Magical Rachel

I took me over 24 hours just to think of the perfect title for yesterday's Haskell, and while I was thinking about that Quality Road throws down a nice race in his return. However, I'm not going to look to that possible matchup of him vs you know who until after next weekend (it's going to be another great weekend of racing including the Arlington Million).

Right now I want to look back at yesterday's Haskell, where Rachel Alexandra continued her journey of being one of the best (if not the best) filly in modern times. The way she put away not only Belmont winner Summer Bird, but superstar Munnings, that takes a champion to do that. And that's what she is, all of the other horses (especially Atomic Rain who probley should have been scratched with the way he ran and Bunker Hill who was only entered due to injury to his stablemate Musket Man) where really no match for her. Here is a video of her magical win:



Now that she's beaten the other to TC race winners, what's next? The most logical would be the Haskell, but I don't know if she'll be heading there for a few reasons. The first one is with Kensei's win in the Jim Dandy, it put Steve Asmussen in a bit of a pickel. Since he and Rachel are both owned by Jess Jackson (techinally Rach is co-owned, but Mr. Jackson is the one who is one calling the shots). Secondly, if Rach doesn't go, that would free up Calvin Borel to ride Warrior's Reward (who like Rach is by Medaglia d'Oro and he has yet to have a male stakes winner), and last, but not least the possible incluction of Quality Road. Many people think that he is the best 3yo male and the only one who could give Rachel fits. However, she could skip the Haskell for the Woodward. It's a mile and eighth which by far is her best distance (she can go farther as she showed in the Preakness, but it might be a struggle going a mile and quarter), also it would give her an edge in HOY over others by beating older horses especially males whose depth is depleated by injury, retirement ect. Besides, the 3yo male championship is still up for grabs. In all honestly, it's a four horse race: Quality Road, Summer Bird, Kensei and Mine That Bird. If any of those four wins the Travers, then they most likely win the Eclipse.

Also we are all clamoring for that much anticipated Rachel vs Zenyatta match up (BTW Big Z runs on Sunday and really the only horse who should give her fits is her stablemate Life is Sweet), and who knows if that will even happen. For now, I think we should just all enjoy this wonderful filly. Yes she has her detractors, people who don't like her connections and so on. However, this is the closest thing that I personally see to Ruffian.