Jess Jackson is ducking the big mare

[Danzig]

One day after finishing second in her seasonal return in the New Orleans Ladies S. at the Fair Grounds, Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) was officially confirmed out of the Apr. 9 GI Apple Blossom H. Owner Jess Jackson confirmed Sunday that, although the defending Horse of the Year exited the race healthy, the four-year-old would not be shipped to Oaklawn Park for the match with champion Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}). "[Saturday's] race, while a disappointment, helped us define Rachel Alexandra's racing condition," explained Jackson. "While she is healthy, just as I had anticipated, she is not in top form. Therefore, I decided [Sunday] she will not be going to the Oaklawn Invitational on April 9. Steve and I discussed this fully and we now regret we tried to accelerate her training in order meet the Apple Blossom schedule. We have a whole season before us to help define her greatness. She will tell us when her next race will be. So I am going to take my ball, er, I mean, undeserved HOY award and go home."


*title edited by moderator

[ageecee]

Hes not ducking. Shes not ready plain and simple. Trust me if she was ready she would be running.

[Danzig]

A race is worth at least five works. If fitness is really the issue, why not wait until after her next work to assess her fitness for a race that is 26 days away?

Mark my words, the big mare's connections can chase the Jess Jackson entourage to every jurisdiction and they won't be able to face her.



*edited by moderator

[ageecee]

[quote="Danzig"]A race is worth at least five works. If fitness is really the issue, why not wait until after her next work to assess her fitness for a race that is 26 days away?

Mark my words, the big mare's connections can chase the Jess Jackson entourage to every jurisdiction and they won't be able to face her.[/quote]





Because u need a prep race before she faces the best horse in the world thats why.

[George William Smith]

If it quacks like a duck, it's a duck. I predicted this almost word for word perhaps, he read my website and my quote and said, good enough for The Matchmaker, good enough for me.
http://www.members.shaw.ca/thematchmaker

Rachel is an excellent race mare, but the stretch is not her best aspect

George

[Danzig]

I beleive that is what they were referring to yesterday's race as....

[diomed]

It seems everyone is an internet trainer and knows exactly how ready she is.

It's good to see them do what is right for her.
Who knows, maybe she will tell them she is ready and they will still go. I doubt it but it could happen. She is sound.

[ageecee]

Not the prep race i would of wanted at the FG with the longest stretch in America. Your asking her to lay down the whole time down the stretch first race in 8 months. Just too much i think.

[karenkarenn]

Danzig
YOU ARE RIGHT. IM SO MAD. I bought tickets to see them both.
What a waste! Just because she lost by thinest of margins doesnt mean that they HAVE TO DUCK THE REAL HORSE OF THE YEAR.
ZEN is the Real Deal she is the REAL HORSE OF THE YEAR. Its too bad that R.A. has such fickle connections. Its so sad!
The horse came out great no reason why she shouldnt race. Our horse does.
What a waste!
-K

[Danzig]

Actually, yesterday's race was her first out in six months. Additionally, I agree she shouldn't run if not fit. My problem is with Jess Jackson, his hyperbole, and his inability to shut up and let these two mares do the talking. Personally, I think Zenyatta is the better of the two and, as with politics and religion, we could debate these issues ad naseum.

As well, I have a major problem with running an unfit horse, period. I don't care if it is a $5k mdn clm or a GI, any owner or trainer who allows such to happen and then has the audacity to use the unfit excuse doesn't belong in the game.


*edited by moderator

[Shammy Davis]

Danzig posted:

. . . Mark my words, the big mare's connections can chase the Jess Jackson entourage to every jurisdiction and they won't be able to face her.

You could be right. Maybe Jackson is avoiding Z, but maybe he is not. You haven't a clue. I doubt that GSW has a clue either.

Like GWS posted:

If it quacks like a duck, it's a duck. . .

Detractors are a dime a dozen. Jackson is taking care of his horses.

The horse business is a tough way to go if a person's goal is to make money and, if, like you posted earlier, you've made all kinds of money running horses why are you attacking the character of Jackson. Ageecee is right, he is doing what he thinks is right for his filly, even if some think it is misdirected.

Class people in this business don't spend their idle time needling the character of other horsemen who they may disagree with. If RA doesn't show against Z this year, there's no foul. And if Z keeps winning, she'll probably get her HOY.

If ever there was/is a business ripe w/disappointment, it is the horse business. I'm sure we are all pathological optimists.


*edited by moderator

[summerhorse]

I'm wondering if RA will come back to her best level. Maybe she shot her wad. She's been off 6 months and they still don't have her back in shape. They could have sent her to a pasture for turn out in that timeframe and she'd have gotten a real break. Imagine standing around in a stall all that time and barely working and not racing at all? BORING.


*edited by moderator

[FOS]

hi summerhorse

... She's been off 6 months and they still don't have her back in shape. ...

I'm not so sure she wasn't in shape. She may have simply been beaten by a better horse.

Think about it...the following quotes (which were posted/noted previously) seem to indicate Loud and Clear that BOTH trainer Asmussen and jockey Borel were not only of the belief that Rachel Alexandra was ready to win, but also that they expected her to win.

1/ Fact is...before the race, jockey Calvin Borel said "She wouldn't be running if Steve didn't have her ready."

2/ Fact is...Calvin also stated before the race we'll "let her do her thing and win easy, hands down you know, and not gut her too much." Yes, Calvin basically announced, she'll win easy.

3/ Fact is also...immediately after the race Asmussen himself stated "If I thought she'd get beat I wouldn't have run her today." The words speak volumes.

Respectfully

[Still Dreaming]

Z was fit, Rachel wasn't, Jess Jackson is making the right decision even if some people think it makes him look like an ass. No telling how good she'll be if she can regain/surpass last year's form, but it will take at least that much if she's going to compete with Zenyatta.

Good day to you all.



*edited by moderator

[BenB]

We will see what is gooiing to happen, but It is possible that last year, she (RA) was pushed over edge.
Or drained out, depends on what words you chosing.

If that would be the case, than a match won,t happen ever, between the two of them