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Rachel visits gate at Fair Grounds; Zenyatta arrives at Santa Anita

On Thursday, Horse of the Year RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) and unbeaten two-time champion ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) each took another step toward their respective 2010 debuts. Rachel Alexandra schooled in the gate at Fair Grounds in preparation for Saturday's New Orleans Ladies S., while Zenyatta vanned to Santa Anita in advance of Saturday's Santa Margarita H. (G1).

Rachel Alexandra went to the head of her gate-schooling class shortly after 7 a.m. (CST), when she familiarized herself with the Fair Grounds starting gate for a second time this month

That's according to a verbal report offered by Glen Miller and "Shaver" Naylor, two members of Fair Grounds starter Frank Comberrel Jr.'s gate crew.

"We never have any trouble with that man's horses," said Naylor, speaking of Steve Asmussen, defending Eclipse Award-winning trainer and conditioner of Rachel Alexandra. "That's because he schools them so well before they get to us. We never have a problem with any of his horses."

After standing placidly in the gate for a couple of minutes, the Horse of the Year was backed out and galloped once around the oval with regular exercise rider Dominic Terry in the irons. Because the racecourse was enveloped in dense fog at that time of the morning, there were few witnesses to her gate performance other than those in the immediate vicinity.

"We brought her in there with the pads on and took them off when she got in there," Miller said. "She just acted like a little lady in there, staring straight ahead. She was all bright-eyed and attentive like she always is."

Rachel Alexandra will school in the Fair Grounds paddock Friday from about 2:20 to 2:45 p.m., before and during the 4TH race.

Zenyatta schooled at Santa Anita after arriving Thursday (Benoit Photo) Meanwhile, on the West Coast, Zenyatta arrived at Santa Anita Thursday morning. Looking every inch the champion in grand repose, with her dark bay coat glistening in the bright Southern California sunshine, she disembarked from the van that brought her from Hollywood Park The six-year-old mare was bedded down in Barn 66, where trainer John Shirreffs has a string of horses at Santa Anita apart from his main base of operations at Hollywood Park. The trip from Inglewood to Arcadia, California, took less than an hour. Zenyatta arrived around 11:30 a.m. (PST). "She's a good shipper," said groom Mario Espinoza, who accompanied the undefeated Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner. "She's a pro. The trip was uneventful." Zenyatta immediately attacked the hay rack once she settled in. Both she and the unbeaten California-bred gelding Caracortado (Cat Dreams), entered in Saturday's San Felipe S. (G2), were scheduled to school in the paddock for Thursday's 3RD race.

The racing world hopes a Zenyatta victory in the Santa Margarita will lead to the "Race for the Ages" against Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the $5 million Apple Blossom Invitational (G1) at Oaklawn Park on April 9.

HRTV will present a special one-hour live show Saturday featuring the 2010 debuts of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. Entitled "The Champions Return," the HRTV show will be hosted by Scott Hazelton and Gary Stevens, who will be at Fair Grounds for Rachel Alexandra's race.

ESPN's SportsCenter will take both the New Orleans Ladies and the Santa Margarita from HRTV.

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