Horse Racing: Rachel Alexandra confirmed for Saratoga
Speculation, more speculation, anticipation and finally a decision on reigning horse of the year, Rachel Alexandra’s next start has been made and announced. There was good reason to believe that Rachel Alexandra would be starting at the grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes but there was no word from her connections, until now.
Her owners confirmed in a statement made Friday that Rachel Alexandra would be at Saratoga on the 29th of August for the race. New York Racing, fans and authorities alike would be overjoyed. She was originally slated to compete at Saratoga but in the days leading up to the event her owners sent her to Monmouth Park for the Lady’s Secret Stakes. New York Racing Association’s president was dumbfounded and severely disappointed at missing out on one of the most well known names of the sport.
Her owners have kept Rachel on a five week schedule to keep her in optimum form. When Rachel left for Monmouth Park it was not clear if her owners would have her race at Saratoga. Five weeks later the only grade 1 race on offer for a horse older than 3 years at Saratoga was the personal ensigns or the Woodward stakes. Rachel won the Woodward last year, this year the owners chose Person Ensign Stakes.
“Rachel feels very much at home among the great Saratoga fans,” her owner Jess Jackson said in a statement. He believed that the historic Personal Ensign Stakes was a fitting venue for Rachel. The race would be the longest that Rachel Alexandra has ever competed in, since winning the 1 3/16 miles Preakness Stakes. Jackson also said that the race would help Rachel prepare for the coming Breeders Cup later this year.
Her trainer and owner both were excited to have Rachel perform in front of New York fans again. Last year she decimated the field against males at Woodward to the utter delight of fans. This would be Rachel’s first grade 1 appearance since last year’s Saratoga meet. “The whole team is excited to have Rachel back at Saratoga preparing for this Grade 1 race,” Asmussen said. He added that perhaps more excited at the prospects of racing at Saratoga than the handlers and fans was Rachel herself.
Granted Rachel has had a great run at Saratoga and both the horse and fans enjoyed last year’s Woodward Stakes but the real winners on the 29th would be Saratoga officials. Rachel is a star and she would attract crowds wherever she goes. Attracting crowds, right now, is New York racing’s top priority. When Rachel came to Saratoga, before there was any indication that she would be leaving for Monmouth, Saratoga officials had been giving out Rachel Alexandra themed merchandise to create as much buzz as possible.
President of NYRA Charles Hayward said that the Travers Stakes and Rachel Alexandra’s race on back to back days would make the weekend the highlight of Saratoga. “Obviously that's wonderful, wonderful news,” Hal Handel, NYRA's executive vice-president and Chief Operating Officer said in a statement.
The News could have been even better. Rachel was not the only star that was expected to join the field at Personal Ensign. Zenyatta was also rumoured to be contending. The fans have been clamouring for a Rachel Alexandra-Zenyatta showdown and it appears they would have to wait longer for it.
Zenyatta is headed for Del Mar, California. Before the Personal Ensign Stakes, Zenyatta would appear at the Clement L. Hirsch stakes which she has won for two years consecutively. When asked about the possibility of a Saratoga appearance her trainer, John Shirreff bluntly said that Zenyatta would be staying in California. He added that there had been no talk between the owners and the trainers about Personal Ensign Stakes. “It would be a long shot,” Shirreff said.
Rachel would be in California on the 7th of August and would have to return to Saratoga before the 29th of the month for the race. Trainer Shirreff said that it was a long flight out of California back to New York and that there were many details that needed to be considered.
It seems more and more unlikely that fans would ever be able to see the two legends battle it out.
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