Thoroughbred Beat

THOROUGHBRED BEAT

JULY 2, 2009

by James Scully

Rachel Madness: RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) was a beauty to

behold in Saturday's Mother Goose S. (G1), and it was a glorified public workout for

the brilliant filly, who posted an effortless 19 1/4-length decision over two

overmatched rivals and completed 1 1/8 miles in a stakes record 1:46 1/5. The

Mother Goose didn't take anything out of Rachel Alexandra; she could've run

faster and won by a bigger margin. Jockey Calvin Borel wrapped up on her with a

sixteenth of a mile left to run.

That's the way the great ones do it. Ruffian couldn't be touched by female

competition, winning decisively over and over again, and she scared the

competition away, never facing more than six opponents in a single

race after her career bow. Rachel Alexandra is dominating three-year-old fillies

in similar fashion, posting three smashing victories this year prior to her 20

1/4-length romp over six foes in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She has to go outside her division to

find legitimate competition.

It's the same with ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]), who went through the motions

against a short field of claimers and allowance types in Saturday's Vanity

H. (G1). Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta could both be pawns of

unimaginative stewardship this season, but Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick

saved Rachel from that fate when purchasing her for a reported $10 million after

the Oaks. That was the best thing possible for Thoroughbred fans, except for

those who hate her new owners and/or don't want to see her outshine Zenyatta.

Rachel Alexandra was supposed to go from the Oaks to the June 6 Acorn (G1),

remaining in three- or four-horse fields against grossly inferior three-year-old

filly rivals until the Breeders' Cup, but that wouldn't do a horse of her

caliber any favors. She's establishing herself as one of the great fillies of

modern times. Her first test against males -- a one-length score in the

Preakness (G1) -- was a big step in that direction, and the Haskell (G1) and

Travers (G1) are winnable targets in the near future. The dynamic filly will be

the one to beat if she shows up in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) this fall.

Rachel Alexandra earned a 111 BRIS Speed rating for the second time this

season in the Mother Goose, and the boys (three-year-olds and older horses)

aren't as fast as her. She's the best dirt horse in training.

Playing It too Safe: Kudos to her owners for bringing her back this

season, but it's time to show a little courage with the unbeaten Zenyatta. Rachel Alexandra

is casting a big shadow out east while Zenyatta's trainer, John Shirreffs, acts

like he's scared to lose. The older horse division couldn't be any weaker in

California, and Zenyatta's stablemate, the four-year-old filly Life is Sweet

(Storm Cat), will be the one to beat against a Grade 3-caliber group of males in

the July 11 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). But that race was never an option for

Zenyatta.

Shirreffs explained earlier this year that he doesn't have any intention of

running her at 1 1/4 miles, despite the fact that she figures to easily handle

the extended distance, and plans on keeping her against fillies and mares, with

the August 9 Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1) and Lady's Secret S. (G1)

shaping up to be yawners before the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1). I think

that course of action is an insult to a mare of Zenyatta's talents.

Zenyatta is the likely favorite if she points toward the Breeders' Cup Classic

(G1). The race will be held over a surface she relishes, Santa Anita's Pro-Ride,

and she doesn't have to fear any male rivals on synthetic tracks. Powerfully

built, the five-year-old mare would run over Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck), Mine

That Bird (Birdstone), Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker) or any other horse on

the way to the winner's circle if forced to. Mike Smith usually takes the

overland route, circling the field en route to a convincing victory.

Even if she doesn't run in the Classic, Zenyatta could showcase her skills in

races like the Pacific Classic (G1) and Goodwood S. (G1) along the way to the

Ladies' Classic. Saturday's Vanity was tough to watch. Loaded up with

129 pounds against bottom-of-the-barrel competition, Zenyatta dispatched runner-up Briecat (Adcat) by 2 1/2 lengths, with Dawn after Dawn (Successful

Appeal) finishing third. Those rivals were exiting respective eight- and

ninth-place finishes in the listed Redondo Beach S. at Hollywood Park, and

they're a pretty good gauge of the level of competition that Zenyatta will face

the rest of the year if her connections don't deviate from their dreadful game

plan.

Zenyatta deserves the opportunity to enhance her legacy with a victory over

males because she's clearly the best main track horse in California.