Reliving a Wonderful Day

Havre de Grace is running in this year's Woodward. I think it would be fun to look at the last time a filly ran in the Woodward, and made history by doing it. It's hard to believe that this upcoming Labor Day will be 2 years to the day that the 2009 Woodward was run. Many great champions had won the Woodward before then. With the likes of Kelso, Forego, Holy Bull, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Cigar and Curlin. That doesn't include several high profile stallions. Up until 2009, all of the winners of the Woodward where male. It looked like it would remain a boys club too, until Jess Jackson who had won the Woodward the year before with Curlin made an announcement.

That announcement would lead to the start of what would be a highley debatable Horse of the Year discussion. However, that's not for here nor there. The announcement was that his two time boy beating filly Rachel Alexandra would entered unchartered ground for her. Facing Older Males at the track that is known for it's upsets, earning the nickname "The Graveyard of Favorites".

She would be facing Bullsbay and Macho Again, who had finished 1-2 in the Whitney to deny Commentator a three peat to the race. It's a Bird who had crossed the wire first in that years Oaklawn Handicap, only to be DQ'ed thanks to a postive drug test, UAE Triple Crown winner Asiatic Boy where two other participents. Stablemates Cool Coal Man and 08 Belmont winner Da' Tara where expected to pressure Rachel on the front, and last but not least Pass the Point who gave Curlin all he could handle the year before.

However, none of those horses had the record Rachel did. Under her previous trainer Hal Wiggins, Rachel won the Martha Washington, Fair Grounds Oaks and Fantasy before winning the Kentucky Oaks by the largest margin and just off the stakes record. After being sold and transfered to Steve Asmussen, she won the Preakness (with Derby winner Mine That Bird in second), Mother Goose, and Haskell (with Belmont winner Summer Bird in second). With Champion 3yo Filly honors already locked up and really nothing to prove against that age group, the race for Horse of the Year was set.

It didn't disapoint, as expected Rachel was gunned to lead by her regular jockey Calvin Borel (who gave up the mount on Mine That Bird to ride her, a mount he did get back for the Belmont, Goodwood, and BCC). Da' Tara followed her pressing her all the way, as they turned for home the horses who where up early faded... except Rachel. She was then tackled by Bullsbay, but put him away quickly and with one last charge, Macho Again who was ridden by Robby Alberado, the regular rider of her future boyfriend made their way to get way to the wire first. It wasn't enough as Rachel was able to hold on to defeat the boys for the third and what would be final time in her career.



Dispite Zenyatta winning the Breeders' Cup Classic, Rachel Alexandra had done enough in the year to win Horse of the Year. Of course a subpar year for Rachel standards ment that Zenyatta was the top dog for the Older Females and got her well deserved Horse of the Year honors in 2010. Rachel is now in foal to Curlin, and is expecting a colt in February. Don't be suprised if that little guy is the early favorite to claim the Triple Crown when he is three.

While Grace will be trying her best against the boys this Sat, she can look to the trailblazer that is Rachel Alexandra.

The Bull and Rachel: History! And Borail and the Bird back together

If you remember during the Travers Vault, I featured Holy Bull since he was one of the winners. Well ironicly Holy Bull also won the Woodward, which of course Rachel Alexandra will be going in this Saturday. Here is a video of The Bull's Woodward:



He was the last 3yo to take the Woodward... until possibly Saturday when Rachel tries to become the first filly/mare to win it (let alone as a 3yo.) Speaking of Rachel, her jockey Calvin Borel has found a mount for the Breeder's Cup Classic. And he knows his mount pretty well, Mine That Bird and Calvin will be reunited for the Goodwood and BCC. Now of course, Jess Jackson could change his mind, and send Rachel to the BC, but according to this article, she might be done for the year after the Woodward. It will be an intersting few weeks leading up to the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Beldame where should could face Zenyatta (highley unlikley though).

BTW since I didn't post yesterday LDP of Horsin Around was correct with the trivia question. Sara Louise upset Rachel in the Pocahontas (Rach was the favorite), in her defence though she ran into trouble in that race. It was also the last time Brian Hernandez Jr. was on Rachel, the next time which was the Golden Rod. That is when Calvin and Rachel turned the tables on Sara by breaking a stakes record. Those two have not looked back since.

Rachel to the Woodward

The Travers Vault post of the day will be up later on with Unshaded and Chief's Crown being today's recaps. However this morning some breaking news happend and effects this year's Travers.

Rachel Alexandra will not be going, Kensei will be going according to their trainer Steve Asmussen. Instead, Rachel will be going to the Woodward which is next Saturday, and could make history if she does win. This is because, she will become the first female horse to win this prostigous race. Unfortanlly, her detrators think she should face Quality Road in the Travers since many of them think he can beat her. I'm not so sure though as he is taking a step up in distance, going a mile and quarter. The other thing is he's not facing Theregoesjojo or Capt. Candyman Can. Mine That Bird, Summer Bird, Kensei, Chartiable Man (Who ironcly has the same breeder as Quality Road), and Warrior's Reward are no slouches. Our Edge has the speed where he could easily steal the race. Also with his feet, wouldn't you think that it would be better to wait a week and give them even more time to heal? Again this is just my opinon, I'm not a huge Quality Road fan, but I hope he does well.

This leaves us to who will face Rachel? According to DRF.com, Asiatic Boy, Bullsbay, Cool Coal Man, Da' Tara, Macho Again and It's a Bird could be her opionets. There is one tiny problem though, according to another DRF article Graham Motion, the trainer of Bullsbay does not want to face her. And niether does really Terry Finley the owner of West Point Thoroughbreds (owners of Macho Again), especially if she did in the Oaks without his filly Justwhistledixie in the race. Asiatic Boy has done okay since his move over from Europe/Dubai/South Africa. Cool Coal Man could challenge Rachel if his BFF Da' Tara has an honest pace. But even then, if Rach sits right off last year's Belmont winner he doesn't have a chance. It's a Bird was DQ'ed from his Oaklawn Handicap win and really has not done alot since. One horse who could show up and it will be interesting is Jonesboro. While he's based in the Mid-West, he has NY connections through his dam. She happens to be Hall of Famer Mom's Command, and Jonesboro is her only stakes winning foal. It will be interesting if these two do hook up.

In the end may the best horse (colt, horse, gelding, filly or mare) win the race. I promise to have today's Travers Vault post up withen the next 3 to 4 hours.

Update (4:39 PM): Just as I was looking on Tweet Deck (an application for Twitter, West Point will run Macho Again in the Woodward. Of all those nominated, he is the one other then Quality Road (who will stay in the Travers), fear the most. Especially since he's coming off a nice 2nd place finish behind Bullsbay in the Whitney)