Asmussen agrees, Rachel not at same place she was last year

Rachel Alexandra, reigning horse of the year was upset on Sunday in the Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga by Persistently, a 4-year-old daughter of Smoke Glacken, who is owned and bred by the Phipps Stable and trained by Shug McGaughey. Rachel Alexandra had never before run 1 1/4 miles, though she did win last year’s Preakness at 1 3/16 miles. Breaking from post 2 under Borel, Rachel Alexandra went to the front and was stalked intently by Life At Ten, who was within one-half length of her through splits of 23.66 seconds, 47.73, and 1:12.02. Life At Ten eventually tired to be third, beaten by 10 1/4 lengths.

It was the third loss for Rachel Alexandra in five starts this year. And it confirmed many people’s suspicions that she is not the same horse who went 8 for 8 last year, beating males three times.


“She isn’t exactly where she was last year and hopefully she can get back there,” said Steve Asmussen, trainer of Rachel Alexandra. For the sake of racing we hope so.

Owned by Jess Jackson, who did not attend the race, issued a statement about the result, but not her future.


“We are disappointed in the result, as we are sure her countless fans are, but we are certainly not disappointed in her,” Jackson said. “She is still a superstar in our hearts and minds. The old sports adage applies …. on any given Sunday, anything can happen.”
 
The $1-million Grade I Pacific Classic was taken again by Richard's Kid on Saturday under Mike Smith who won the race last year for the same connections, trainer Bob Baffert and Mike Smith. This year instead of paying off at 24.40-1, Richard's Kid paid $11.60 to his backers and the 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid was winning for the eighth time from 26 lifetime starts.
 
El Brujo took down the Grade I $300,000 Pat O'Brien under Joel Rosario for trainer Bob Baffert who had a spectacular weekend at the beachside track. returning $9.60 to his backers, the son of Candy Ride ran his rivals off their feet for owner Arnold Zetcher.
 
Sunday's Grade II Del Mar Handicap was won by Champ Pegasus in a perfectly timed ride by Joel Rosario for trainer Richard Mandella for Diamond A Racing Corp and Vargas. The winner paid $5.
 
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Santa Anita goes back to dirt! Amen!

Well, it is going to happen and we couldn't be happier. Santa Anita will be going back to a dirt surface and it will begin shortly. The 2010 Oak Tree meeting will be run at Hollywood Park during the renovation. The 2011 Oak Tree meeting could return at that time to Santa Anita or it could be run at either Del Mar or Hollywood Park We understand that talks are under way now to decide where the meet will be held.

Could the Del Mar Polytrack be anymore inconsistent than it has been so far this meeting? We doubt it.

The $75,000-added Green Flash Handicap run on Wednesday could have been a graded stakes with California Flag and Cost of Freedom in the line-up and boy was it a thriller. California Flag took down the winners share of the purse posting a nose win for trainer Brian Koriner and Mike Smith for owners Hi Card Ranch. The Avenue of Flags gelding returned $4.20 to his backers.

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Sidney's Candy and Wasted Tears put on shows

Epic performances this past weekend by Sidney's Candy and Wasted Tears (left) at Del Mar.Saturday it was all about Sidney's Candy who drew off and easily handled his rivals in the Grade II La Jolla Handicap in track record time of 1:39.52. Under Joel Rosario for trainer John Sadler, the 3-year-old colt owned by the Craig Family Trust redeemed himself from a disappointing runner-up effort last out and returned $4.80 to his backers. On Sunday it was Wasted Tears' turn to display her grit while gutting out a nose win in the Grade II John C. Mabee after taking the field wire to wire for trainer Bart Evans. The 5-year-old mare by Najran (Runaway Groom) was winning for the 11th time in 16 lifetime races and is now a perfect five for five in 2010.

Just because you pay $1-million for a racehorse doesn't mean it will turn out to be a runner. Just ask Bob Baffert and owners Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable after Flagship, a $1-million Keeneland sales purchase checked in a uninspiring third in his debut on Wednesday at Del Mar. The 3-year-old colt by El Prado had good works leading up to the race but simply didn't fire. Perhaps he simply needed the race. Time will tell.

Goggles McCoy did what he had to do in winning the $100,000 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar on Wednesday but we left unimpressed by his win here. Wiring his rivals under Russell Baze, the Steve Sherman trained runner returned $2.80 and left us wanting to see more before we can give him kudos on his win. The 3-year-old gelded son of In Excess is now a perfect 3 for 3 in his career.

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Rachel Alexandra vs. Zenyatta

Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. One thing we have found is that no matter what name you bring up, there is plenty of passion on both sides. From east coast to west coast, just like jazz vs. rap, the Dodgers vs. the Giants there is going to be plenty of debate on who is the best. Rachel fans love Rachel and Zenyatta fans love Zenyatta. That is the way it is suppose to be. But lets not forget that both of these ladies are quite special and have done a great service to the industry, something that track management has failed to do. Instead of bashing each other, lets recognize that and applaud the other camp too. We can all say that one is better than the other but when sides start bashing the connections then the name calling begins and how petty is that really? If we race fans and horsemen want to start bashing, how about we bash track management?

You don't have to be a Dodger fan to like the way Gibson Home Run scored in his debut on August 5th at Del Mar in the 8th race for trainer Peter Miller. Scoring at the maiden claiming level of $32k, it's no doubt that maybe Gibson Home Run has once or twice came back to the barn the way Kurt rounded the bases on that fateful evening but he got the job done under P. Val at $7.60.

American Story looked solid taking down the 2nd race at Del Mar on August 6th as another Bob Baffert trainee scored under Martin Garcia at $6.60. The filly by Ghostzapper looked solid and may be heard from again soon before Fairplex opens.

Zenyatta ran her streak up to 18 in a row, while remaining perfect when the daughter of Street Cry took down the winners share of the Grade I $300,000 Clement Hirsch on Saturday August 7. With slow fractions to chase and a zealous ride by David Flores aboard Dance to My Tune pushing Zenyatta wide into the stretch, the mare did what she has always done and that was to win. What a special mare she has turned out to be for connections of trainer John Shirreffs and owners Mr. and Mrs. Jerry S. Moss. How anyone can say anything negative about this mare is beyond us.

She was only winning her first race in the United States but Late Cuddle sure did look impressive for Jerry Hollendorfer and owner Mrs. S K Johnston, Jr. Ridden under Rafael Bejarano the 5-year-old mare by Postponed paid an overlayed price of $15.60 to her backers. She may like it here and turn out to be a useful sort. keep your eyes on her in future starts.

Too early for Derby talk? Not really. J P's Gusto looked nice winning the Grade II Best Pal on Sunday at Del Mar under Patrick Valenzuela for trainer David Hofmans and owners Gem Inc. The son of Successful Appeal has nice breeding and talent. He's worth following.

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All set for Zenyatta on Saturday

The super mare, Zenyatta is set to stretch her unbeaten streak to 18 in the Grade I $300,000 Clement Hirsch Saturday at Del Mar when the daughter of Street Cry faces five badly overmatched rivals. Zenyatta was schooled in the paddock on Thursday and she looked like her super self as she took in the sights without raising a hair. She'll be handled as usual by Mike Smith.

Was anyone else growing tired of the endless pictures that Del Mar management was posting of the "Cougar Women" on the internet? All over Facebook and the Del Mar web page, the promotion was run in accordance with the Cougar Handicap on Friday evening and showed older women like the TV show trying to lure younger guys. We bet that the late trainer Charlie Whittingham and Cougar himself were rolling over in their graves. Perhaps we can make the suggestion that next season Del Mar can make any empty on track suites into massage suites and charge a flat rate for a day at the races and a free hookup. Don't get us wrong. We are all for bring young blood to the track and attracting new fans but this promotion is so not the way to do it. By the way, the race was won by Temple City in wire-to-wire fashion under Joe Talamo for trainer Carla Gaines.

Dakota Phone ended his winless streak at 15 when the gelded son of Zavata took down the Grade II $200,000 San Diego Handicap. Joel Rosario was aboard the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee and he was winning for the first time in three years after going 0 for seven in 2010. He paid $11.40 to his backers.

Smiling Tiger won the Grade I Bing Crosby and took home the winners share of the $250,000 under Victor Espinoza for trainer Jeff Bonde but things got a bit easier when the favorite Cost of Freedom broke badly and never saw the lead. Smiling Tiger paid $17.80.

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