Rachel Alexandra

It was announced today by Rachel Alexandra's owner, Jess Jackson (of Kendall-Jackson wine and Curlin fame), that she will definitely NOT run in the 2009 Breeder's Cup. He cited Santa Anita Park's synthetic surface (or, as he called it, "plastic") as the reason she will not be making the trip out to California in early November. Curlin's struggles over the same surface last year were also referenced as further reasoning behind his decision. However, he hinted at his desire to race her against the boys again before years end AND he mentioned the possibility that she would return to race next year as a 4-year old. 

Mr. Jackson would not commit to any specific race besides this Saturday's Mother Goose Stakes for his super-filly, but he did mention several possibilities: the July 19 Delaware Handicap, the July 25 Coaching Club American Oaks, the August 2 Haskell Invitational, the August 22 Alabama Stakes, and the August 29 Shadwell Travers Stakes. 

Personally, I hope she goes in both the Haskell and the Travers and then continues against males for the rest of the year. If she handily dispatches her 4 opponents this Saturday, then she will have nothing left to prove against her fellow 3-year old fillies. She would, however, need to race against the boys at least once or twice over the remainder of the year to give her a better chance for multiple Eclipse Awards. She probably already has the award for top 3-year old female locked up, but she most certainly has a fighting chance at both top 3-year old (of either gender) and Horse of the Year. You can be assured that Mr. Jackson has dreams of campaigning two consecutive back-to-back horses of the year, and will try and put her in the position to do so.

The possibility of her returning to the track as a 4-year old also opens up a myriad of scenarios, especially if she has a successful conclusion to 2009. Remember, the 2010 Breeder's Cup is going to be held at the dirt-friendly confines of Churchill Downs, so the chance of her closing out her career with a Breeder's Cup performance still exists. Obviously, this is all massively speculative and I know I am looking way too far into the future, but I like dreaming up best-case-scenarios so I may brag when any part of my prediction comes true.