:ymhug: :ymhug: RACHEL ALEXANDRA DOES IT AGAIN :ymhug: :ymhug:
she wins the $750,000 Grade I Woodward at saratoga and makes racing history by becoming the first filly to do so.thus securing her place as "horse of the year".
pure perfection
video to follow.
PRE RACE WORKOUT.
Rachel Alexandra worked a half-mile in 49.09 in preparation for her attempt to rewrite racing history in Saturdays 56th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward
[video:1wn9sdxi]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_ZLZudXKMM[/video:1wn9sdxi]
THE 2009 WOODWARD @ SARATOGA.
[video:1q83yk5w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrTMpHvew0U[/video:1q83yk5w]
She does it again! Rachel wins the Woodward!
(AP) – 2 hours ago
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Star filly Rachel Alexandra made history at Saratoga Race Course by becoming the first female to win the prestigious Woodward Stakes on Saturday, holding off Macho Again by a head.
The sensational 3-year-old ran an electrifying race against the older boys for her ninth consecutive victory and all but clinched Horse of the Year honors.
Rachel Alexandra dueled early with 2008 Belmont Stakes winner Da'Tara before taking the lead along the backstretch. She set a blistering early pace on the way to running 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.29.
On the turn for home, it looked for a brief moment as though the filly would be caught, but regular rider Calvin Borel wasn't bashful about using the whip, first left-handed, then right-handed to keep her in the lead.
As they crossed the finish line, Borel raised his right hand in a No. 1 salute and pointed to racing's biggest star.
"The last 40 yards I was a little worried, but she just kept digging in," Borel said.
Rachel Alexandra beat 3-year-olds boys in the Preakness and the Haskell Invitational, and overwhelmed 3-year-old fillies in the Kentucky Oaks and the Mother Goose Stakes.
Only one other 3-year-old filly has run in the Woodward — Summer Guest in 1972. She finished second to Key to the Mint before being disqualified and placed third.
Co-owner Jess Jackson called the ride "perfect."
"She was ready. Those were a lot of big animals she was running against, but she showed her spirit. She showed her class," he said. "She didn't give up. That's my Rachel."
The 3-10 favorite, Rachel Alexandra paid $2.60, $2.40 and $2.10. Macho Again paid $3.80 and $2.80. Bullsbay, winner of the Whitney Handicap last month, paid $4 to show.
"She just ran a tremendous race, very proud of her," Rachel's trainer, Steve Asmussen, said. "Obviously, I was very concerned with how fast she went early, but very glad she dug in and won."
Earlier, Pyro outfinished favorite Kodiak Kowboy to win the $300,000 Forego Stakes by a half length.
Awesome! Truly Awesome!!Originally Posted by waterboard
:ymapplause:
RACHEL ALEXANDRA UPDATE:
Rachel Alexandra finished for season
Saratoga Spring
Tuesday 8 September 2009, 8:42am
The great Rachel Alexandra is unlikely to run again this season following her dramatic victory in Saturday's Woodward Stakes at Saratoga.
However, America's superstar filly is likely to remain in training for a four-year-old campaign.
Majority owner Jess Jackson is not keen to run Rachel Alexandra again this term after she took her winning streak under jockey Calvin Borel to nine in the Woodward, which was her fifth Grade 1 win of the season.
"Not likely," said Jackson, when asked if she would turn out again in 2009.
"She had a campaign since winter; this is the fall."
The brilliant daughter of Medaglia D'Oro has won 11 of her 14 career starts, all three defeats coming in her two-year-old season.
"She's raced more races in two years than most fillies ever run," added Jackson.
"She's done things that no fillies have ever done. She deserves a rest."
To add to her two wide-margin victories over fillies in the Kentucky Oaks and the Mother Goose, Rachel Alexandra beat Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness Stakes, and then beat Belmont winner Summer Bird in the Haskell Invitational.
She then went on to beat older males in the Woodward with a narrow verdict over Macho Again, a regular in the top grade.
"She's a very special horse," said trainer Steve Asmussen.
"For the races that she's run recently and the way she did it under those circumstances [at Saratoga], she proved her mettle."
Jackson said his filly was a "little tired" following her win against the males in the Woodward.
"What she won with was her determination and pure guts," he said.
"Every time they challenged her, and they challenged her four of five times, she responded.
The good news is that Rachel Alexandra will likely run again next season at four.
im gutted i was hoping to see a show down with zenyatta oh well.
ANTE POST FROM CORALS FRO THE BREEDERS CUP CLASSIC
Sea The Stars 9/4
Zenyatta 4/1my winner
Rip Van Winkle 9/2
Summer Bird 8/1
Fame And Glory 12/1
Mastercraftsman 12/1
Richard's Kid 14/1
Einstein 16/1
Macho Again 16/1
Quality Road 16/1
Rail Trip 16/1
Tiago 16/1
Bullsbay 20/1
Gio Ponti 20/1
Mine That Bird 20/1
Colonel John 25/1
Musket Man 25/1
Asiatic Boy 33/1
Chocolate Candy 33/1
Friesan Fire 33/1
Informed 33/1
Matto Mondo 33/1
Soul Warrior 33/1
Westphalia 33/1
Champs Elysees 40/1
Crowded House 40/1
Gladiatorus 40/1
Never On Sunday 40/1
Papa Clem 50/1
Two Step Salsa 66/1
BREEDERS CUP TURF BETTING FROM HILLS
Fame And Glory 11/4
Conduit 3/1
Gio Ponti 5/1 MY WINNER
Vision D'Etat 8/1
Soldier Of Fortune 12/1
Cavalryman 14/1
Youmzain 14/1
Just As Well 16/1
Spanish Moon 16/1
Ask 20/1
Marchfield 20/1
Black Bear Island 25/1 SECOND CHOICE
Take The Points 25/1 THIRD CHOICE
Artiste Royal 33/1
Cima De Triomphe 33/1
Marsh Side 33/1
Musketier 33/1
Spring House
BREEDERS CUP MILE BETTING FROM HILLS
Goldikova 4/5 MY WINNER
Rip Van Winkle 3/1
Mastercraftsman 9/2
Delegator 7/1
Colonel John 10/1
Paco Boy 10/1
Aqlaam 14/1
Battle Of Hastings 16/1
Cowboy Cal 20/1
Mr Sidney 20/1
Artiste Royal 25/1
Global Runner 25/1
Justenuffhumor 25/1
Awesome Gem 33/1
Banrock 33/1
Courageous Cat 33/1
Evasive 33/1
Meteore 33/1
Monterey Jazz 33/1
Whatsthescript
THE GREAT ZENYATTA @ WORK
[video:vld8ajim]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv49V2RzgHw[/video:vld8ajim]
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MIND THAT BIRD UPDATE:
Mine That Bird Works at Ruidoso Downs
Updated: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 9:48 PM
Posted: Monday, September 7, 2009 12:52 PM
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird worked one-half mile in :48 on Sept. 7 at Ruidoso Downs, continuing his preparations for the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 7 Tree at Santa Anita.
Trainer Chip Woolley clocked the gelding working the first quarter in :25, the second quarter in :23 and galloping out the six furlongs in 1:11.
“It was a hair sharper than what I wanted. I was hoping for :49,†Woolley said. “We wanted a maintenance work and we’re pleased.â€
Jorge Martin Bourdieu was aboard the gelding who was second in the Preakness (gr. I) and third in Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The jockey had worked the gelding at Sunland Park this spring before he shipped to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, which he won at 50-1 odds.
“He’s a lot sharper than before he went to the Derby,†Bourdieu said. “He’s improved a lot. Chip and his crew have done a great job with him.
“I think the (recent throat) surgery really helped him. He feels strong and is getting a lot of air. He was nickering come back (from the work); it didn’t take anything out of him.â€
Mine The Bird will lead the post parade Sept. 7 at Ruidoso Downs. He will appear at an open house at co-owner Mark Allen’s Double Eagle Ranch in Roswell, New Mexico on Sept. 10 and then ship to Southern California.
He is on schedule to race in the $350,000 Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) on Oct. 10 at Santa Anita Park.
Awesome Sea The Stars reaches new high By Sam Walker1.28PM 7 SEP 2009
WORLD CLASS: An analysis of the best performances of last week according to Racing Post Ratings
TOP OF THE CLASS: Sea The Stars 137+
Trainer: John Oxx (Ire)
Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown, 1m2f, September 5
HISTORY will show that we have two great horses in our midst and both werein winning action on a very special Saturday.
Before they hit the track this weekend, Sea The Stars and Rachel Alexandra looked pretty safe bets to land the horse of the year awards in Europe and America respectively.
But after they ran . . . well, the powers-that-be may as well cancel the end-of-year voting and send out the awards three months early.
However you judge them and whatever your criteria, the Irish colt and American filly are the superior equines of 2009.
Collateral form, performance ratings, times, number of Group / Grade 1 wins, sheer consistency – pick any category and that pair will top the charts.
As far as the Cartier and Eclipse awards are concerned, not even a Florida ballot-machine could miscount the unanimous flurry of votes they will receive.
For either of them not to win the awards would be like taking away Muhammad Ali's world titles, or stripping Pele of his World Cups, or Sir Steven Redgrave of his gold medals.
These two champions have stood head and shoulders above their contemporaries this year.
In fact, they would stand out in most years, and to have both running in the same season is a splendid anomaly that racing fans of today should feel privileged to be part of.
On Saturday, both ingrained themselves deeper into racing history.
First up was world leader Sea The Stars (137+), who joined the all-time list on RPRs after making it five Group 1 wins in a row in the Irish Champion Stakes.
Mick Kinane said the son of Cape Cross was bigger and stronger than ever, and it showed, as he produced his best performance yet at Leopardstown.
For the first time this season, Kinane asked the superstar three-year-old to extend his winning margin beyond the customary cosy length, but he was still not at full-stretch to dispatch Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory (131) by two-and-a-half lengths.
As exceptional three-year-olds go, John Oxx's colt now ranks up with the best since Dancing Brave, whose career pre-dates RPRs.
Sea The Stars can only beat what turns up on the day and, while his race record could eventually surpass that of the mighty Dancing Brave, it is unfortunate that there is no Shahrastani, Triptych or Bering to help him prove how great he is on the ratings.
His laid-back attitude means he only tends to win by a length, but with nothing able to push him beyond the mid-130s, there is a chance we will never see just how great he is.
Across the pond, Rachel Alexandra knows all about posting big winning-margins.
The dirt/all-weather leader has demolished everything in her path this season and has broken all sorts of records along the way.
Eight wins; five Grade 1s - with three against the boys. And that's not to mention her record against her own sex, which defies the laws of nature.
Only one filly has finished within eight lengths of her this season.
That was in the Fair Grounds Oaks back in March and she might have won that by ten lengths if Calvin Borel had not started pulling her up at the one pole.
Her latest success added yet another record to her phenomenal CV, as she became the first filly ever to land the all-age Woodward Stakes at Saratoga.
It was a harder-fought victory than normal for the wonder-filly, but she still picked up a solid RPR of 125+ after fending off the late challenge of the progressive Macho Again (127+) for a head success.
If, as expected, she lands the Eclipse Horse of the Year title, it would make it three-in-a-row for trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Jess Jackson, who picked up the award with Curlin in 2007 and 2008.
The filly has run her last race for this year, having been on the go since February, but if connections do go ahead with a four-year-old campaign, the big target will be the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.
At the risk of devaluing greatness, we may also have a third 'great' running this season, as Goldikova (131) now rates as the best filly in RPR history after her Prix Jacques Le Marois form took the mother of all boosts in the Prix du Moulin on Sunday.
Aqlaam and Virtual had been stuffed out of sight, by six and eleven lengths respectively, when placed behind the filly at Deauville, but they came out and finished first and third at Longchamp on the weekend, posting marks of 125 and 116.
While she hasn't recieved the same attention as Sea The Stars and Rachel Alexandra this season, no one can question what the Freddie Head-trained filly achieved in the Marois.
Incidentally, she too has beaten the boys three times.
I wish I had gone onto this thread and asked for a few tips Sunday. I went to Uttoxeter and won myself..........wait for it...........it's coming............£3.60!!!!!!!!!! I shelled out £40 in total, not just on myself but the missus and the two brats, I mean stepkids!!! The stepdaughter actually came out best with a total of £22.30 and she expected all the money was going to herself, if I had won then yes she could have but it was MY money put on the horses, so IMHO I'm entitled to half
I wish I had gone onto this thread and asked for a few tips Sunday. I went to Uttoxeter and won myself..........wait for it...........it's coming............£3.60
thats wicked
SEA THE STARS,RACHEL ALEXANDRA,ZENYATTA NEWS:
Let it rain in ParisComment Email Print Share By Paul Moran
Special to ESPN.com
Archive
The autumn weather in Paris is often wet and the ground at Longchamp less than firm. At the moment, a typically damp October is critical to making the 26th Breeders' Cup something more than a weekend at Santa Anita without Rachel Alexandra.
The decision to stage consecutive runnings of the Breeders' Cup on the artificial surface at Santa Anita is without question the worst in the history of the event. The setting and weather work. The quirky, controversial material underfoot is the problem and principal owner Jess Jackson's aversion to what he calls racing on, "plastic," has removed Rachel Alexandra, presumptive American Horse of the Year, from the prospective Breeders' Cup cast until 2010, when the event will be held at Churchill Downs, where the track is made of dirt.
If Jackson's decision flies in the face of everything that the Breeders' Cup is intended to provide -- a definitive championship-determining stage for international competition among the best horses of every season -- it is also perfectly understandable, particularly in light of the European domination of the 2008 running, which revealed to the world that Santa Anita is a place with two turf courses but no suitable dirt surface. The term definitive no longer applies to racing in California.
It was apparent a year ago when the polymer settled where there should have been dust at Santa Anita that that Breeders' Cup had delivered a shot to its own foot with the 2009 commitment to return to suburban Los Angeles. In light of the European domination of the 2008 Cup, punctuated by Raven's Pass' Classic victory over another European, Henrythenavigator, it is certain that the foreign ranks at Santa Anita will swell exponentially in November.
Unless it rains in Paris in early October, the 26th Breeders' Cup will be left without an established star, a void most glaring in the Classic.
The event's promoters will mass behind Zenyatta but her return is muted by timing and circumstance.
The anticipated attempt by the 5-year-old mare to conclude an undefeated career build almost exclusively at the expense of overmatched competition on the artificial surfaces of Southern California with a return to the Ladies Classic, formerly the Distaff, the two-day format that segregates the Breeders' Cup races by gender will see that race run on Friday with most of the nation's racing fans -- the television audience -- at work. In a year during which females have dominated American racing, that lost Friday will also likely see the best American fillies and mares not named Zenyatta -- Forever Together, Music Note, Careless Jewel, Icon Project and Ventura -- compete at Santa Anita. In the second year of what was originally a controversial and not widely accepted realignment, it is also obviously time to rethink that ill-conceived move.
Notwithstanding her unblemished record Zenyatta's profile has been lowered in the face at her connections' decision to remain on the familiar synthetic path of least resistance while Rachel Alexandra has raced this year at seven tracks thrice been sent against males, most recently older males in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga. Absent the 3-year-old filly who has established that she is, on dirt, the best American thoroughbred of either sex and any age, the appeal of this Breeders' Cup rests with Europeans, first with Goldikova's return to defend her title earned at the expense of males in the Mile and, more significantly, the potential presence of the superstar 3-year-old Sea the Stars in the Classic.
If the weather in Paris is dry in early October, Sea the Stars, who is based in Ireland with trainer John Oxx, will carry rider Mick Kinane into the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He is, however, a huge, deep-girth colt unsuited to soft ground and such conditions at Longchamp will send him to California, where he will undoubtedly be heavily favored to win what amounts to the second Classic run on black turf.
Sea the Stars, who is owned by Christopher Tsui, a 27-year-old Hong Kong night club impresario, is almost unknown in this country. He has, however, won five Group 1 races in Europe at distances from 8 to 12 furlongs including two classics, the 2000 Guineas and English Derby, the prestigious Coral Eclipse Stakes and Juddmonte International, a race in which he set a course record at York. He is rated as the best horse in the world by Timeform, which puts him at a level reserved for the best European runners of the last 60 years. European bookmakers have set his opening odds in the 12-furlong Arc at between 4-5 and even money.
Since it is unlikely that Sea the Stars will race at four, should fair autumn weather prevail in Paris he will be retired after the Arc without having had the opportunity to race before an American audience or to save this Breeders' Cup Classic from being totally meaningless.
One of the greatest if not 'the' greatest racehorse there has ever been!
Sea The Stars
May: 2000 Guineas
[video:2gm5rgx7]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7hAEcSUBrM[/video:2gm5rgx7]
June: The Derby
[video:2gm5rgx7]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbo3mM1J7_Y[/video:2gm5rgx7]
July: The Coral Eclipse
[video:2gm5rgx7]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Ur9CVtQOA[/video:2gm5rgx7]
August: Juddmonte International
[video:2gm5rgx7]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJuPqo7MNDI[/video:2gm5rgx7]
September: Irish Champion Stakes
[video:2gm5rgx7]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zeyUdPNzUU[/video:2gm5rgx7]
October: Prix De L Arc De Triomphe
[video:2gm5rgx7]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f824CU-F3rc[/video:2gm5rgx7]
November: Breeders Cup Classic??
john ox has already ruled out the arcI backed him in the derby after he was so impressive in the guineas.I reckon this horse could be good enough to win the Arc as well.
Bring On The Yanks!
i could not believe it see the stars ran,and my god i thought my horse stacellita was going to win then sea the the stars came from knowhere and won.
i must say this race was the horses most impressive run.blew me away.
wont beat zenyatta though......
2009 ARC:
[video:25px160v]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f824CU-F3rc[/video:25px160v]
what i dont understand is why sea the stars rating hasnt gone up for this amazing win----crazy
I know mate pretty unbelievable really!
I think it's looking unlikely that Sea The Stars will make the trip.Shame as it would have been great for racing taking on the mighty Zenyatta.
If it does happen i think he may just do it.:ympray:
SEA THE STARS: RETIRED.
John Oxx's brilliant colt Sea The Stars has been retired after an illustrious career.
The six-time Group One winner had been in the mix for the Breeders' Cup Classic, but connections have decided to call time.
Oxx had intimated after his latest win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe that retirement was likely for the son of Cape Cross, and it was confirmed in a statement this afternoon.
Oxx told Press Association Sport: "It has been decided after discussions with Mr Christopher Tsui (owner) that Sea The Stars will not take part in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita on November 7.
"He's had a long season and has been in regular fast work from March 3, with his final workout on October 2. He's been in intensive training for seven months, with only a three-week break after the Eclipse Stakes at the beginning of July.
"We feel it is unfair to keep him going any further given his unprecedented record of achievement in the last six months.
"He's come out of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in his usual good form. He is fit and healthy and has been cantering since the race.
"He is now retiring from racing, but I have no information on stud career details and an announcement will be made at a much later date when plans have been finalised."
The three-year-old lost just one of his nine races, amassing nearly £4.5m in prize money. That was on his racecourse debut at the Curragh, where he finished a close-up fourth.
His string of victories included the 2000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse, International, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Gutted about that.
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