Rachel Staggers

[km]

Now you have to wonder if RA will even compete in the Br Cup Classic at Churchill. Imagine what Zenyatta would have done to that field - she would have blown by them like a NY taxi driver on meth.

The Horse of the Year staggered home in 27 seconds, final quarter. That's Maiden Claimer time. Or is that an East Coast Bias too ?

[SPIKE]

AMEN

[DanG]

Now you have to wonder if RA will even compete in the Br Cup Classic at Churchill. Imagine what Zenyatta would have done to that field - she would have blown by them like a NY taxi driver on meth.

The Horse of the Year staggered home in 27 seconds, final quarter. That's Maiden Claimer time. Or is that an East Coast Bias too ?
They flat out busted her gut last year. There is a reason no filly had attempted that kind of onslaught in such a short time frame.

I never quite understood why so many figure sellers were saying she was the same this year; or some said “even better.” Asmussen is no fool; he ducked Z at Oaklawn and avoided graded company until he found this spot.

She doesn’t travel with anywhere close to perfect rhythm she was born with. The same person (the best judge of horseflesh I know, who said she was the best 3yo filly he ever saw in her 1st start last year) told me “she has not been a happy horse in her works & pre / post-race gallops this entire year.”

Can’t take away her tremendous 3yo season and she is still hardly a slouch, but it feels like watching a shadow of herself. Imho; the meat grinder she was put through after her awesome Oaks is the cause and we are witnessing the effect.

[Mike T]

Asmussen wasn't the trainer that got her into her form last year either. He was like the relief pitcher who takes over for the starter with 2 out in the 5th and a 10-0 lead. Nice easy win.

[DanG]

Asmussen wasn't the trainer that got her into her form last year either. He was like the relief pitcher who takes over for the starter with 2 out in the 5th and a 10-0 lead. Nice easy win.

Very true Mike.

I’m no defender of Asmussen, but given the way he normally spaces race; Jess Jackson has to be hold some responsibility for that Kamikaze approach. I would love to talk with Hal Wiggins off the record to get his take on her post-Oaks campaign.

IMO: There is no more demanding / stressful scenario in racing then a world class dirt router who fiercely competes at every pole.

[Mike T]

"IMO: There is no more demanding / stressful scenario in racing then a world class dirt router who fiercely competes at every pole."

No doubt. She has a lot heart.

I think that would have been the perfect race for her to run off Life at Ten's butt and make a move later. She had never gone 10F before and crawled home the last time she was pushed up front. What made them think she was going to get another furlong running that way in not her best form.

[scrantonian]

Read Beyer's column on Rachel. For my money he is righton.

[Paladin]

Didn't they change her bridle for this years campaign?

[EE26]

Looking back over things to try and piece together what happened, take a look at the FIG2 screen.

According to FIG2, Rachel clearly isn't the horse she was last year and she is coming off of a bad number.

Now look at Persistently. Except for the turf race we have a horse moving forward and coming off their most recent race, are only 3 points apart.

With Rachel we have a horse with probable distance limitations,coming off a poor figure and she ended up in a contested pace versus a horse who seems to be moving forward.
Was it an upset, yes.
Shocking? not so much after looking at FIG2

I think this is a testament to the quality of Jim Cramer's work.

[sly7449]

Greetings,

Guess that everyone that attended the Seminar cashed in on that $45.00 winner or did you all leave it in Vegas?

Thanks to KM and Rick that made it available!

DUH!

Sly

[delayjf]

"IMO: There is no more demanding / stressful scenario in racing then a world class dirt router who fiercely competes at every pole."

I would have to agree and thats one reason I'm disappointed in Zenyatta campaign. Because of her running style and because of her size - I don't think running against colts would have affected her like it did RA, Azeri and other mares who have taken on the boys. She doesn't eyeball her foes, she just runs past them in the final quarter - I think she would have done well in the G1 1 1/4 races on the west coast.