ProphetJoe

At the Fairgrounds in New Orleans… March 13th, 2010… 2009 Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra, prepares for her showdown against undefeated Zenyatta (my choice of Horse of the Year) in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes. In this race, Rachel Alexandra will face Zenyatta’s stablemate — Zardana.

Unfortunately, Rachel did not run a good race. Her connections say the she was not well prepared for this race and that they would likely NOT enter her against Zenyatta at the Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park (Arkansas) on April 9th. Meanwhile, on the same day, Zenayatta had her prep race at the Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita (California). As usual, Zenyatta started slowed and kept to the back of the field. On the 4th turn she was boxed in and Mike Smith (her Hall-of-Fame jockey) took her through the smallest of holes and asked her if she wanted to run… she did!

I don’t think Rachel Alexandra is a bad horse — quite the contrary — I think she’s brilliant!  But as a midwesterner, I get sick of hearing the eastern racing fans (that is, RA supportes) say how “one dimensional” Zenyatta is — “she only races at home on synthetic track” and “she is afraid to take on the big boys and risk her undefeated record”.  Bunk! Last fall, Zenyatta went to the Breeders’ Cup Classic and faced as good as, or tougher, competition than Rachel Alexandra faced in any single race last year. If you’ll remember, or if you didn’t see it, Zenyatta did something no other filly has ever done. Just watch it…

Rachel may be a champion in her own right, but Zenyatta is a monster horse. Undefeated and with the speed, stamina, and determination of Secretariat!