Rachel Alexandra "iffy" for the Belmont
DiscreetCat
Moderator
from the NY Post:
A dream rematch in the June 6 Belmont Stakes between the king and the queen of this year's Triple Crown is getting iffier by the day.
The decision on whether to run Rachel Alexandra back in the 1½-mile "Test of the Champion" off her historic victory in the Preakness will be made Monday, when the super filly is scheduled to breeze at Churchill Downs, owner Jess Jackson's spokesperson, Caroline Shaw, said yesterday.
If she doesn't go in the Belmont, that frees up jockey Calvin Borel to regain the mount on Kentucky Derby champ Mine That Bird. Mike Smith, who rode Mine That Bird to a fast-closing second in the Preakness, is committed to ride another horse on Belmont Day in a stakes race at Hollywood Park, and the Derby winner's trainer, Chip Woolley, set a Monday deadline for naming his Belmont rider.
"They will assess [Rachel Alexandra's Belmont status] after the workout," Shaw told The Post. "Hopefully, they won't ruin everyone's Memorial Day, but they could. We want to be respectful of Calvin Borel. That's probably driving the thought on our side."
A source at Churchill told The Post, "It they do decide to go [in the Belmont], it'll be [Jackson's] decision. She came out of the Preakness pretty knocked out. Steve [Asmussen, her trainer] wants no part of the Belmont. She'd be a classic bet-against."
Borel's agent, Jerry Hissam, said he hasn't heard one way or another whether Rachel Alexandra will run, and declined to say which horse he would prefer to ride. But he added, "I thank Mine That Bird's camp for waiting to make a decision."
Though Borel ditched Mine That Bird in the Preakness for Rachel Alexandra, Woolley said he would like Borel to ride the gelding in the Belmont.
"Sure, we'd love to have Calvin back," he said. "He won the Derby for us. Who wouldn't?"
A dream rematch in the June 6 Belmont Stakes between the king and the queen of this year's Triple Crown is getting iffier by the day.
The decision on whether to run Rachel Alexandra back in the 1½-mile "Test of the Champion" off her historic victory in the Preakness will be made Monday, when the super filly is scheduled to breeze at Churchill Downs, owner Jess Jackson's spokesperson, Caroline Shaw, said yesterday.
If she doesn't go in the Belmont, that frees up jockey Calvin Borel to regain the mount on Kentucky Derby champ Mine That Bird. Mike Smith, who rode Mine That Bird to a fast-closing second in the Preakness, is committed to ride another horse on Belmont Day in a stakes race at Hollywood Park, and the Derby winner's trainer, Chip Woolley, set a Monday deadline for naming his Belmont rider.
"They will assess [Rachel Alexandra's Belmont status] after the workout," Shaw told The Post. "Hopefully, they won't ruin everyone's Memorial Day, but they could. We want to be respectful of Calvin Borel. That's probably driving the thought on our side."
A source at Churchill told The Post, "It they do decide to go [in the Belmont], it'll be [Jackson's] decision. She came out of the Preakness pretty knocked out. Steve [Asmussen, her trainer] wants no part of the Belmont. She'd be a classic bet-against."
Borel's agent, Jerry Hissam, said he hasn't heard one way or another whether Rachel Alexandra will run, and declined to say which horse he would prefer to ride. But he added, "I thank Mine That Bird's camp for waiting to make a decision."
Though Borel ditched Mine That Bird in the Preakness for Rachel Alexandra, Woolley said he would like Borel to ride the gelding in the Belmont.
"Sure, we'd love to have Calvin back," he said. "He won the Derby for us. Who wouldn't?"
Comments
why would i be bitter because your dunkirk ran 12-13 and desert ran 15th.. gee I'm not bitter i just get sick every time you open your know it all mouth ...never anything positive..........you post your your quips to piss people off .i don't get pissed off because i know your game.. i'm sure tomorrow will all hear about Smooth Air...blah blah...
No horse all year has come close to catching RA and Zenyatta will have no better luck. But I can see the plan for Zenyatta is to stay clear of any real racing until Breeders Cup. Champions race at Saratoga since she has no plans on going to Saratoga I have no plans on crowning her queen of anything but California.
As for Zenyatta, was very impressed the way she won off a layoff. That was surprising.
10 million is nothing to a billionaire. She is an athlete and is born to run.... let her run !!! Money means little they are more concerned with making history !