Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Pasturelands — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:22:20 GMT

Wow, this Christine is fast. Thanks a lot, Jason, for the heads-up!

while Christine is the "hot" horse right now, we may have to wait a bit more to see if she got the stamina to outlast the 2010 season. Good luck! Maybe she'll be Eclipse Best 3 YO by year's end!

Looking at Christine, only makes me appreciate RACHEL even more-- she truly is a GEM of a horse. She not only DESTROYED all the females in Grade 1 races, she also was UNDEFEATED by any MALE horse (young or older) in Grade 1 races on dirt. WOW! And she demolished Males not just once, but THRICE!! That's my RACHEL!!

DRAYNAY: You are right-- Zen has never defeated a single male horse on dirt! Last time she defeated females on dirt was 2 years ago at the 2008 AB. I think the handicappers will put Rachel a slight favorite over Zenyatta at the Apple Blossom.

I was watching Rachel's last workout at Youtube, and I can say that, unlike what naysayers say, she's actually a lot stronger and "friskier" than before. It seemed the Woodward didn't do any real damage to her, and that's good to see.

In fact, Terry was "holding down" Rachel so hard, he's almost standing up vertical from the saddle! It looks to me that Terry has a lot harder time keeping Rachel down, than he did last year, prepping up Rachel for the Haskell. So, I disagree that Rachel is slow-- Terry and Asmussen just wanna make sure that Rachel doesn't run amok all over the track, and get injured! And Asmussen himself is not so bothered-- her final 22 sec final furlong is amazing!

GO, GO, Rachel! KICK THEIR BUTTS IN THE NEW ORLEANS LADIES!! WOOHOO!

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Maggie — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:42:54 GMT

I think she would do good against the boys. She did a wonderful race here and has a good future.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Householder — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:57:44 GMT

How cool is this?

"As the field for Saturday's 300,000 Santa Margarita moved toward the final turn, Gomez could not help noticing that rival jockeys kept checking over their shoulders for the heavily favored Life is Sweet.

"They were all looking back at me."

Life is Sweet went on to defeat Grade 1 Winner Santa Teresita in the Grade 1 race.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Householder — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:25:01 GMT

What we do know is that Zenyatta runs well fresh. Take a look at what she did to Life is Sweet in the Milady coming off a 7 month layoff. Life is Sweet had been picking up graded stakes wins across town against Grade 1 company. She owned Santa Anita's winter meet and if you did not catch her in the BC Lady's Classic your loss.

Take a look at what Zenyatta did to Ginger Punch coming off a 3 month lay off. She was 8 lengths ahead of Ginger Punch in the Apple Blossom. She humiliated the Eclipse award winner.

Moss has thrown down the gauntlet. Where going to find what races RA is entered in and enter! We are going to track her down.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Footlick — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:56:46 GMT

Fire Slam- Give it up. There are may closers who have won without a 22 and change pace. Of course if it's too fast it DOESN'T hold up. But many closers have won off of less taxing fractions. Your father must have told you that if he trained his horses to come from off the pace. You are the one who is wrong. I don't argue and you know it, so instead you turn it into I don't know anything. Again, resorting to insults. As usual. Good bye!

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Fire Slam — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:19:00 GMT

Foot Lick--

You must be watching other races then everyone else. Don't know how many times horse go 22 and change, and falter, because the pace was too fast. And then a late runner comes running and wins.

Your just wrong on the pace. If it is fast, too fast, it don't hold up, and sits up for a closer.

The end. Don't have time to argue with someone who don't know anything.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Footlick — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:04:56 GMT

Dray- I haven't mentioned either of them, but you mention one quite a lot.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Fire Slam — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 04:22:32 GMT

Tim G--

I agree with you. A horse like Zen, don't think it matters about pace up front.

Unless a monster like RA is up there. Also agree I hang around some really bad riff-raff. Nothing like race trackers. See and hear some very bad things.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Tim G — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:17:08 GMT

Geez, post less and read more.

YOU said that Rachel VS Zenyatta, Rachel RUNS her races while others set Zenyatta's race up for her and she just runs down the lane. THAT is basically saying that a horse who only runs that last quarter or less, is a lesser horse. THAT is the way you presented it.

Truth is, a closer better be keeping in contact, running their race, have an afterburner and a smart strategic jock on them or they DO lose contact with the field and cannot recover. It almost happened to Zen when Mikey tried to control her too much and not let her run her style.

Trainers who put a rabbit in a race, KNOW they have to have a quick pace for their closer to win. If you have a closer who can be strategic like Zen, then a soft pace isn't as harmful.

You need to start hanging out with more knowledgeable horsemen, stay away from the riff-raff.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

carolyn — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:17:44 GMT

Who in the world can predict how Rachel will run this year? Everyone is speculating how she can beat all horses, she hasn't came onto the tracks yet, she may not be as good as last year, who knows, hell who can predict?, I am a Zenyatta fan, but until she hits the track we can't predict her either. I do know we haven't heard anything of RA since Sept. We have heard she is galloping and jogging, so we can't say, can we? I have heard of Zenyatta's timed workouts, but nothing on Rachel yet. So all fans of both sides can only wait and see what the horse and the racing god's have in store for us......they both may be better off in the breeding shed this year. As far as Rachel, it was easier to predict how Curlin would come back the next year, but I don't think it will be that easy to predict how Rachel will come back this year. Speedball horses may give it all one year and be wiped out the next. We will have to wait and see?

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Footlick — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:58:27 GMT

Fire Slam- You always start insulting people when you know they have just proved you wrong or can't refute what they have said. I'm not rising to the bait. Closers have closed into soft fractions since racing began. The use of a rabbit was to tire or excite a free-running committed front runner like Bold Ruler or Dr Fager. Only people who don't know how to use rabbits use them against tractable horses. That's why the modern-day rabbit doesn't work.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Draynay — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:33:37 GMT

AHHHHHHH ! If I have to hear one more word about Zenyatta who has yet to beat a single male on dirt I may go nuts.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Fire Slam — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:11:07 GMT

Foot Lick--

Your assumption is exactly why RA would beat Zen.

It is Know myth that closers cant catch soft fractions. If it was, then why do trainers continue to throw rabbits in races, to set it up for closers????

Fast paces sits it up for closers to come with a run.

Are ya serous that you don't understand that? Hope you never give handicapping lessons!! Ha Ha!!

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Fire Slam — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:07:48 GMT

TIM G--26 Jan 2010 3:18 PM

Fire Slam are you REALLY a horseman? Can't be. No legitimate horseman thinks a horse should only run gate to wire.

Those are your words to my original post about Rachel running gate to wire. Where did I say horses should run gate to wire? Now, I know what I typed. I said Rachel runs gate wire. Are you trying to say she dont? I would like to know what RA you are watching!!!

Would also like to know what Zen you are watching. She stays back and waits, and then comes with one big run.

Where the heck did I say all horses need to run gate to wire. I said RA and you poofs know it.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Tim G — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:54:50 GMT

"Also, RA ran the whole race. From gate wire. NO SITTING BACK AN WAITING, while others set it up for her.

Fire Slam 26 Jan 2010 11:28 AM"

I didn't make it up, nor did I twist your words. I'm not the only one who understood you to say that Rachel ran the whole race and Zenyatta just sat back and waited for others to set it up. THAT is what you said. The fact that you said RACHEL RAN ALL OF HER RACES? How did you expect it to be interpreted????? Since she is virtually a front runner in all of her races?

Maybe a little less hyperbole and fiction and a little more on point, less speculation? Maybe the Fire Slam should be Fire Water? As in not drinking it?

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Footlick — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:51:01 GMT

That should be lose- sorry.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Footlick — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:41:00 GMT

Fire Slam- If a stretch runner just sat back and waited until the pace starts to fold, they would be too far back to catch any horse. If a horse is 10 lengths back at the quarter, and then still 10 lengths back at the half, they are running as fast as the pace. Otherwise they would fall even farther back. It's a myth that a closer doesn't run the whole race. Otherwise they would loose contact with the field.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Fire Slam — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:07:36 GMT

Tim G--

Just read over what I posted. Nowhere did i say a horse should only run gate to wire. Still trying figure out why you would try and change that around.

I stated a fact. Zen sits backs and waits for the pace to start folding. She then comes running.

RA goes gate to wire, and runs her opponents into the ground.

I will take a closer any day. I hate it when a speed ball is cooked by cheap speed. RA will hook a cheap speed horse soon, and she will get cooked.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Fire Slam — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:03:44 GMT

I agree 100% that a trainer needs to figure out the horses style. Zens style is to sit back, relax, and come running. RA is to got out and run gate to wire, no holding back. You run with her you get cooked. You dont run with her, you back peddle.

I never said a horse should only run gate to wire. Dont try to play it off as if I did. I said Rachel runs the entire race, with no holding back. Where as Zen sits back, and depends on others to cook themselves and then comes running. Nowhere did i say a horse has to run gate wire.

I hate a front runner. First thing my father did when the babies began to work, was work them behind horses, and teach them to come between horses at the top of the stretch.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Footlick — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:47:28 GMT

Carlos in Cali- LOL!

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Carlos in Cali — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:33:04 GMT

See what you started Jason,now people think any & all female racehorses can do what Rachel A. & Zenyatta did last year...off of a freakin' maiden win. (shaking my head)

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

TerriZ — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:32:02 GMT

Rachael Alexander look out; Secretariat's great, great grandaughter, Christine Daae is coming. And she has the looks and hopefully, the ability of Big Red.

It looks like it's going to be another fascinating year for the fillies; GO GIRL POWER.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Footlick — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:49:53 GMT

Householder- thanks for trying to get this blog back on track. Although I disagree with your assessment of Interactif, I do note Looking at Lucky an Blind Luck as threats. Let me wait and see about American Lion and Conveyance. I don't think Conveyance is in Congaree's league, but it is early.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Householder — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:09:22 GMT

Interactif may be in over his head at the Santa Anita Derby against Lookin at Lucky, American Lion, Conveyance, and a possible Blind Luck. Seems like a long way to travel to loose.

re: Could Christine be the Next Rachel?

Carlos in Cali — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:03:01 GMT

Fire Slam-- you cannot be serious.