By Any Other Name, the Same

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Schabelli — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:50:24 GMT

Go Da Tara!!!! You whipped what some ridicuosly called the best 3 yr old ever last year now do it again!! After you do stick around another year to crush the next "flavor of the year" horse.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Mike Relva — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:42:45 GMT

IT AINT EASY BEING GOOD

If you think this racing season is "boring" you must be nuts!

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Abbie Knowles — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:12:44 GMT

Now the Whitney Winner Bullsbay is heading for the Woodward maybe it will not be such a soft option! Here is a horse who is mature and loves Saratoga. I will be very surprised if he goes down without a fight because he is a Tiznow and they battle and battle like their great sire!

I love Rachel and she is great but she is not yet mature. Just hope this does not prove one race too many for everyone's sake!

Nijinsky II was unquestionably an all time great but even Vincent O'Brien and Lester Piggott were not enough to stop him ending his career in two heartbreaking defeats. Which were in no way Nijinsky's fault! They took him to the well too often!! No way should he have raced again after his "Arc" defeat!

Rachel has had plenty sapping races due to her flat out style of racing. One day it will takes it's toll I fear! Zenyatta is much better at looking after herself but then she is mature!

God Bless

Best wishes

Abbie

I bet Draynay really hates me but I do love Rachel just fear her needs are not coming first! I would hate her heart to be broken or for her to be injured!

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Mike Relva — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:27:44 GMT

IT AINT EASY BEING GOOD

What does that mean that Curtis Martin and Rice are below par? If you don't think Jerry Rice isn't the greatest receiver ever you must be in a coma! lol

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

anne — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:21:38 GMT

It's a Great move to put Rachel in the Woodward! The last filly - Lady's Secret- came in second in 1986 and still won the Horse of the Year! Jackson is playing it right.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

RachelSatterfield — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:05:44 GMT

While not the most exciting...the choices made here make sense. The decision had nothing to do with Rachel here I'm certain and everything to do with Kensei. Rachel they could have put anywhere and felt comfortable with it. Mr. Jackson wants to up Kensei's worth at stud. The Travers is a race to do that. Mr. Jackson knows Rachel would run Kensei into the ground. With her out of it, Kensei at least gets a chance. The Woodward is nice enough and she'll get a chance to beat even another group of horses. It's a grade 1 (be glad he didn't send her to Pen). At this point lets forget talks about Zenyatta (who Rachel would trounce) and hope for Quality Road in the JCGC (assuming his feet stay sound).

P.S. Yes Saratoga is the Graveyard of Champions...but obviously Mr. Jackson doesn't see it as so (I'm sure he views Santa Anita that way however). I can't think of an older male racing on dirt today that I can even put within 5 lengths of Rachel at the end of the race (hell I can think of few older males this year that warrant even being mentioned as top handicap horses).

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

LDP — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:50:17 GMT

If RA and Zen are to race then a perfect distance to comprimise is 1 3/16. If i recall correctly that is the distsace Seabuiscut, and the Admiral ran in their match. I'm not saying to have a mtach, in fact i am not a fan of them having one, seeing as how it would not play to Zen's favor, and give all her supporters and RA haters an excuse if she lost. So, why not lengthen the Beldame another 1/16 of a mile, that way you give Zen some extra time to catch RA, but your not totally handicapping Rachel, and not Zen.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

It aint easy being good! — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:18:51 GMT

No excitment yet what a boring race year, all these all stars yet no action! Rachael will face a bunch of curtis martins and jerry rices when she races she will win by 7 lengths. QR wins by a head to because he likes to toy with the field.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

OLD TIMER — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:03:38 GMT

Rachel is a great filly and great for the sport at this time.

Having said that, I have to agree with Abbie that Mr. Jackson is going for the soft spot with the Woodward. Why not the Travers? Could it be that they're afraid that she'll tire with the 1 1/4 miles? Could it be that they don't want to go up against Mine That Bird: Summer Bird and, most of all, Quality Road? It would be great to see all 3 Classic winners face each other in the Travers, but Rachel's connections are being very cautious.

Dray says that she "faces the best horses all year." Let's see who she faces in the Woodward. My guess is a bunch of Grade 3 good old boys.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Mike Relva — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:53:38 GMT

TO:FORMERGROOM

Get over your disappointment! I stated many weeks ago on Jasons' blog there would be no way that RA would run in both the Haskell and Travers. One would be excluded. She needs the extra weeks rest until the Woodward.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

ICEBEZEL — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:52:02 GMT

THE WOODWARD IS A JOKE, the older colt division is terrible. Bullsbay wins one race and now is a solid opponent? The woodward might be Rachel's least challenging race of the year.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

nickie — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:49:40 GMT

okie, Spa is the graveyard of "favorites"[nuance is the name of the game]...if I were a lawyer could parse the sentence "best horses" all year...she ran vs. 3 yo. fillies, 3yo. colts in the Preakness and at Monmouth[one could argue similar speed favoring ovals]...and yes I know the Spa can also be "front end friendly"...is ther a 3 or 5 pound allowance for gender in the Woodword. RA and connections should count their blessings that Woodword isn't run at "Big Sandy" anymore.Feeling here is the tighter turns[and 2] should assist her in he quest. It is a "bet against" for me!

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

keenelandcat — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:24:12 GMT

Woodard??? Who will be there to run against her? Einstein is heading to the P.C. QR & MTB are in the Travers. RA is a magnificient horse, I don't deny that. Although the Preakness was a great win, she pressed the pace & the distant suited her. One dimensional as he may be, MTB was gobbling up ground at the end. Borel had to push her hard & I think the end was closer than many RA fans would like to admit to. So, the Woodward settles nothing unless she faces a strong older group. Even if she races against a weak field, it will be remarkable for a 3 year old filly to compete against older handicap horses.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

GreyK — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:17:24 GMT

Draynay, you are so mellow today, I'm worried about you! Abbie, I think nine furlongs instead of ten appeals to the Rachel team, and they want to give Kensei a shot in the Travers. Quality Road might be a formidable opponent if his form holds up, but Rachel already beat the Derby and Belmont winners. What does she have left to prove among three year-olds?

And I'm an old lady with a feeble memory but it seems to me the one and only time Curlin ran on synthetics was the one and only time he finished out of the money in his career. There are no government death panels and Rachel isn't going to the Breeder's Cup, HFATC. We all must learn to live with disappointment.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Mary — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:59:40 GMT

Does anyone know how many fillies (or mares) have run in the Woodward? I can't find that info anywhere.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

sweet terchi — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:55:19 GMT

Dray, I agree with your post 100%. Well stated!! :)

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Bob Z — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:48:10 GMT

I agree with the above comment that Jess is shrewd to go to the Woodward with Rachel..

She will beat older horses at a distance that just happens to be her preference... If she went to the Travers that would be a much tougher race at 1 1/4 with Mine That Bird and Quality Road..

The knock on Rachel after she wins the Woodward is that she never ran or won at 1 1/4 miles..

The easy fix is to run in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles against older horses at Belmont on October 3rd.. Its the same day as the Beldame... They should raise the purse and invite Zenyatta to that.. the 1 1/4 miles would be to her advantage whereas the 1 1/8 Beldame would favor Rachel..

Then if Rachel could win the Jockey Gold Cup at 1 1/4 Jess would be in a better position to know what she could do at the Breeders Cup Classic... and then use the surface as the reason if she doesn't win...

If she can do all that they should put her likeness up on Mt Rushmore.. there is space next to Lincoln

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

lexxi — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:13:11 GMT

Don't be worried Abbie..you are absolutly right..Anybody but Assmusen( except Mullins or Dutrow, of course)...It's going to look pretty stupid when he receives Horse of the year award in january for RA, while on yet another drug infraction...

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

FSF — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:03:40 GMT

This is one of the most depressing sentences I've read on here in a long time, primarily because it is so true:

"... hope was high that the move would lure handicap division stars that could turn the fans on. Absent that (there aren't any anymore)..."

This should move to the top of the long list of things that are destroying racing.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Mary in VT — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:29:48 GMT

The Woodward does it for me just fine. Even with Rachel's embarrassment of riches, you can't righteously minimize a three year old filly taking on older males. It is one more extraordinary challenge checked off the list that will ultimately be compared to Zenyatta's very safe campaign. And no matter who does or doesn't show up, Rachel can always run against the clock, stake and track records, and all the great horses that have ever distinguished themselves in whatever venue her people choose to showcase her.

I'll be there to cheer her on. I'll even wear my least favorite color in this world for her - PINK!

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Oklahoma Sooner — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:46:44 GMT

Rachel Alexandra and her team must not forget one thing: Saratoga is known as the graveyard of champions.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Formergroom — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:16:10 GMT

I am disappointed in no Travers for Rachel. I understand the impulse to split options and move Kensei up, but I am sensing that JJ and SA are reluctant to run Rachel at 1 1/4 miles. She is much the best at 1 1/8.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Chris — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:18:46 GMT

Well, considering the older horse division is about as deep as a puddle in the Sahara, RA should have no problem becoming the first filly to win the Woodward. Yeah, it will be a feat you can't take away from here, but is says a lot whe Macho Again is the top East coast older horse. The field will be joke.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Draynay — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:39:56 GMT

I could not be more excited. Rachel has a chance to prove in the Woodward that she is one of the greatest 3 year old horses male or female ever. It is rare that a 3 year old faces the best horses all year and wins every race. Rachel has proven herself again and again and after the Woodward will be one race closer to 17 straight wins.

re: By Any Other Name, the Same

Abbie Knowles — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:55:53 GMT

Heigh ho so Rachel goes for the Woodward! But what will run against her? Is it in fact a soft option this year? Softer than the Travers would be with Quality Road, MTB and Summer Bird as well as the Charitable Man to face? i think it is! Unless the field turns out to be stronger than I anticipate! There are certainly no Slew o Golds or Cigars likely to be in opposition on the face of it!

i think Mr Jackson has been clever! And that even a win may prove little we do not already know about Rachel, whereas tackling a now fit Quality Road would have!

Oh how I wish Cash and not Steve trained Rachel! But then I would; Cash is my friend. I do not know Steve and don't like the medication infractions etc!

This is a controversial post I know and draynay will hate it but who cares? Not me! I write what I believe to be true!

Thanks for the diaries. Pleased that Alan Garcia had a great day - he is GOOD!

God Bless

Best wishes

Abbie