NYRA to offer an incentive for a Zenyatta/Rachel Alexandra matchup?
DiscreetCat
Moderator
from New York Daily News:
Racing usually always shoots itself in the foot, but now it has a golden opportunity to shine.
Some race track executive has got to come up with a plan to get both Rachel Alexandra and the undefeated Zenyatta in the starting gate at the same track and the same time. Unlike Saturday, when they raced nearly simultaneously but 3,000 miles apart.
Not a match race, but a fair race with a decent field size.
The race, of course, would have to be on the dirt and ideally would be between a mile-and-an-eighth and a mile-and-a-quarter.
Jerry Moss, who owns the 5-year-old mare Zenyatta, said after her Vanity score at Hollywood Park on Saturday, "I think we want to do something a little bit more challenging. We think she is capable. She's stronger this year."
There's no bigger challenge then Rachel Alexandra, and the race would be bigger than any the Breeders' Cup could come up with - since that is being held at Santa Anita, a synthetic track, again this year. Co-owner Jess Jackson has already said he won't race Rachel Alexandra on the "plastic" surface.
I'm sure the Breeders' Cup executives have to be kicking themselves for deciding to keep the event at Santa Anita two years in a row.
Instead, if it were being held at Churchill Downs or Belmont Park, real dirt tracks, they would already be promoting the matchup in the Ladies Classic - and that would be a disaster, too.
Since the Breeders' Cup went to a two-day format, the female races are run on Friday, so many fans would miss out on any duel. The brass has to keep the real eight Breeders' Cup races on Saturday, and move the novelty ones to Friday.
The New York Racing Association offers two spots at the upcoming Saratoga meeting that would fit the schedules of both horses - the Aug. 2 Go for Wand and the Aug. 30 Personal Ensign.
"NYRA generally does not sweeten pots or provide incentives, but this could be a situation that might warrant that consideration," said Charlie Hayward, the NYRA's president and CEO.
But as it stands now, trainer John Shirreffs is pointing Zenyatta toward the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar on July 30, while the connections of Rachel Alexandra haven't revealed plans for their fast filly's next start.
Possibilities include the July 25 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont or the Aug. 2 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park against the boys.
Yesterday morning, Rachel Alexandra shipped up to Saratoga, taking up residence in the former stall of Curlin - also owned by Jackson - at trainer Steve Asmussen's barn.
Asmussen declined to reveal anything. "I'm well-versed in that with the Curlin-Big Brown thing last year," he said.
Again, another mistake racing made - never getting those two to face each other before Big Brown injured himself while training.
"I'm just going to worry about her (Rachel Alexandra's) health and happiness, and then we'll sit down and decide what's best for her," Asmussen said.
What's best for the sport would be to see these two race against each other and soon.
Racing usually always shoots itself in the foot, but now it has a golden opportunity to shine.
Some race track executive has got to come up with a plan to get both Rachel Alexandra and the undefeated Zenyatta in the starting gate at the same track and the same time. Unlike Saturday, when they raced nearly simultaneously but 3,000 miles apart.
Not a match race, but a fair race with a decent field size.
The race, of course, would have to be on the dirt and ideally would be between a mile-and-an-eighth and a mile-and-a-quarter.
Jerry Moss, who owns the 5-year-old mare Zenyatta, said after her Vanity score at Hollywood Park on Saturday, "I think we want to do something a little bit more challenging. We think she is capable. She's stronger this year."
There's no bigger challenge then Rachel Alexandra, and the race would be bigger than any the Breeders' Cup could come up with - since that is being held at Santa Anita, a synthetic track, again this year. Co-owner Jess Jackson has already said he won't race Rachel Alexandra on the "plastic" surface.
I'm sure the Breeders' Cup executives have to be kicking themselves for deciding to keep the event at Santa Anita two years in a row.
Instead, if it were being held at Churchill Downs or Belmont Park, real dirt tracks, they would already be promoting the matchup in the Ladies Classic - and that would be a disaster, too.
Since the Breeders' Cup went to a two-day format, the female races are run on Friday, so many fans would miss out on any duel. The brass has to keep the real eight Breeders' Cup races on Saturday, and move the novelty ones to Friday.
The New York Racing Association offers two spots at the upcoming Saratoga meeting that would fit the schedules of both horses - the Aug. 2 Go for Wand and the Aug. 30 Personal Ensign.
"NYRA generally does not sweeten pots or provide incentives, but this could be a situation that might warrant that consideration," said Charlie Hayward, the NYRA's president and CEO.
But as it stands now, trainer John Shirreffs is pointing Zenyatta toward the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar on July 30, while the connections of Rachel Alexandra haven't revealed plans for their fast filly's next start.
Possibilities include the July 25 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont or the Aug. 2 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park against the boys.
Yesterday morning, Rachel Alexandra shipped up to Saratoga, taking up residence in the former stall of Curlin - also owned by Jackson - at trainer Steve Asmussen's barn.
Asmussen declined to reveal anything. "I'm well-versed in that with the Curlin-Big Brown thing last year," he said.
Again, another mistake racing made - never getting those two to face each other before Big Brown injured himself while training.
"I'm just going to worry about her (Rachel Alexandra's) health and happiness, and then we'll sit down and decide what's best for her," Asmussen said.
What's best for the sport would be to see these two race against each other and soon.