Big thanks to Jess Jackson for letting her prove how good she really is, let’s hope more owners of fillies and mares follow his lead:

(partymanners)

And the crowd went wild!

(equidaily)

And Ernie was there to capture it all:

(Ernie Munick)

Posted by dana on Sep 05 2009    
Filed Under: History, Racing History, HOY, 2009, Woodward Stakes, Rachel Alexandra, Impressive, Steve Asmussen, Calvin Borel, Race Replay, Inspirational, YouTube, Legend, Saratoga

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I offer this hypnotic video of Rachel’s recent work at Saratoga (thanks Raceday360!).

And when you’re done with that and want to read some in-depth and insightful analysis about what the numbers at the recent Saratoga sale could imply for racing, direct your browser here.

(NYRAvideo)

Posted by dana on Aug 17 2009    
Filed Under: Industry, 2009, Rachel Alexandra, Steve Asmussen, Workouts, Saratoga, NYRA, Racing

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Rachel Alexandra and Calvin Borel winning the Preakness (wendyu)

Congrats to Rachel Alexandra and her connections and a particularly big THANK YOU to Jess Jackson.

Congrats to Mine That Bird and his connections as well, nice to see them prove that his Derby win was not a fluke… poor stallions.

(partymanners)

Steve Crist sums it up nicely:

Good for her and good for him. Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird made the unprecedented Preakness showdown between an Oaks and Derby winner live up to and exceed all expectations with a pair of excellent performances and a clean, straightforward horse race.

I’m usually cranky about so-called feelgood stories, but it’s hard not to feel good about this one. Rachel Alexandra is obviously something special, and she got the historic job done over a likeable gelding who vindicated his shocking Derby victory with another strong effort.

And celebrating abounds all over the twitterverse… there was even a rainbow in Baltimore!

If I may quote myself on the outcome…

I had the tri and the teeny tiny P4 but that pales in comparison to how exciting that race was and how FABULOUS the outcome was

Ok, I think I hear my alarm clock…

Posted by dana on May 16 2009    
Filed Under: Geldings, Steve Asmussen, 2009, Twitter, Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra, Sweet Vindication, YouTube, Race Replay, Triple Crown, Calvin Borel, Preakness, Pimlico, Racing

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Curlin beating Lawyer Ron in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont (Charles Pravata)

It’s looking like that’s what Curlin will be next Saturday in the Man o’War! The licensing issues are still not totally worked out, but inching closer with the expectation of it being finalized in the beginning of the week.

The licensing issues could be resolved at the beginning of the week when a Kentucky civil-court judge is expected to formally transfer the assets of two Kentucky attorneys who own a minor interest in Curlin to those who won a civil-case judgment against them.

Not only does it look like we’ll see him in New York, but it seems to be shaping up to be a turf war, so to speak, with Breeders’ Cup turf champions Red Rocks and Better Talk Now also expected to run.

And in other good news on the turf, my boy Thorn Song , back at his best distance of a mile, beat the impressive Einstein by about a length and half in the Firecracker at Churchill today, not that I could wager on it with my TWINSPIRES account (ludicrous!).

Happy 4th y’all!

Posted by dana on Jul 04 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Steve Asmussen, Twinspires, Signal Wars, Einstein, Thorn Song, :), Belmont, Fans, Curlin, Turf, Charles Pravata, Racing

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Curlin in the beginning of the Stephen Foster (creepy_coyote)

Asmussen said he would work Curlin on the turf and find a grass race for him in North America on the weekend of July 12-13. He did not say if he had a particular race in mind. He would prefer a race over an international style course, such as those at Arlington Park, Belmont Park or Woodbine. Major turf races for older horses scheduled that weekend include the $500,000 Man O’ War (gr. IT) at 1 3/8 miles at Belmont Park and the Arlington Handicap (gr. III) at 1 1/4 miles at Arlington Park.

That is, if he works well on the turf… fingers crossed!

Here’s a fun fact, in yesterday’s extremely satisfying chalk fest, favorites (with the exception of Pyro, who was a close second favorite) won by 35 1/4 lengths total!!

Fleur De Lis - Hysterical Lady - 7 lengths
Regret - Pure Clan - 2 3/4 lengths
Northern Dancer - Pyro - 1 3/4 lengths
Jefferson - Tizdejavu - 4 lengths
Stephen Foster - Curlin - 4 1/2 lengths
Mint Julep - Dreaming of Anna - 2 1/2 lengths
Obeah - Unbridled Belle - 5 lengths
Ogden Phipps - Ginger Punch - 7 3/4 lengths

I’m looking forward to seeing some races where there are actual stretch battles and one can find some betting value, but after the past few weeks I think we all deserved to see what real favorites and champions look like (even if they rarely compete against each other).

Posted by dana on Jun 15 2008    
Filed Under: Pyro, Ginger Punch, Steve Asmussen, 2008, 4yo, Unbridled Belle, Turf, Fans, Belmont, Curlin, Hystericalady, Racing

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