decide when they see how she does.  Why are some people sounding the death knell?

To Karen in Texas and all

   I noted that running on steroids was legal when they gave them to Curlin.

    All this noble talk of improving the breed & they give steroids to that fine specimen

    Mr. Wiggins gave Rachel 5 weeks between races & she was in a small hands on barn who knew really knew her - right away throw her into the Preakness with no

TC

   So much for doing right by the horse.

   So I guess when Jess Jackson told USA TODAY that his purchase of Rachel Alexandra was not driven by the possibility of running her in either of the remaining Triple Crown races, and he expressed some trepidation about that challenge, was just B.S. Also, When he said the following in that same article,  "it's up to me to look out for her well-being and what is going to keep her sound. Running fillies against boys isn't always the best choice. I've been watching racing since 1939, and I've seen a lot of disastrous things happen."  More B.S....

     I agree with alot of people here, This was more about Jackson being in the Spotlight, Center of Attention, He is taking away the Derby Jockey from Mine that Bird, Borel, I think he will be only the 4th Jockey to switch, I don't blame Borel, He loves Rachel Alexandra, The former owners were pushing for her next race, belmont weekend, acorn, Why couldn't Jackson wait?, Two weeks after her victory in the Oaks ,He wants RA to take on 13 boys in the Preakness?, New Barn, New Trainer, New routine, Just too much, too soon for her to run at her best....

    This Preakness for Rachel Alexandra?, No, it is not about the Filly, It is about Jess Jackson only, I love Rachel Alexandra, Don't get me wrong, But this is plain selfish....

    I hope Friesan Fire, Mine that Bird come in one, two....

I have been looking at comments on other sites - much of the concern is with the barn she is going into.

 Also Mr. Wiggins is a 3rd generation horseman & leading trainer at Keeneland in the fall of 1998. Just meant it's a quality operation.

 Karen from Texas - I believe there are tests for only a few of the steroids compared to what's out there (Jason is that correct? my source was good but that was last year)

  We do not know what they will give her - given this barn's track record - just saying - not ancient history

 I think watching Rags to Riches hold off Curlin in 07 Belmont was my favorite racing moment of all time.It was very annoying she didn't get the credit she deserved, especially after that stumble at the start.I'm delighted that RA will have the chance to run there and I will be over the moon if she wins.I don't understand running her in the Preakness, though.Who cares about the Preakness? She doesn't need to prove she's as tough as a colt- just that she's faster. Its good for racing when talented fillies race against colts. Separate but equal doesn't apply to horses anymore than it does to people.

She's running against the boys, don't like it, well then don't watch it. This has to be one of the greatest things that has ever happened in horse racing. I can't wait to watch history unfold. Go Rach.! Go Borel!, Go Jess. Go Steve.

I'm just glad Darley/Godolphin or Coolmore/Ashford didn't get their hooks in her.

The noise you just heard was the owners of all the Preakness' colts quaking in their boots, upon hearing Rachel is coming to Pimlico.

The fact that Borel chose her over MTB and put her ahead of Street Sense as the best horse he's ever ridden says it all.  

Sioux D - totally agree

WinnerPicker - agree - stick with the plan & then run her in the Travers

   Besides the barn - it's the timing of this sale & possible rush to Preakness/Belmont

   Some here don't want fillies against colts  I'm not for it in the Derby   But had no problem when Shug ran My Flag in the Belmont (3rd) & Todd ran Rags to Riches in the Belmont - different race.  Given Genuine Risk not only won Derby but 2nd in Preakness & Belmont & lived well into old age at the Firestone's farm

 But since Rachel didn't race in Derby - usually has her races spaced - more prudent to wait for Travers.  They even take colts off TC to wait for the Travers

 Getting back to timing of the sale - to breed to Curlin - come on.

 Hal Wiggins stated he didn't know anything about the sale until Tuesday night and they took her out of his barn 5:15 am Thurs (TRN 5-8)

  This is the other thing that isn't sitting well with people

I attended my first ever horse racing in India. There fillies/mares run against colts/horses everyday. Right now, there are more champion fillies than colts. Fillies beat colts in all distances including the St. Leger distance of 2800 meters. Everybody knows Makybe Diva. I am not against RA running against the boys, i just feel that since she missed the derby, running in the Preakness and winning it will be less memorable than if she win the Belmont. Let MTB prove himself in the Preaknes, then RA can challenged him in the final leg.

It will be all the sweeter beating and spoiling a prospective triple crown winner.

I can just imagine the size of the crowd at Belmont if such challenge materialize.

That of course is if MTB wins the Preakness. His connections better start praying for rain from now.

this just pissed me off. I was in the barn with Hal and RA the Tuesday before the Oaks, and Hal was like a proud dad, showing her off, letting me pet her head and give her mints, and just like that, she is gone, to one of the biggest a-hole trainers out there. I hope they do right by this filly. She is tremendous. Sorry Hal. At least you were the trainer on record for the biggest Oaks Margin of Victory to date and probably ever. She was almost Secretariatesque. The best image to me is her half way around the first turn after winning and the other horses just getting to the finish line. And Calvin was sitting Chilly... Insane

   I don't blame Borel at all for going with RA, I do hope that instead of Mike Smith on Mine that Bird, They put Chantal Sutherland back on Mine That Bird for the Preakness, Probably won't happen, but it would be right.

  I was sorry that RA was sold, mostly because she was taken away from Wiggins, who has done such a good job with her.  I am not surprised she was sold; her owner breeds to sell and that is what keeps racing going, unfortunately.  It is a very expensive sport. It is rare to find owners such as the Taylors who would not have sold Slew at any price.  

  Jess Jackson seems to me to be a good owner and he does care for racing and the horses.  He is also loyal to his trainer, so it is understandable that he would transfer the horse.  I hope she does well; thoroughbred fillies are sensitive creatures and I do wonder if the change will cause her distress.  

  As for running against the colts, it seems to me that is where she belongs.  Until she can meet Z. later in the year, the current crop of three-year-old fillies obviously offer her no competition. She is actually no more likely to get injured in a race against colts; there is a risk of injury in anytime a horse races.  These animals are young and the work they do is hard, all it takes is a bad step, or an unknown weakness.  

  I like to cheer for the "regular guys' too but horse racing is too expensive for many such people to participate.  At least the Arabs actually love and respect horses; their old stallions will never end up in a kill pen somewhere.  Ultimately, I am happy whenever owners who care for the animals win, even if they are rich oil sheikhs.  

JJ never fooled anyone with his bogus USA Today interview. This filly is his sure shot to the limelight at the Preakness and that's the bottom line. I hope she holds up OK, it's asking a lot of a young filly to tackle this with just two weeks between races. I guess her long term well being and the long term benefit to the sport by having her around for a lengthy, successful career, are of little concern to this group. Being seen is far more important!! Sorry Hal, you did a brilliant job with her and it's sad to see it derailed for greed and ego.

Jason most of these people are driving me nuts. Seems like most of them are over-emotional women. Do they really think they know anything about handicapping? And please tell them to stop feeling sorry for poor Mr. Wiggins who pocketed about a million bucks. Is this a horse racing blog or Dear Abbey? Geez!

Greg J.---I thought about Chantal for MTB, too. She did well on him if you watch those Canadian races.

Crushed fan---Most of the racing public does not know much about pharmacology in general, much less about pharmacology and drugs/drug testing in race horses. It would be a great idea, I think, if Bloodhorse were to arrange a Q&A with someone such as Dr. Bramlage or a veterinarian with a subspecialty in pharmacology/toxicology so that explanations could be given. I am in health care and I frequently talk to people who do not know an anabolic steroid from a corticosteroid from an NSAID. Having a specialist to answer submitted questions would be helpful in separating truth from speculation. I wonder if that would be a possibility....

Wanda,

You are so wonderful!  Your post is common sense and says it all.  It is a business and you can't put human emotion on the animal.  Good grief, I cannot believe how angry everyone is and how they slam people with money and how the horse is going to die if she runs in the Preakness.  Why have racing if it's this horrible?  These people sold a horse to someone else.  I don't understand why that makes the new owner a villain.  Horses get bought and sold everyday. I hate to say it but money is what keeps the wheels turning in this sport.  It's an extremely expensive sport and without these people's money, it wouldn't exist.

It tore me up when I read she'd been sold.  I

galloped a long time ...and when you get a filly, a really good filly, it is the most amazing thing in the world.  You never expect it like you do with a colt.  They are always something special.

When I woke up this morning I thought of Rachel "waking up"  and

wondering where Hall was.  Moving into a machine barn like Steve Assmusens'is so different from a small time operation with an old time trainer.  The pace, the help .. it's worlds apart.  She'll adjust, because she's class and she'll run because that's her job.  But in ten years she still remember Hal...I don't know about Steve.

Where is the horse psychic?????  Maybe she could ask Rachel Alexandra what she thinks about the sale?

Seriously, does anyone know what is the best for the horse?  It is worrisome.

Draynay,

You are the voice of reason today.

I think everyone is getting too emotional too.  Rachel will be fine and so will Mr. Wiggins.

I agree with Travis L.; all these rapid-fire developments have raised my excitement about the Preakness to a fever pitch.

At the same time, I realize it could be even more exciting if Rachel A. waits for the Belmont, especially if MTB is making a Triple Crown try.  And that could be what happens, if Rachel does not get in or if they decide not to enter the Preakness.

The two weeks between races bothers me a little, as it does Randy Moss, who writes in a column for ESPN that great horses like Rachel look like they're not trying when they race but they really are.  Maybe a few more weeks to rest and acclimate to the new barn would be better.

In any case, whether it's Preakness, Belmont, Travers or Breeders Cup Classic, this girl will not be in above her head.  Calvin picked her over the Derby winner and that tells me all I need to know.

Yes, it would be nice to win the Triple Tiara a la Ruffian,  but come on, what other 3YO filly is going to make a race of it?  Most of their trainers won't want to enter them.  So I say go Rachel, go Calvin, go Jess and go Steve!  Let her do what she was born to do.  

TO FREETEX: Thank you for your kindness. Much appreciated. :)

GREG J.: Love your 08 May 2009 2:49 PM post. Guess the politicians in Washington are not the only world-class hypocrites out there. Wish we could use real emoticons here so you could see a representation of me shaking my head.

Re FF's chances in the Preakness, I love that colt a ton, but have to admit my confidence has been shaken. Especially because Saez is going to ride him again. Can't wait to see how he works next week. Hope it's not another suicidally fast work.

Thank you for your reassurances re LJ.

 I think the fact she was sold is just an unfortunate part of sports. All pro sports have a business side, like when a pro ball player gets traded mid-season. It's hard on the fans.

Draynay, some of us are looking at it from a perspective totally unknown to you.

You've had battles before with trainers and we all well know your feelings about them.

Like I said before, with some of us it's not all about the money.

Trust me if it was, most of us wouldn't be doing this, because even the most well known trainers who have earned millions-hundreds of millions in purses, still face the same struggles. Yes this is an expensive sport for owners (most trainers also own horses) but it's expensive, volatile and a break even at best for a lot of us.

We enjoy the lifestyle, the connection with the animal and you better believe that most of us are animal lovers who DO get attached to the horses or actually any animal we're around. (Larry Jones ring a bell? Bobby Frankel missing the Breeders Cup to stay home and take care of Happy. Heck even Wayne has his pups that he's crazy about.)

Take the human element who actually cares for the animals out of it and you have a bunch of money hungry, mercenary people who will stop at NOTHING to win, make handicappers happy. Even Dutrow, who you defended at every turn, said he loved his horses and you believed HIM.

If it's only about the money and not the high one gets when their horse wins, why do people like Jackson buy them? She'll never make him back what he spent.

It isn't all about handicapping for some people (not that you could handicap your way out of a paper bag with your buckshot method)

I asked my trainer husband, a real man's man. He says all the money in the World can't replace THE horse. You can spend it all 50 times over and never find another one like it. He said anyone who thinks money replaces a once in a lifetime horse a) never trained a race horse, owned one or even saw one up close b)Has no money or c) a few things I can't repeat.

Face it, this blog was about how Jason felt kind of bummed and if others agreed.

We in racing know that they're usually all for sale no matter what the owners say, but it sure is nice when somebody finds one that they don't see as a meal ticket for life. That's what differentiates it from a business vs a sport.

Well let's see, If I owned Curlin and had 10 million dollars to buy Rachel, what would I do? I would buy her, ask Calvin to jump ship, and if she was ready, I would run her in the Preakness. When I decided it was time for her to retire, I would breed her to Curlin. There you have it, I guess I have a huge ego. I almost forgot I'm greedy too. Please get real people. It's a business and ALWAYS has been a business.

Also, most people in horse racing do believe that the fillies can run with the colts, if they are robust, large fillies like RA.

What I and so many others just can't get past is the owner saying what he did after the Oaks (which I totally disagreed with at the time) then selling her to someone he KNEW would put her in a TC race. Which, by the way, if he was going to do that why didn't he sell her BEFORE the Derby. Ask anyone who's won a TC race about which one of the three means anything taken on it's own. Sure ain't the Preakness or the Belmont.

Draynay- Short drive huh?

Handicapping and your name in the same breath is hysterical.

Hey Wanda, you guys missed a hellofa couple races.

Problem with people with money?

You can have it and be gracious like the late Bob Lewis and Bill Young Sr. Or you can be crass and vulgar about it.

You can also turn people off with sticking your nose in EVERYWHERE or by filing lawsuits against everyone who crosses you up.

Jackson only wanted RA because she's the 'it' horse. Can't make his own, Steve can't make them so they just keep buying them up.

What we see on here isn't the handicappers or the public that only watches the Derby. It's the people who follow it and love the good people and horses involved in racing, dislike the ones who aren't necessarily 'good' people or flaunt their money and thumb their noses at what's going on in the world right now.

No one can dissect how Hal feels since most haven't been in his place.For those who have, well all the know everythings on here will tell them they don't know anything.

Emotion is good for the game, makes people passionate.

Handle her with care. Remember WINNING COLORS????????

As far as a TC is concerned; when Street Sense won the KD, then Curlin won the Preakness, then "Rags" won the Belmont, THAT was as exciting to me as any of the previous years of having a TC on the line.  Throw in the mix Hard Spun and it truley was an AWESOME year of SPECTACULAR 3 year olds.  Rachel should race against the best of her age group!  Then take on the big Z (if she even has a campaign this year-hopefully!)  Hopefully Rachel will be kept for the Belmont and take a pass on the Preakness.  As far as the previous owners are concerned, THEY SOLD HER!!!!  Don't put a hate on for Jackson...someone was going to buy her i.e. Godolphin?!?  Yes, I do feel bad for Wiggins and his stable staff because they are the ones that have truely lost out on the MAGNIFICENCE of this filly in her future unfolding.  But remember, the owners let her go and that's AMERICA for you.  Rachel - have a GREAT and most importantly SAFE race career!!!! Blasi and Assmussen - PLEASE, PLEASE, take good care of her!!!!

Bring it on Rachel-I aint Skeered.  www.minethatbird.com

I religiously read all the blogs on BH, but this is my first post.  I have to say that when I read the email alert that RA had been sold, my heart dropped.  But after giving it time to settle in, I am glad she is in JJ and SA hands instead of IEAH as many others have said.  I am excited to see her in the Preakness, and for all those who are worried about the 2 week turnaround- my thought is that the Oaks was basically a work for RA.  She was never bumped or hustled, or bothered in any way- she went out and worked 1 1/8.  She did it fast, but was never pushed or asked for anything.  I honestly believe she's much fresher than any of the Derby horses (with the exception of MTB with his trip) that are returning for the Preakness.  She ran on a nice clean track in the clear, and they slopped around in quagmire for 1/4 mile longer than her race and got really banged up and bruised while doing it.  In my opinion, RA is in excellent shape to be doing a race in 2 weeks, and I think that is why JJ is going to do it...well, that and the limelight ;)

JAson - here is an idea - how about she skips the TC races and enters the Met Mile on the 25th - then if she beats the boys in a 3 yr old and up - she has really done something. This is getting bizarre.

Trainer Wiggins initally stated that RA would get a break after the Oaks, then specifically mentioned the five week break before shortening up for the Acorn.  Now with ego-maniac Jackson and Steve "the Artful Dodger" Assmussen calling the shots, she will be wheeled back in two weeks for her toughest test in the Preakness.  I sincerely pray that this filly stays healthy and sound.  I hope her new connections are worthy.

FF 6-1!  How banged up was he?  Wasn't he "eased?"  RA has to beat POTN and perhaps a scrappy Papa Clem.  Have not looked too close at it yet.  POTN at 3-1...gotta watch his works.  

Penny B – you are absolutely crrect!

Billy’s Empire – what I priceless experience – I considered myself

 fortunate to witness her work & watch her gallop at CD

Horse Frog – we do need more Harry Aleo’s

For Big Red – as a longtime reader of this blog (and Secretariat nut)

   Thank you for your comments

Karen in Texas – very good point about the separation of Cutlin/Pancho,                   Smarty/Butterscotch etc  

(saw Smarty last week – was kicking up his heels in his paddock)

Good idea about the steroid Q & A – a complex issue to be ure        

Also agree about Chantal for MTB – let’s hope

Sorry Draynay is not the voice of reason - I read this blog everyday

However - Draynay you are famous

Greg J.

Calvin needs to be on Mine That Bird!  I don't agree with that. :)

Big Red

My respect is starting to lesson with all of this with Fire.  I don't know what to think anymore.  I adore Larry but I am confused.  I read the article that Greg gave me and so why did FF have a bad Derby?  Was he that bad or was he really hurt?  

Thanks, Bradgm, appreciated your post at 6:17. I am 'just' a fan and I love the horses.

No, I'm not giving RA people feelings, but all animals react to change. She's having a lot thrown at her at one time and some high expectations of those who enjoy watching her run. And it didn't have to be that way.

I'm against hypocrisy and Jess Jackson builds himself up to be the saviour of racing, but he acts in a way that shows he only wants to build his ego. I was thinking earlier this week that at least I wouldn't have to see or hear from him now that Curlin is retired and now he goes and does this. In my post 07 May 2009 10:04 PM, I said then that we could count on her being in the Preakness just because of Jess Jackson's ego. Drats! or something like that.

O.K., so who would be a good jockey fot MTB? I would really like for him to win the whole thing.

Haven't seen anything much worth commenting on until now.

I'd have liked to see the filly run in the Derby but the owner was afraid of the backlash. Guess 1.4 mil wasn't enough to keep him brave, but 10 mil is.

For those of you who say it's a business? Well you aren't completely right. If so it's a business that you can't make money at. We see what's becoming of all the businesses right now.

The feel good stories, the good people and great horses will keep horse racing around. NOT the business end of it. Like a famous trainer said, right now it's a nightmare for handicappers with the switching between synthetics and dirt and the fact that synthetics are having issues of their own.

If it's strictly a business, please explain to me WHY attendance was up, viewership was up, but wagering was DOWN???????

If it's strictly a business, then run them in the Classic or the World Cup in Dubai, not at a measly 1.4 mil or actually much less than that at the Preakness.

Rags to Riches didn't become a household name for winning the Belmont.

I'm just very curious to know if Jess would have had the slightest bit of interest in Rachel if she had beaten the field by a half length and not been on the front page around the country. If he wants to show the world what a fab filly she is, why didn't he buy her before the Derby and run her there.

A sportsman? Not in my eyes. He craves attention. He wants to be the face of racing but come on, lets get a prettier face.

For those of you who say you're glad Steve has her? By the way, whatever happened with his last drug positive? The same drug he was ruled off for six months for using before? He was scheduled for a hearing last July, hmmmm, did I 'miss' the big headlines about that? Oh that's right he's innocent and is being unfairly singled out again and again. The hearing seems to be indefinitely postponed. Probably until Jess stops buying horses that keep him in the spotlight.

Karen, Chip says Mikey Smith.

He's from the same area the owners are from. Sure Leonard knew him from when he first started, like all of us who've been around for years did.

Won his first race at SF Downs, so did Garrett.

Mine that Bird is on the cover or Sports Illustrated! Not RA. No disrespect to her, she is a great filly. Im totally annoyed by the fact that they want to run her against the boys in the Preakness. JJ made a comment about fillies running against the boys and it being very hard on them. He should have stuck to his words that he would do whats best for the horse.

I think they should so some DNA or genetic testing on her to see if she really is a filly 100%. She probably has testicles up there somewhere. It happens to humans, why cant it happen with horses. Something has to be said about the great fillies not being great producers. Maybe they have too many male hormones going on in there.

I personally dont think her running against the boys is as good for racing as MTB winning the derby and potentially the triple crown. If she gets hurt, its going to kill the sport in the general public's eyes. MTB has done wonders for racing in the non racing world. Why try to spoil it now?

Brad! My home boy where have you been? Where's the rest of the posse?

Stardust...In response to your confusion over FF, yes it is possible that he just threw in a clunker. He had a rough first quarter mile and he may have decided he didn't want to try anymore. Like we have all been discussing horses are thinking, feeling beings and we all have bad days. :)  If they decide to run him I wouldn't worry, I don't think LJ would ever knowingly compromise a horse in his care.

I have heard Chantal's beau(Mike Smith) is getting the mount on MTB for the Preakness. My concern now is that RA won't run and Calvin will watch the race on tv.

I love race horses but sometimes I hate horse racing and this is one of those times.  It would have been better for Rachel to stay in familiar surroundings; same trainer, same groom.  I don't think she should run in the Triple Crown races.  Definitely not the Preakness; it's too close to her last race based on her prior race pattern. She's only ever lost when her races were close together.  However, I'm hopeful that since these connections did right by Curlin, they will do right by Rachel too.

If there is surprise, it's that the owners and trainer kept her as long as they did.  Big fish always eat the little fish.  I hate to see the new trainer get her-his record is public knowledge, there need be no re-hashing here.

If it took an ownership change to see her run in the top races, since that's where top horses belong, so be it.

As for the remark that it's a shame borel would have to choose between two special horses-untrue.  Only one special horse involved, and one very luck horse.  It's cut and dried really.

And the inferrence that a filly will get injured if she runs vs colts, get real.

Wasn’t going to comment again but

Katsan’s 5:55pm  - as one in the business - carrys a lot of weight – It is about the passion for the horses & the sport

Why so many of us who do not post are on this one

Bradgm –“You can have it and be gracious like the late

Bob Lewis and Bill Young Sr

Or you can be crass and vulgar about it.”

  Exactly!   Two fine examples

Same to Bighorsefan – with you on

all of your comments

Sorry about my previous typos

I can't wait to watch RA run all over these weak, average, slow pretenders.  Watching the Derby was like watching paint dry.  Many of these horses are going to see speed for the first time and wonder what is going on... The Derby was a rip off !  The best horse ran the day before and cheated us out of a Triple Crown. Funny the only thing that got in the way was the damn owner. The Preakness is over bring on the Belmont and RA vs QR !!! Now were talking baby !!!

Wanda,

Laying low. Well not really. Just doing other things. Still watching the racing in Cal, falling apart mostly.

For someone who said Mike will get the mount, apparently only if RA  gets in. Otherwise Calvin still has first call on MTB. You can bet though the gelding won't get a trip up the rail at the Preakness.

That move is Boo's signature mostly at CD, his home track.

The Filly can run in the Preakness, she's a big, fit filly. However, not much pub there, will be lots of speculation as to whether she could have won the Derby. Mad people that she didn't run and activists bragging that they scared the owners into not running her in the Derby.

Like a lot of well known trainers have told me and my buddies, have said on here or in other publications. There is NO earthly reason a filly can't run with the boys. Some 2 and 3 year old fillies are much more mature and race ready than the boys. The Derby wasn't really as rough as in past years. Yes a couple horses got squeezed at the start (uhhh MTB for one) and FF obviously either grabbed a quarter or another horse did it to him just from the way he ran or didn't run. But it wasn't a wipeout in the first turn as usual.

A bunch of colts didn't run like they should have. The track was sticky, easy to tell that in person. Funny watching some guys walk across the track with garbage bags on their feet and the ladies carrying their shoes on the walk over.

Sophie, I'm all for people loving the horses. But you're reaching for the moon on that comment. Like I said Fillies routinely beat the boys at smaller tracks. Females mature faster.

Winning Colors, Genuine Risk etc were definitely fillies and they had little trouble beating the boys.

Just like girls mature faster than boys same is said in horse racing.

P.S. there are horses that you speak of, they're called ridglings but the rest of the horse is in place.

If MTB wins, the negatories who always find negativity will still find it. (Mark's Dad, blah blah blah)

One thing to be a fan, something else to have conspiracy theories that make racing sound ridiculous.

Folks, the real culprit/heartbreaker is the previous owners who decided to sell.  I too would have bought Rachel if I could have afforded her.  Jess Jackson can't be faulted for pulling off this monster transaction.  Somethings in life are indeed priceless as someone posted earlier but Dolphus Morrison and Mike Lauffer didn't see "Rachel" in that light and I don't think that they would welcome any sympathy from "poor" bleeding heart bloggers.

Now unto the Preakness.  If she gets in, it will be a baptism of fire worth witnessing because there is a well prepared horse with speed, class and the "eye of a tiger" named Big Drama ready for a battle of the sexes and a crack at the track record.  Also, bear in mind that Mine That Bird is still a mystery horse in terms of his true potential (he really ran an awesome Derby in the mud by any standard ...no fluke, no fluke, no flash-in-the-pan).  Calvin Borel's choice/dilema is regretable but perhaps it wont matter if Big Drama obliges.  

These are interesting times in racing.  Don't expect a dull moment for the rest of the year especially with other stars like Quality Road, Vineyard Haven, Midshipman and "queen" Zenyatta waiting in the wings.

Let's move on and "get it on".

we all what this filly in here (preaknes) anybody can ride here and win (calvin's great) jackson is doing the right thing with money for horse racing only u and i can watch a miracle on the track, thanks to jackson (oaks, preakness & belmont)

Stardust,

   FF got taken out by papa Clem i think it was, at the gate. Getting body slamed sometimes is enough to tire out any horse. Then his jock hustles him to make good position, using up more energy, then yanks the poor horse all over the track. Finally the jock does something right by relizing the colt has absolutely nothing left and eases him. FF put up with a lot that day, so it's not that he was hurt, just that he had so much taken out of him. Not to mention grabbing a quarter then rubbing it in dirt doesn't help either. FF just had a horrendous trip.

terrible from all angles...I think Jackson needs a new set of consultants...terrible timing, terrible strategy for the filly, ...once again the old cliche is never been truer..."when you got money you're funny, when your broke your a joke"...to allow a guy like Jackson dictate the fillys' future is deplorable!

barb

Mike Smith is a good jockey but I totally agree with you.  I really feel that Calivin needs to be on Mine that Bird and put Mike on RA.  This "could" be a TC winner and if it is then I want it to go to Calvin.  :)

To no no no: Chances are very good that we would never have had a Triple Crown winner this season.  I was very impressed with Mine That Bird's win in the Kentucky Derby, but I am not convinced that it was not a fluke that he won.  Friesian Fire was injured at the start and Pioneerof The Nile for his first time on dirt had to contend with sloppy track on top of it.  If the Preakness is a dry track, I don't think he could have repeated the feat, especially since Mine That Bird is bred for distance and the Preakness is a shorter race than the Kentucky Derby.  Mine That Bird is bred for the mile and a half of the Belmont.  There was a reason he was 50 to 1 betting.  He hadn't won a big race like this.  His most impressive win before the Kentucky Derby was when he was 2 at Woodbine and that was a grade 3 race.  He was dead last in the Breeders Cup Futurity.  I am not jumping on the band wagon for Mine That Bird, he has not shown me enough to make me believe that he is the real deal.  The best thing he had going for him was Calvin Borel.  Rachel Alexandra has done everything to deserve entry into the Preakness and, if she's up for it, the Belmont.  She has done everything asked of her and has not yet shown what she is capable of, as she has blown away the competition without being asked for everything she had.  She should have been in the Kentucky Derby, as that would have been the horse that had the best chance to win the Triple Crown, especially after I Want Revenge was scratched.

It's about the horse

Read - Randy Moss is puzzled  -over at ESPN

"Bringing her back against colts two weeks after such an epic performance in the Oaks would be needlessly risking her future. She needs time to recover, and there is no justification for impatiently rushing her back."

Monica V, Draynay & Freetex - read Moss - not an emtional woman!

A classy way to handle this would have been to purchase her with the clause she completes her three year old year with Mr. Wiggins and they manager her thereafter.

The only reason they bought her now was they wanted to run her in the Triple Crown races.

Mr. Wiggins already said he would not race her in those races. I agree fillies need their early spring to adjust to body changes. For however long there has been horse racing there has been filly and mare races for a reason. For all those women's lib folks, the are differences in their development and she could have run later in the year at Saratoga and beat the boys if she is able. This would be safer for her. This is not more exciting to me, this is a huge mistake. The Preakness is not an easy race to win. It is not that kind to fillies either. In case no one has noticed gifted fillies do not find themselves in the Preakness because there is a spot open. Look at the history of the race. How many female horses have been entered in the Preakness?

How many have won? Has there ever been a filly that has entered in the Preakness without running in the Derby? If not there is a reason for it. Horsemen know how hard a race it is and do not put their prized fillies in it.

When you finish running her in that how about throwing her out there to do a mile and one half at Belmont! In three weeks! She does not even win the Triple Crown if she wins! Why risk it? Then to make matters worse send her off to

Curlin, which is not the best match for her. Although I disagree with the fella that thinks Native Dancer horses are unsound. It is the overbreeding of Native Dancer horses on both sides of the foal that causes problems, as it does with any bloodline. My thoughts will be with her Calvin knows her and he will take care of her, but he is hired to win not babysit.

What is wrong with you people ??? Run the DAMN HORSE !!! She is born and bred to run so let her run. Let her whip up on the boys ! This weak class of 3 year old horses are going to get whipped by a FILLY !  Randy Moss wrote this nonsense.....

"Bringing her back against colts two weeks after such an epic performance in the Oaks would be needlessly risking her future. She needs time to recover, and there is no justification for impatiently rushing her back. If Jackson is intent on entering her in a Triple Crown race, the Belmont Stakes is just as prestigious as the Preakness and the extra three weeks of recuperation would make more sense for the horse. Actually, targeting the Travers Stakes would be even more logical."  Run her in the Preakness, Belmont, Haskell, Travers and then the Breeders Cup.

RUN THE HORSE... let the athlete BE AN ATHLETE.  As long as she feels good and looks good run her every 3 or 4 weeks. If 20,000 claimers can do it I am sure an athlete like Rachel Alexandra can do it. Stop whining and crying and enjoy the best Filly to come along since Ruffian.  GO RACHEL !!!

Posters are saying how some fillys have broken down racing against the boys which is true but Go For Wand broke down racing in the BC Distaff against Bayakoa.

Half of you make me sick, it's to early for RA to run in the Preakness, her Oaks was a glorified workout. What about PC, POTN, and MM, it's to quick for Rachael but not them. If they break down who cares. If Rachael's not ready, for sure none of the derby horse's would be, did any one see the derby stretch run. Cmon all you emotional women, don't you care about the colts well being.

TO STARDUST: Responding to the question to me in your 08 May 2009 9:07 PM post.

Wish I had an answer for you (and me), but don't. I do not believe we can take anything ANY owner, trainer or jockey says at face value. The only thing I know for a fact is what I saw with my own two eyes.

I know for a fact that Friesan Fire had a horrible start and an even worse ride from Saez. The start definitely killed any chance FF had to win the race, but his 2nd to last finish was entirely due to Saez' impatience. He used his horse up early and quit on him late.

So a really talented colt like Friesan Fire is trained by someone who openly admits to being totally burned out, and he's ridden by a jockey of, in my opinion, questionable skills. Not a recipe for success, in my opinion. Hopefully, I'm wrong about this. I want to be wrong about it.

Anyway, I'm not the only person who sees it this way. You might want click this link(letitride.com/forums_usaracing.html). Scroll down to the Friesan Fire thread, then to the post by "Robert Fischer."

Once I do the stupid thing and fall in love with a horse, I remain loyal to him/her for the rest of their lives. But I have no confidence that FF will run good in the Preakness. Let's wait and see what his work next week looks like.

barb

If Rachel runs in the Preakness, she will probably win it.  I want for Mine That Bird to though.  Really Calvin should be on Mine That Bird IMO.  Can't Mike Smith ride Rachel?  I would think so. :)  I don't even think that FF will hit the board.  

sophiekea

You are so right.  If Rachel runs and gets hurt, there goes racing.  I really feel that she needs to stay with the fillies.  Calvin on Mine that Bird and take it from there.  I totally agree.  It is too risky.  She shouldn't be in that race.  That is pushing it.  

I'm sorry I didn't have time to read all 350+ posts so far on here, so forgive me if I repeat what someone else has written.

Rachel is a nice filly, but pointing her to The Preakness is more about Mr. Jackson than her welfare.  Wiggins is a horseman...she needs more time between races.  Why risk her health and stature?  

I feel horrible for Calvin Borel.  As an owner myself, I think putting him in such a position is...well...I'll be deleted if I say what I really feel.

To those who rationalize and say, "That's just part of the game...blah, blah, blah"  I would say, "Your absolutely right...it's the part of the game that drives people away from horse racing!"

To those hailing RA's Oaks, and/or criticizing MTB or this crop of 3 YO colts...lets go to the facts.  MTB's 2:02.66 on a sealed sloppy track, coming home in 47.1, is nothing to be ashamed of.  I love Birdstone, and in fact we have 2 mares in foal to him and 2 more booked to him, but RA beat Stone Legacy in The Oaks by 20.25 lengths...so what?  She beat a slowish maiden special weight winner in a small field on a fast track.

Throwing Rachel in against the colts, off a 15 day rest, at the longest distance she's ever run, in a full field of colts with more legitimate speed than she's ever faced, is NOT the move of a sportsman, or a horseman.  It may turn out very badly for all involved.

Let's look at the splits of the Oaks (where Rachel actually was in the race)and the Derby (where the leaders were in the race), keeping in mind the difference in the surface moisture.  

1/4:  RA = 23.85  Derby= 22.98

1/2:  RA = 47.76  Derby= 47.23

3/4:  RA=1:12.40  Derby= 1:12.09

mile: RA=1:36.71  Derby= 1:37.49

Are some of you trying to tell me that Rachel's race is THAT much better than MTB's?  Keep in mind that Mine That Bird was accelerating at the end of 10 furlongs, not slowing down! What if she gets pinned in by fast colts with an earlier turn of foot?  What will happen then?

Some horses with fast cruising speeds have no other gear!  They get challenged - and passed - by faster horses, especially as the distances increase...or their form deteriorates at longer distances.  I think these scenarios are just as likely, if not more likely, than Rachel running off from these colts.

I don't care necessarily if Rachel were to win The Preakness.  Good for her if she does...I will sigh a big sigh of relief!  I'm more concerned about her welfare, and I don't see her as laying over this field.  I don't think the times (especially under the conditions run) justify such a position.

I just hope now for a safe trip for all.

BIGHORSEFAN-I agree with your last post. I never saw JJ  as a sportsman. He thinks he is. he thinks he this great god who does all well by the sport.Not to me. I cant belive we have to listen to him even more now.

I love(d) RA-but now-ugh-I still do..just it's so hard to root for a horse when you're rooting against the people surrounding it.

I dont think fillies racing against the boys is wrong,but I also dont think it does anything for them. Why not try and sweep the Triple Tiara instead? Then take on the boys.

Why lament about the sale ? This is clearly an industry and breeding is the profit maker and everyone knows Jackson wants to get Rachel in the breeding stall with Curlin and make gazillions. This is no longer the "Sport" of Kings. Capitalism has seen to that. Having said that, Rachel Alexandra will not be long remembered for winning the Oaks, but if she wins the Preakness, the Oaks, the Travers or Haskell, and the BC Classic (if she can perform on synthetic) she will be lionized, never forgotten, and immortalized. She should have been a Derby entrant and thus possibly the first Filly Triple Crown winner ever. After the premature retirement of Curlin and Big Brown for breeding purposes, racing needs an injection of excitement and the filly's entrance into the Triple Crown lists does just that. There is a solid dose of sport in all this though the purchase by Jackson was a breeding decision. So no I feel no sorrow - horses are purchased and claimed every day - only excitement at seeing this outstanding filly take on the colts in Grade 1 classics even if it is one race late.

Regarding the impact of the sale of RA, if Malcolm Franklin ends up as the jockey for Mine That Bird for the Preakness, you heard it from me first.

I feel that Jess Jackson did alot for the sport by deciding to run Curlin at age 4.  But I was very disappointed in his decision to change Curlin's trainer from Helen Pitts to Steve Asmussen, and now, Rachel Alexandra's from Hal Wiggins to Steve Asmussen.  I think that Asmussen is a great trainer, but I don't like to see Pitts and Wiggins work so hard to develop the horses only to have them taken away.  This is part of the business but it is a turnoff for many fans because it doesn't feel like the right thing to do.  I was VERY excited about Rachel Alexandra until the trainer change.  But since then, my enthusiasm has waned.

TO: RACHEL S.

RA was doing great with the trainer she had,at least he cared about her,not just as a racing machine that Steve A. will certainly think of her. You are wrong,no doubt! When something isn't broke,it doesn't need fixed,period!

Draynay

you do love stirring the pot don't you.  Take a look at Jasons original post.  Mixed EMOTIONS about the sale...wasn't about handicaping. If you didn't want to hear about others emotions on this blog concerning this matter, then you should have skipped, as it was clearing indicated what it was going to be about.  As a horse owner/trainer of racing standardbreds, I am also well aware of how changes affect horses. Racing and training is stressful enough without moving a horse from a very hands on trainer who has done nothing wrong to a big operation like the SA, who I might add, is not always very ethical when it comes to vet work and not as hands on, in the middle of a major campaign. Thats not emotional, its common sense.  Oh and BTW handicap wizard, the Derby winner didn't come from CA, FL D or NY and came from 'off the well beaten path' to the KD.  Neither did the 3rd and 4th place finishers, with Tampa to Il and LA to Ark.  And for someone who defends BB and co as much as you have with such emotion, kind of the pot calling the kettle black. Add to that money doesn't replace everything and trainers, the good ones, care about their charges, Jones was a good example, was very emotional last year.  You can't take emotion out of the sport. Animals are not machines.

  Frankly, its a poor business decission to move the horse from a winning situation to an (for the horse) an unknown. Just glad they had sense enough to keep Calvin.

  As has been posted here, JJ certainly sends mixed signals in his actions and words.  Last year was a prime example, keep Curlin in training is good for the sport and fans, then say they're going to send him to Europe if he raced well on grass....

   Whats best for the sport and the horse is to send her to the Filly Triple Crown/Triple Tiara.  Obviously she can't win THE TC as she did not race in the KD.  I seriously doubt we will have a male TC winner this year.  Not that I think MTB is a bad horse, I think he is a good one and certainly more fit than most of the colts that were in the Derby and that is half the battle, but this year I think we have some very good 3YOC that either did not race in the KD or did not race well in the KD due to the conditions, et al. If Pimlico is dry and fast, I think we will see more 'true' preformances and I still expect MTB in the mix, but will be up against the normal Pimlico bias against closers.  If RA goes to the Preakness, I doubt we'll see her in the TT, win or lose.  If she wins, I would think they would send her to the Belmont.  If she loses, something will come up and she'll be on the shelf...or worse, retired as there will still be time to get her to Curlin this year. Winning the TC is good for the sport regardless of gender.  If she went that route, won the Filly TC/TT, further establishing her superiority, then once the colts were sorted out as to who are the best, race them in the fall, when she has the best chance to excel against the colts. If she had been geared and preped for the TC like Colors or Genny, I'd feel deferently. Rushing her, regardless of how easily she won the Oaks is not a good thing.

  Frankly I think the fact MTB won the KD, he won't be scaring anyone away, and think there are too many trainers out there with colts nominated to the TC that will keep her out of the Preakness, which will be too bad for Calvin as he probably won't get the mount back on MTB with the connections already in talks w/ Smith. I wouldn't be surprised if some trainers put their nominated colts in just to keep her out....Its going to be interesting to see what plays out in the next 5 days.

Wow,

Rachel Alexandra to run in the Preakness Stakes with colts?

Guess we didn't learn a thing from

Eight Belles' demise only one year ago.   They COULD retire that filly now for broodmare status.

Guess greedy owners have to learn the hard way, but shielding my kids' eye from the freshly euthanized corpse of Eight Belles on the Churchill Downs track last year (guess the green screen didn't go up fast enough) was enough to make me never want to see another "co-ed" stakes race.

That filly has proven her mettle now let's not break her down on national t.v. (sorry, still pining for Eight Belles)

If Rachel had run in the Derby and won, would all you people be saying don't run her in the Preakness?

Stardust, If Calvin had chosen to turn down JJ's offer to stay on RA they most likely would have put Robby Albarado on her, he is Asmussen's go to guy. I have just heard that the MTB people are talking to Mike S's agent so I don't know what will happen...they may be waiting to see what happens with RA, but if they sign someone else I don't think they would change if Calvin became re-available. Hard to say.

I'm sad to see you abandon FF, I would expect him to do much better next out.

While I'm not thrilled about the sale, (not just hers but any trainer that does right by a horse and loses them)I'm glad she has a chance now to showcase her talent against ALL t-breds and not just fillies. I am a firm believer in the fillies can compete and win against the boys..They are bred the same, trained the same (to each individual talent)so why can't a girl do what a boy can do?

You think it's safer to run just against the boys? They're still running on a track are they not? Makes no diff who they are running against. Nor should the timing in between races be any different just because she's a girl. It's one thing if the overall vesatility of the breed is declining because of breeding, but quite another in terms of what a T-bred is defined as and what they are "suppose" to do. I don't think the timing OR the distance or the competition,in RA's case will be a factor in ANY race in the US. The horse has never been asked, I don't think she's broken a sweat either, why not try to get her to the top? An undisputed Queen is just as good as an undisputed King of racing. The only difference is gender...Aren't we well beyond that now? As long as they do right by her, and give her the time she needs and not just be glory mongers, I dont see a problem with seeing how far RA can go.

IMHO

Crushed Fan:

At your suggestion, I read Puzzlement by Randy Moss.  So it seems most of the bloggers are NOT crazy, weepy, and other slurs put forth by some on this blog.  

I respect Randy Moss and his views.

Wiggins training produced the magnificient run we witnessed in the Kentucky Oaks.  He knew his horse and utilized his experience in the development of RA.

He is the trainer of RA.  

Jess Jackson acquired Calvin, too bad he didn't put 2 and 2 together.

Elaine

I hear ya.  It is really scary isn't it. :(

Barb I just don't see FF doing well.  It is too soon and IMO if he had a different jockey, then yeah maybe.  :)

Elaine, Stardust, ect. ect.

No one answered my question.

If it's to quick to run Rachael back  in 15 day's after a hand ride? Why isn't it to quick to run MM, POTN, and PC back in 14 day's after a grueling duel down the stretch in the Derby, Do you only care about filly's, and don't care if colts break down and die. Get real! and quit tearing the sport apart, don't like it follow croshaeing.

Bradgm, I don't see any conspiracy theories in my post at all. And ridglings are not fillies with male hormones. They are colts that have one testicle taken off. They just found out a standardbred filly named Arizona Helen has male levels of testosterone. Google it. RA is a filly, we know that. Im saying that maybe the lack of good production and extreme talent of these fillies may be because they have alot of male hormones. Could it be they have too much testosterone running through their veins? Its not a conspiracy its a thought.

And to think that running her against the boys is good for racing is not smart. Don't you remember the last time it happened (EB)? I don't think the public needs to be reminded of that incident and this will just stir up a lot of anxiety in the general public as well as racing fans. I think RA is a remarkable filly and wish her the best. I think JJ is not doing anybody a favor but himself by running her in the Preakness. Great if she beats the boys. I just hope she has a longer career than this summer because she ran her guts out like Rags to Riches did. How did that pan out?

I think MTB winning wasnt a fluke, he kicked into gear when the others were spinning their wheels.

I hope he hits the board in the next two races, I'd love to see him win the whole Triple Crown but the way horses are bred now it will be very hard to do. All those other trainers have excuses why their horses didn't win. MTB had a bad start himself and just cruised along til the time was right.

Im not just a fan, but a responsible owner.

Lets just all hope and pray that JJ does the right thing and doesn't enter her next weekend.

Freetex,

    You should go back and read Bill Finely's artical on ESPN, and how he feels that racing does need this, so obviously there are two respectable people with differing opinions. Finely actually is saying that Jackson's running the filly in the Preakness, and the fact that JJ takes risks is what this sport needs. I respect both opinions, but some people on hear get annoying. Some tend to forget the good and success fillies have had when running against colts. Winning Colors, went on to have a to battle with Personal Ensign in the Distaff i believe, and recently RTR beat Curlin in the Belmont. Also look at what Zarkarva did when racing boys in England, and what Goldikova did when she came to the US. Do fillies break down, yes, but they do when racing their own sex or against colt, and the same goes with colts as well. People always look at the negative, not the positive. Ask yourself what would it be like if she won? Racing would have it's next superstar, a filly who beat the Derby winner, and Derby runner up. This filly could go on to do great things, and most of you on hear seem to only want to hold her back. If she turns out to be the next racing great, then why not let fans, and even those outside of racing enjoy her? Try to concentrate on the positives, and not the negatives.

Longwaytomay, if RA had won the Derby, she would have been in training to be prepared for the Preakness. But she ran the Oaks and was in training for another race in 5 weeks, not 2. So she's had her routine, her handlers and her schedule changed all at one time. Any one of those can throw a horse off, but to handle all three at once may be too much.

Katsan, I like Mike Smith to ride MTB. He works with the horses and doesn't fight with them and I've never seen him overuse the whip. He's good with closers, how is he with horses that are up close?

Marapace: Nice post. I agree with you. You can't leave emotions at home when dealing with racehorses and frankly who would want to? It is the human emotions and their connections with these honest animals that bring most of us here anyway. If we wanted to see racing without emotion we would watch NASCAR.

I also don't get it when people say you can't put human emotions on a horse. I say that's a bunch of "horsecrap"...If you own horses or have spent anytime with them unless you are checked out you can clearly see the emotions they express everyday. Horses develop close bonds and can show clear distress when moved to a new environment. Yes...they eventually adapt to their new surroundings but it takes awhile. I say go ahead and purchase RA if you have the money to do it but how stupid are you to move her to a new facility and new trainer 2 weeks before you schedule her in another race?  IMO that is a bold move that speaks volumes. What it says is that the horse was never considered in this transaction and with the recent statements of JJ and then his actions I have lost my respect for him. Karen in Indiana summed it all up in her post. They are just seeking the limelight...again.........

  I think it will be exciting now to see RA race against the colts. Maybe this is the only way to prove if she is as good, to see if she can handle the short turn- around time like horses from the derby. I do hope regardless if she wins that she is not in the Belmont. The TC races have been the end of too many talented horses

careers in the past 10 years. Aside from her being in the '2/3 club' I think it is too big a risk; I don't want her career to be over by mid June.

TO:DRAYNAY

Many times I've shared your views when many,I repeat many didn't. But,you are way wrong stating Randy Moss is talking nonsense. She needs time to recover. How would you like someone placing a saddle on you just two weeks after you had won by twenty? I can tell you many on this blog that are idiots and don't care for the health of the racehorse I would welcome the chance to attempt to put a saddle on them! Also,MTB isn't a "mutt" he's a Derby winner. Get over it!

Draynay?

Take a handicapping class, learn how to win some big money then go buy a life, okay?

We've got your opinion, as wonderful and valuable as it is. We heard it we got it okay? Enough is enough. I'm sure you are too busy dealing with the IRS over your massive handicapping earnings to deal with the rest of us and tell us know how we FEEL about horse racing and you really don't have time to lead us by the hand to the Draynay promised land of wisdom.

Jason, maybe you could actually have a heart to heart with Hal, better yet his better half. See just how heartbroken they really are.

Personally I don't care if the filly runs in the Preakness. Truthfully WHO outside of racing fans even knows when the Preakness is?

This blog is about how people 'FEEL' about the filly being sold, our feelings for Hal and whether or not we think she should run, how we FEEL about it.

Not about telling OTHER people how they should think

Not even Jess can do that. Land of the free and all that rot.

So if 'people' want to try and force THEIR opinions on others and be so vehement, go do it where it's wanted.

This is for fans who care about racing, no matter how extreme some of it gets, even up to putting human qualities on a horse, it's THEIR opinion and this blog ASKED for THAT.

There's maybe one or two people on here who can tell us how it really feels, how it hurts. Maybe a few others COULD have, the rest of it is just PERSONAL feellings about how these people would feel IF they ever were in the position Hal is in. Guarantee Draynay nor 99% on here have ever been there.

Sorry if I swiped someones handle it's been so long since I've posted couldn't remember if I used it this way or not. Draynay, you see, I DO HAVE A LIFE, other than telling everyone how to think. I actually AM a handicapper.

I get it.It's a businness.With the exception of a few most owners of a RA would sell if they were fortunate enough to own  such a horse. But, you can tell alot about someone by the company they keep.Hiring a trainer with the reputation of SA speaks volumns.

I like MS as a rider but get ready to see him swing MTB 5 wide when he makes his run. In fact he will probably have him 3 wide the whole trip.IMO MS is a negative for MTB.

Hey Brad hows mini me? I understand that some people have strong feelings about this sale but one can hope that the new connections will do the right thing by her. Personally I think it's a tough call to wheel her back in 2 weeks but she's in a shedrow that has trained many graded stakes winners. They have paid an awful lot of money for her and I can't believe they would gamble with her that way. Regardless of how this plays out she still is an exceptional racehorse and should be very tough down the road.

Bradgm---I saw the story on Arizona Helen, too. She is being considered a hermaphrodite, and I think it stated that she/he will have to compete as a male from this point forward.

What a bunch of cry babies ! Horses get claimed and yanked off the track to new owners all the time.  They are going to treat her like a queen and she is going to run like she was born and bred to do.  Horses run back after 2 weeks all the time haven't any of you ever been to Beulah Park ? If she trains well and comes out to the race well there is NO REASON not to run her in the Preakness and then the Belmont.  What happend to Eight Belles has nothing to do with the fact males were in the race.  Horses get hurt all the time its part of the sport.  There is no reason to believe she is more at risk running against the fluke and the rest of the boys. Go RACHEL !!! Preakness, Belmont, Haskell, Travers.....Breeders Cup vs Quality Road.

Karen in Indiana,

 Not looking for a fight but I respectfully disagree. Rachel has been in training for the Oaks. PERIOD. Wiggins said after the Oaks they were thinking about the Acorn as her next race. Her training and race schedule has not been a whole lot different than the colts she will face in the Preakness. In fact, I feel that the Oaks was nothing more than a glorified workout. I do agree the change of trainer could be a serious distraction for the horse. I honestly believe that if she does not appear to be 100% both physicaly and mentally, they will not run her in the Preakness and will wait untill the Belmont.

Will someone please answer Travis L. I can't wait to hear your explanation!

JORDAN L

Well said!

Travis L

If you want my honest opinion.  I feel that it is too soon to run any horse this soon.   That is what I hate about the TC.  :)

Rachel should gallop in the Preakness, but if she doesn't, it won't be because she's not talented enough. It's one thing to be a sportsman with a strapping, seasoned, 4-year old colt like Curlin. It's quite another to yank a 3-year old filly away from everything she knows - her groom, her trainer, her barn  - and the very next week throw her in a classic race against the boys. I'm not trying to be sentimental, I just think fillies more so than colts thrive in their routine, with what is familiar, and if Rachel turns in a sub par effort, it will be for those reasons. She's a superstar, but she's not a machine. I know it's not customary to leave a newly purchased horse with its current trainer, but in this case, I think Jess Jackson would have gotten a standing O for doing just that. Lord knows Assmussen doesn't need one more  horse in his mega-stable. It shouldn't have hurt the owner/trainer relationship too much. Seems like a lot of the fans Jackson made during Curlin's 2008 campaign have now turned against him. He has been a great ambassador for the sport (reminds me very much of Allen Paulson), but this just feels wrong. It would have been enough to face boys in the Belmont and Zenyatta in the fall. This just smacks of ego and impatience.

Sophiekea...Last years Ky derby was NOT the "last time" a filly ran against males, apparently  you only watch the races once a year. If you saw the Breeders Cup you would have seen a filly beat the boys(Goldikova). Evita Argentina won a stakes race against boys this year at Santa Anita. And just last weekend girls came in first and second over boys in Churchill's first 2y/o stakes race (I know girls mature faster, but its still an example of girls not dying in stakes company with boys :) ). And using Rags to Riches as an example of how bad it is to race against boys doesn't hold water...she won, came out of the race FINE and then broke a leg in her next race against fillies. Her injury had nothing to do with the Belmont!

MyJuliet...I would like clarification of your thoughts on the TC being the "end" of so many horses. IMO we have lost them to greed and the breeding shed not because of the TC.

IMO we have not had a TC winner in so long because of the soft schedules the horses have, if you look back to the 40's and the 70's, horses had the most starts at 2 and before the TC at 3 and those two decades produced 4 & 3 TC winners respectively.

Wanda, not so mini anymore.

Sophie et al.

Ladies please. One animal out of how many thousands????

Are you up on what is done as far as testing etc on Thoroughbreds???

"Part of the registration process for registering a thoroughbred foal is obtaining a DNA sample to submit for testing. The DNA is contained in the root head of the mane hairs."

There is even a website which tells you how to take the sample, send it to the Jockey Club, can provide it if you'd like.

This was explained to me by someone who USED to post on here. Someone who actually knows the process, also knows how it feels to lose a horse out of left field.

The WAY this was done, after the sale of the filly was turned down. That's a definite bummer.

So you 'ladies' are saying that because RA is an awesome filly she's a hermaphrodite? My, my that's sexists IMHO.

So, Winning Colors, Genuine Risk, Sharp Cat, Zenyatta, Landaluce, Ruffian, etc, etc all awesome fillies who wiped the floor up with almost every filly they ran against at one time or another may not have been a filly????? Wrong.

That's why they have DNA testing in TB's. The potential for ringers is why they tattoo them, microchip them, witness the breeding and don't allow AI.  

Like somebody said, Katsan??? there are sure a lot of out of work trainers on here.

I think opinions on how everyone FEELS is fine. Trying to dissect this and turn it into something it isn't seems to me that it's best left for the experts and insiders.

Hey Travis L: I hope I'm not one of the sniveling females you referred to but just in case I am; my feeling the Preakness is too soon for Rachel has nothing to do with the fact she is a filly and not a colt.  Rather it has to do with what has worked for her in the past and what has not.  Also, what she was being prepared for, not to mention she has been jerked from the barn she's known her whole racing life to a new situation.  No matter whether we're talking fillies or colts; horses need time to adjust.  I would feel no differently if we were talking about a truly great colt. Kudos to Gary and marapace; I enjoyed your comments.

I am a huge racing fan like the rest of you but I cannot understand some of the comments I am reading here.  Who here would not have bought her if they could?  Why is Mr. Jackson a bad guy for doing just that? Racing isn't about the money, as the vast majority of people in racing are just getting by if not losing money.  Yes there are some very wealthy people in racing (I wish I were one of them!) but that has always been the case.  In fact much more so in the past when there were so many big breed to race operations.  Are we just jealous because he could afford her? Her owners did not HAVE to sell her! If she were mine no amount of money could have bought her.  But she didn't belong to any of us. As far as switching trainers, I feel bad for Mr. Wiggins but what owner that is already established with someone is not going to switch? It is obvious that he was doing great with her but her new owner has every right to do what he feels comfortable with! Why on earth should that make anyone angry and especially so angry as to lose interest in racing..?  Mr. Jackson seems to want to help out racing and that is a good thing.  And for those who still say Curlin only ran at 4 due to the legal complications - if that were true then he would still be racing because that mess is still not resolved.  

p.s. Sophie a ridgling is a male animal with an undescended testicle.

If the owner wants to save him as a stallion, surgery is done to place it/them correctly otherwise the ultimate equipment change and he's a gelding.

Standardbreds and TB's obviously don't have the same registration/breeding criteria. Just as QH's have a different standard from TB's.

I'm not even sure what that comment was all about anyway????

I have watched a lot of races, am friends with trainers who have run some great fillies who could beat nearly any colt.

barb: Rags to Riches did NOT break her leg please clarify that statement.

KateC

I so agree with you.  This filly has been with these connections all this time and now this?  Horses are not machines.  They have feelings too.  To this day, I truly believe that the reason Lava Man didn't do well there for awhile was because of losing his groom.  I believe that there was a very strong connection there and it affected the horse a lot.  

JordanL

Wonderful Post!

it appears the other owners are trying to over book the preakness to stop RA from getting in.

thats very low

Not that Jess Jackson cares about what any of us thinks he should care for the horse he just paid a boat load of money for. I don't care how good she is or maybe. She is still a horse who in the span of two weeks has won a Grade 1,  been vetted and is with a new barn, new groom ,new routine and will be asked to get on a plane(has she even flown before?)and face multi. Grade 1 winning boys. Thats a tall order for any horse. How about skipping the Preakness to see if Mine That Bird can get the second jewel. Them try for the Belmont if there is no Triple Crown on the line. That would make the most sense. Then again it made no sense what so ever taking that filly from Hal Wiggins. I'm sure he and his staff would of been more than able to campaigne her in the manner Jess Jackson wants for her.

What's the issue with IEAH? I think they've done well by Big Brown and Stardom Bound and they're building a state-of-the-arts equine hospital in New York and naming it after the Equine Queen to end all Equine Queens - Ruffian.  So, Dutrow went overboard bragging about Big Brown.  If I had a wondrous god of a horse like Big Brown, I'd be bragging too. Now, about Alexandra the Great.  Rumor has it that the POTN connections (and perhaps others) are going to put in other nominated colts to complete the 14 limit for the Preakness and thus keep Rachel out. I can't think of anything more cowardly or unsportsmanlike. Now if she's not in the race, the connections of any colt that wins will have to answer the dreaded question "But could your horse have beaten the Filly?" I dare say the answer would be "NO".

Draynay

  obviously your lack of hands on knowledge is very apparent and missing much of the point of a number of these postings.  Yes claimers change hands.  And is often the case, claimers don't preform as well under their new handlers until the new connections get to know the horse.  If they do comeback as well or better the next time out, usually it has to do with prior conditioning and not what the current staff are doing.  It is rare to have a claimer maintain or improve immediately off a claim and note that I said immediately.  Having horses come and go out of my barn, I can tell you as a fact that EVERY horse reacts to the change.  There are changes to feed, water, supplements, vet care, shoeing, excercise and general routine and handlers.  As each horse is an individual, each responds differently. Put human emotions on it if you want or not, but point of fact is they ALL respond.  Yes RA will be treated like a Queen, but there is no way SA is going to do things exactly the same as HW.  How RA reacts is yet to be seen, but the main point is why risk it? She was in capable hands that didn't need to change in the middle of a campaign. Comparing RA situation to claimers is not really appropriate.  Plus if every claimer maintained or improved off the claim and changes, a lot more would change hands than do.

  For those that question running the Filly against the colts, especially those that keep refering to EB, I do agree with Draynay and others.  There is nothing wrong with a exceptional filly such as RA taking on the colts. And obviously you missed some very talented fillies and mares kick some colt butt last year right here in the good old US in high profile televised venues. What happened to EB was NOT because she was racing against the colts or the Derby or the distance.  There are many photos of EB during and immediately after the race that showed she was fine.  She took a bad step. Probably has more to do with her breeding as the Unbridled Songs tend to be fragile than anything else, just like some people bruise easier than others. Accidents happen both in the morning and the afternoon.  Thought is IWR hurt him self in the stall.  Big Drama hurt himself in his stall earlier this year.  Does that mean we have to quit putting horses in stalls because they might get hurt??  Fillies race colts everyday somewhere in the world.  Used to happen much more in the US until the focus on preserving stallion breeding prospects became more important than actual racing, another rub pointed out in these blogs. I only question the doing it now.  RA was not prepared for this kind of a campaign.  Her spacing of races, excercise and workouts reflect that.  Yes she was prepared differently than the colts on the TC trail. Yes we would feel differently if she was prepared and raced into the Derby and beyond.  I agree that she should take on the colts, I just don't think that the timing, running in the Preakness is right for her particular sitation.  And again I'll reiterate, everyone keeps saying we need a TC winner.  Why can't she win the FTC/TT and folks be happy, then take on the colts? Thus we get a TC winner, conections get a chance to know the filly and prepare, and she is proven superior.  Makes more sense.

  JJ is no Paul Mellon, or other class acts like the Lewises, Alan Paulson Sr, etc.  

 And Draynay, the way things are going with QR, we may not see him again this year if ever if things don't improve quickly. GSW have been retired to preserve their stallion career's for less, which is too bad and has been very bad for the sport, fans and the breed.  Thoroughbreds aren't racehorses anymore, their stallion prospects, lame or otherwise, and once they get that GSW, their days on track are numbered.

Bradgm---I am absolutely not saying that RA is a hermaphrodite! I simply confirmed that there had been recent news story on a horse named Arizona Helen as sophiekea posted! I said nothing about RA at all in that regard. I have no opinion about her running against the boys and have not posted one word on that subject! And, yes, I know quite a bit about biomedical testing--it's been part of my life for about thirty years.

Great Karen, but I saw zero relevance on here. Not sure why it was mentioned or even pointed out that somewhere a filly/colt exists in a breed irrelevant to the TB racing industry. THAT was MY point. I addressed whomever addressed the inane topic. I heard about the findings, just didn't see the point in even mentioning it once, let alone reiterating to me that 'it' really exists.

Like we've said over and over again on here, newbis who don't understand racing, read this stuff and think people really KNOW what they're talking about rather than just expressing their feelings (the part I have no issue with as long as it doesn't go from the sublime to the ridiculous) Plus how many who post on here regularaly have admitted they don't read all the posts?

Man, we were talking and we sure wish all of you guys would pitch in, buy some horses, those of you who believe yourselves to be trainers could train them and we could at least fill the cards around the country and not have to cancel races or days due to lack of horses.

Ida, the bragging isn't the reason for the major dislike of IEAH. Personally I'm not too gungho for owners who have all the drama they do. Mike was in trouble with Security regulators for making unauthorized purchase for his clients, was censured, fined and suspended as a broker. Then months later, bizarre tale of threats. Ricks very checkered past, drug positives (a pattern it seems since Jeff also has had so many issues with positvies).

Stardom Bound is NOT the same filly she was before she was sold. Her owner and trainer were class acts who both got out of the business for health reasons.

WOW, where are these comments and opinions from? Why are you all beating up Jackson and Assmussen, neither of which I am fond of,The owners of RA accepted an offer for her simple as that, Sorry Mr Wiggins but when he cashes the % check believe me a lot of the pain of losing her will be gone, plus he lost her when she was on top,Everytime RA is mentioned I am sure Mr Wiggins will get his do which he honestly deserves, but this  is all about money guys,that is the bottom line,If it wasn't then RA would of never been sold, By the way what was the price on the filly, anyone know? And guys everything in life has a price, whether you are buying or selling. Just a very good deal for two parties involved, not us the general public, our opinions don't and shouldn,t count.

TO:HANK

So you're the voice of reason for Mr. Wiggins? You don't have a clue what he's feeling or will be regarding RA. Don't think for a second that you can predict how Wiggings feels! That's a joke!

Hank,

    Not everyone is in it for the almighty buck, I guarantee you if you had offered $20 Million for Barbaro after his Derby win to The Jackson's(LAEL) there would be a zero chance they would even consider it, Even for a second...

Mike Relva,

     Spot on regarding Mr. Wiggins....

 Hi Greg J- thanks back. Hi Barb- I was thinking of Smarty Jones and Afleet Alex, not able to run again after the grueling run of TC races. Big Brown ran once more, then retirement. I thought it was Rags to Riches last race, might be wrong on that. Charismatic, Barbaro, Eight Belles, may they rest in peace. I know they could have been fatally injured in any race, but it has been a lot to take in only 10 years. If a horse has a shot at winning the TC I understand wanting them in the Belmont but RA of course can't be a contender. My opinion is it would be pushing her too hard, a possibly very costly mistake. Plenty of races past that to consider. Just my thoughts. Thanks.

My Juliet...lol I was thinking of SJ too. His injury was not career ending but they sent him to stud(owner was sick and getting out of biz,so I can't call it all greed but...Smarty could have come back). I was under the impression that AA could have come back as well. Charismatic is not dead, he lives in Japan I think. Big Brown was lucky to race at all with his bad feet, his retirement didn't have anything to do with the TC.

Wanda...Rags sustained a hairline fracture to her right front pastern in the Gazelle,her follow up race after the Belmont.

Thank you barb for your comment. A hairline fracture is not a break per say which is what I intended when I asked you to clear that up.Most of the time it requires no surgery.

TO:GREG J

How are you? Thanks!

  My comment about Charismatic was incorrect, very glad to be wrong about him.

Hey Greg 2O million you are 100% correct, That horse potentially was worth probably three or four times that amount. at that time he really looked like a triple crown winner, stud fees, syndicate potential, ulimited situation, absolutely devastating loss for a trainer to have to deal with.I was in no way demining Mr wiggins I personelly do not know the man but I have friends that due, he is a very classy guy, excellent horseman,Top shelve but I disagree with you money is the controlling factor in this business,

Let's all remember this is a business first. It's a good deal for everyone in that respect and it gives the filly a chance to prove her greatness against the boys.