Thank You Girl (The Beatles, 1963): Rachel Alexandra

It's been awhile.
But now it's time to chime in before the Breeders' Cup. I will try to make this short. Rachel Alexandra is Horse of the Year. No matter what happens this weekend.


Zenyatta can win the Breeders' Cup Classic by 32 lengths. It doesn't matter. If one race determines Horse of the Year, the award will be a farce. It was a farce in 2004 when Ghostzapper won _ by a lot _ over Smarty Jones. Are you kidding me? Smarty Jones won every single race in his life except his last one, he was beaten in the final strides of the Belmont Stakes. Not many horses have done for racing what Smarty Jones did until his dramatic defeat by Birdstone. Of course, the owners were villified for supposedly waffling on whether their horse was healthy or not, and then retired him for huge sums of money. Isn't that what horse racing has come to? And then the nearly universally despised Frank Stronach plays the sympathy card, saying Ghostzapper, who had run all of 3 _ count 'em! _ races that year, would not only be in the Classic, but would keep running, unlike that turncoat Smarty Jones. And the voters bought it. They voted Ghostzapper, 4-for-4 and without a race the first half of the year, Horse of the Year over Smarty Jones, a mere 8-for-8 before the Belmont _ , winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. Get real people. And now, thanks to ESPN/ABC -- oh thanks for televising nationally all the Rachel Alexandra races over the summer -- Zenyatta has a chance to win Horse of the Year if she can beat the boys in the Classic. Sorry, too late. I love Zenyatta, a gorgeous mare who has never lost. She has beaten every female she's faced, sometimes in dramatic fashion. She ventured away from California's synthetic surfaces only once - and won in Arkansas. Woo hoo. However, it has been Rachel who has lifted racing this year, given it the star it so dearly longs for, a filly who may just be the best female horse ever _ EVER! She is expected to run next year as a 4-year-old, too.



Zenyatta has beaten the likes of Lethal Heat, Cocoa Beach and Hystericalady; Rachel has beaten every 3-year-old filly thrown her way _ by a lot; and then beat the Derby winner, the Belmont winner and the likes of Bullsbay, Macho Again, Munnings and Musket Man. She won the Preakness, the Haskell and the Woodward -- three wins over the boys -- and older boys, too. Rachel is 8-for-8 in 2009, and her owner says he won't run her on synthetics because he doesn't like the surface. Zenyatta would be 5-for-5 with a Classic win. It's Horse of the Year, not Horse of the Career. No matter what happens in the Classic, the vote shouldn't be close. It should be unanimous.

You Can't Always Get What You Want (Rolling Stones, 1968)

It's warm up weekend.

Sure, there's the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont, but no Rachel Alexandra. There's the Nijinsky Stakes on the turf at Woodbine with Rahy's Attorney (ho hum) and there's the Eddie Read Handicap on the turf at Del Mar with American Handicap winner Monterey Jazz and seven others (another ho hum)...

But wait 'til next weekend, perhaps the best of the summer before the Travers on Aug. 29 ... Next weekend is when all three winners of the Triple Crown races will be in action ... Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird was vanned from Churchill Downs to Mountaineer Racetrack and Casino for next Saturday night's West Virginia Derby (do we really believe a Derby winner is running in West by God Virginia?)






And the next day, at 6:14 pm, is the Haskell Invitational showdown between Preakness winning filly Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird ... The two will be meeting for the first time and the race promises to be a doozy. Add Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem to the mix, not to mention stakes-winning Munnings and a few local hotshots, and who knows what'll happen when the filly takes on the boys for the second time... She is coming off a billion-length win in the Mother Goose a few weeks ago against a few rivals competing for second place. She's win seven in a row, all under Calvin Borel, and who knows how Cajun Boy will approach this race at Monmouth, where he rarely rides. Hopefully, a few races over the course is on his agenda, not the Jersey Shore only down the block.

While the Haskell has two of the Triple Crown race winners, the greatest meet in the world -- Saratoga -- will be entering its first weekend topped by Saturday's Jim Dandy Stakes, featuring Kensei, the Dwyer winner owned by Jess Jackson, who owns Rachel Alexandra. An aside: Quality Road, the Florida Derby winner who would have been the Derby favorite but suffered a quarter crack and missed the Triple Crown races, is set to return in the Amsterdam on Aug. 3 _ a sprint also featuring Capt. Candyman Can.

Let's get it on. It's summer racing at its best, and it's only a week away. And by Travers day, a showdown looms: Mine That Bird vs. Rachel Alexandra vs. Summer Bird.

Cool. Maybe, if you try sometime, you can always get what you want.

And I ask: Where is TV on this? ESPN? Forgetaboutit. Is there no national TV for the Derby winner? Or the filly in the Haskell? Is this sport nuts, or what?

For what it's worth _ the Haskell is worth a quarter-million dollars more this year, up to $1,250,000 .... And there's also a bonus for the winners of any Triple Crowns races who run in the Haskell. Nice work, Monmouth and its president Bob Kulina, always trying to put together the best race possible no matter what the price.

Fourth of July: It's A Sunny Day!

Good Day Sunshine (The Beatles, 1966)

And it was. OK. I arrived at Belmomt Park about 2:30, some time after the fourth race. So I'm not the betting kind, at least not on this Fourth of July, but what a glorious day after so many Rain (The Beatles, 1966) days in June that poured into July. But there was no rain today, and three grand ol' stakes races were run and a crowd of more than 7,000 showed up at this massive racetrack. They were the lucky ones -- at the top of the stretch are private BBQ areas for groups, and a grassy area for families who just want to toss out a picnic blanket and kick back and enjoy the day.
Of course, I was lucky enough to be invited to a birthday party in one of the BBQ areas (for Teresa, or Brooklyn Backstretch) _ and I made the most of it: one really well done hot dog with mustard and kraut, a couple of cans of Molson and a few bakery cookies. Mm mm.
Then it was time for the stakes _ races. Loved Just Ben in the Dwyer, especially after watching him romp on the Belmont Stakes undercard. Oh well. Just Ben is just plain no good in the stretch and Kensei, apparently a fictional name based on a real person named Miyamoto Musashi, who is believed to have been one of the most skilled swordsmen in history and the greatest samurai. Cool, huh? Maybe it's true.
Anyway, the horse is owned by Jess Jackson of Curlin and Rachel Alexandra fame. So now Jess has a 3-year-old colt on the rise to go with his fabulous filly Rachel. He was in the winner's circle, touting his new star, and saying he's looking at Saratoga or other options or Monmouth Park. OK, we'll wait to see where he ends up.
Calvin Borel, a favorite topic, was aboard Warrior's Reward in the Dwyer. They stumbled badly at the start and finished third. The Jim Dandy is next for him.
In the Prioress, it was Cat Moves -- the least experience filly in the field -- beating eight rivals to make her record 3-for-3 for trainer Tony Dutrow. The Test at Saratoga on Aug. 8 is next.
And finally, the 123rd running of Suburban gave good ol' (don't tell 'em my age) Barclay Tagg his first stakes win in New York this year when Dry Martini rallied from last to first. Asiatic Boy held on for second in a Suburban devoid of an older star (perhaps this is why the race was downgraded to a Grade 2 -- although the purse was $400,000) ...
Also on the day, Mike Smith was selected to ride Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby _ Calvin blew his chance by not committing to the gelding. Good move by Chip Woolley. Back to Belmont and when all was said and done, it was a lovely day at the track -- and that's a good thing.

Cool it, Calvin

Cool Jerk (The Capitols, 1966)

OK Calvin Borel, enough is enough. The jig is up.
You and your agent, Jerry Hissam _ and we used to like you guys_ have taken this too far. Perhaps you think you're too famous these days, you Mr. Stay-in-Manhattan all Belmont week and then climbing aboard Mine That Bird, making an early move and finishing third in the Belmont Stakes.
It's fine to be confident and cocky. Heck, you earned it after so many years of riding the rails before hitting it big in the 2007 Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense. But what the hell are you doing now?
You were desperate for a Derby ride this year, and got hooked up with Mine That Bird and won the dang thing at 50-1. Then you ditched him for a filly and beat your own Derby winner in the Preakness with Rachel Alexandra. Ain't it grand to be you -- going for your own personal Triple Crown?
And then you diss Belmont Park, refuse to ride one race over the course in the week leading up to the Belmont and what happens? You move early, and the Bird can't hold off Summer Bird in the stretch.
So now you are waffling again, and thank goodness Mine That Bird's trainer Chip Woolley made his move now -- Hey Calvin, you're outta here if you don't commit to my gelding through the Breeders' Cup ... Well, Hissam was being hush and refusing to commit to anything other than to Warrior's Reward _ a 3-year-old with promise who runs in the Dwyer at Belmont on Saturday and likely the Jim Dandy on Aug. 1. Oops! That's the same day you're supposed to ride Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby, and then comes the Travers and then the Breeders' Cup Classic. So you won't commit to the horse you won the Derby on? You want to ride for Ian Wilkes, who took over for the man who put you on Street Sense (Carl Nafzger)?
Good for you. Your choice. And now you won't ride the Derby winner again.
What you tried to do -- keep Woolley hanging on _ is not popular in this corner, and not good for the sport .. and Calvin, you know it. Yes, it's all about the money and heaven knows you made a ton of it aboard Mine That Bird, not to mention winning 7 in a row aboard Rachel Alexandra. So you made your choice by refusing to make a commitment. You made a commitment to Rachel. Why not Mine That Bird? A horse that will be running long after Rachel is sent to the farm? You guys may know more about this then this corner, but what is coming out in the media is not too pretty. Here's hoping Woolley & Co. come up with a rider that will bring their horse back to the winner's circle -- in West Virginia, New York and California.

Rachel and Rachel, Rachel

Bits And Pieces (The Dave Clark Five, 1964)

Bits: She's a leading lady, all right, perhaps even thoroughbred racing's version of a leading lady the stature of Joanne Woodward. So what's the connection? None, other than it was Woodward who won a Golden Globe award as best actress for her portrayal of a repressed school teacher living with her overbearing mother who suddenly gets a man in her life during summer vacation in the 1968 movie ``Rachel, Rachel.''
And now there's Rachel Alexandra, kept away from the boys by her previous owners, who suddenly has a new owner, beats the boys in the Preakness in the spring and is looking forward to a great summer season and eventually a breeding session with her new owners' top stallion, Curlin.

And don't worry, Rachel Alexandra _ only 3 _ will pick up awards of her own on the way to her date with 2-time Horse of the Year Curlin (sort of the Paul Newman of the male horsey set _ Paul was Joanne's husband for those keeping score) ... Soon to be in common: Appearances in Vogue Magazine _ Joanne's photo has appeared in the mag thousands of times with and without Paul: Rachel Alexandra's Vogue debut is scheduled for the August issue.


Pieces: An offer to purchase Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird was turned down by co-owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach earlier this week, trainer Chip Woolley reports. ``I'm happy. I spent 25 years looking for this horse and I sure didn't want to lose him.'' The potential buyer was not identified _ whoever that is. Chances are it wasn't Jess Jackson, the Kendall-Jackson Wines co-founder who bought Rachel with the intention of breeding her to Curlin _ to provide racing with a superhorse. Mine That Bird is a gelding. ... Todd Pletcher is now training Quality Road, who won 3-of-4 starts, including the Florida Derby, for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. Not a quality move, Mr. owner, Edward Evans, unless there is something we don't know about, which is likely the case _ the horse has a quarter crack less than a week before the Derby, Edward ... And no one is more horse-health conscious than Jimmy Jerkens.

The Travers: Until They Meet Again

The Travers Stakes is the oldest major thoroughbred horse race in America. And when the 140th edition is run Saturday, Aug. 29 at grand old Saratoga, the field of 3-year-olds could make this a most memorable mile-and-a-quarter.
I'm even thinking the Midsummer Derby may top the Kentucky Derby for suspense: Mine That Bird vs. Rachel Alexandra vs. Summer Bird _ the Derby winner vs. the Preakness winner vs. the Belmont winner, plus a cast of 3-year-olds looking to avenge losses in the Triple Crown races as well as previously injured horses on the mend (like Quality Road).
A look-see:
_ Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is set to run in the West Virginia Derby at Charles Town on Aug. 1, then show up at Saratoga and train up to the Travers. Hey? a Derby winner ever run in the West Virginia Derby?
_ Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra's schedule has yet to be determined, but as of now the Travers is not out of the question. Let's say the filly runs next in the Mother Goose later this month, and again about a month later. Could the Travers be next? Stay tuned.
_ Belmont winner Summer Bird is headed to the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2, followed by a trip to upstate New York for the Travers.
_ Florida Derby winner Quality Road, the likely Kentucky Derby favorite before an injury knocked him out, is back in training. If he bounces back from a quarter crack, Jimmy Jerkens could have him ready for the Travers.
_ While Belmont runner-up Dunkirk has been sidelined with an injury, Peter Pan winner Charitable Man, who was fourth in the Belmont, is headed to the Jim Dandy at Saratoga on Aug. 1 and then the Travers.
_ Santa Anita Derby winner Pioneerof the Nile is the best of the west, and finished second in the Derby. He is trained by Bob Baffert. Baffert will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the Saratoga meet, and he just might have Pioneerof the Nile for the Travers.
_ Musket Man, third in the Derby and third in the Preakness, passed on the Belmont, will be back for the Haskell, and the Travers is an option.
_ Wood Memorial winner I Want Revenge, injured the morning of the Derby, is likely out of the picture, but just about every other 3-year-old is still in.
Let's see what happens.

WayAfterThoughts on the Belmont

WELL DONE OR TOASTED?:

WELL DONE

TIM ICE: May the horses come into your barn. A cool, quiet and intense young man, Mr. Ice arrived at Belmont Park at 34 years of age _ and left two weeks later at 35 after winning the Belmont Stakes with Summer Bird. He did a masterful training job _ putting blinkers on (he saw that his Bird wasn't focused in the stretch at the Derby, although 6th place wasn't bad for a fourth career start) and bringing him here for nearly two weeks to become familiar with the track.
Payoff should be big time for Mr. Ice, who already has a few interested owners knocking on his barn door (Hey, Rick Porter, ya listening?). Looks like Mr. Ice -- an Ohio boy currently based at Louisiana Downs -- could get to like the New York racing scene. Betting he'll spend his summer at Saratoga, with Summer Bird being pointed to the Jim Dandy on Aug. 1 and the Travers on Aug. 29. Welcome to New York.

MINE THAT BIRD & CO: Just love this little gelding and his crew of cowpokes from the Land of Enchantment; Broken leg trainer Chip Woolley (12 pins and a metal plate from knee to ankle in right leg), racing manager Kelly Denninton and owners Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach showed racing nogoodnicks how to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime moment and share it with others.
Ol' Chipper enjoyed his New York experience, and look for his Bird to resurface in Saratoga as well. Mine That Bird went 1-2-3 in the Derby, Preakness and Belmont and earned over $1.5 million for his connections! And this gelding will keep on going!

KENT DESORMEAUX: What can we say Kent? You deserved it.
Worst beat ever in the 1998 Belmont aboard Derby-Preakness winner Real Quiet (2nd by a nose); and biggest disappointment ever last year with Derby-Preakness winner Big Brown (last after being pulled up). You rode a perfect race, finally, and we think you have this one figured out.



TOASTED

CALVIN BOREL: Calvin, your new marketing/sponsor guy, gave you bad advice. Why in the wide wide world of jockey sense would you spend a week in Manhattan, ignore the racetrack, show up on Letterman, at MSG, the stock exchange, etc., etc., and expect to make good your guarantee of victory?
OK, so Joe Namath can party all night and lead the Jets to a Super Bowl win over the Colts, but Calvin, you lost to the Colts in this one. Your rail ride in the Derby was glorious, your effort in the Belmont was godawful.



MIKE SMITH: Short story shorter, Mikey boy coulda been aboard Mine That Bird in the Belmont, but even before all the histrionics surrounding Borel/Rachel Alexandra/Mine That Bird he begged off due to loyalty to owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs. Instead of riding in the Belmont, Mikey hopped on Madeo for the Charlie Whittingham Memorial Handicap at Hollywood and finished fourth. Hmm. Pass up a Belmont in favor of a Whittinghan. Wait 'til next year!

JESS JACKSON: Just because I'm not certain what his motives are with the filly. Hooray for winning the Preakness, but something just doesn't seem right about the way you shelled out however many millions to buy Rachel Alexandra in a plan to `revitalize'' the sport.
People were all over Baffert for buying a Derby winner (and Preakness winner as well)a few weeks before the race, but you go out and buy a Preakness winner 9 days before? Why didn't you speak up before the Oaks? And buy her then and run her in the Derby? She'd won four stakes in a row to that point. And the owners said they wouldn't run her against the boys.