Part of me would love to see Rachel Alexandra skip the Breeders' Cup and run somewhere else on the same day. Then I'd like to see the Breeders' Cup go away forever, and have its disappearance somehow attributed to Rachel Alexandra skipping it.

Would really suck for the horses that skipped the BC to point for the Ack Ack.

His training methods - his shoes - his feeding program - maybe he forgets to clean their teeth ... how should I know?

The stats are overwhelmingly bad though.

It has nothing to do with Pyro's Blue Grass or Curlin's Breeders Cup Classic - or Asmussen's 4-for-73 with 23 straight beaten favorites at PID - it's based on a very large sample size. So long as the races aren't baby races at 4.5 furlongs - his horses tend to disgrace themselves over it.

There is nothing wrong with the Breeders Cup concept.

Few things are as correct as the BC concept imo.

The problem is the people who run the Breeders Cup.

Sorry Bob, but I just don't see how running her in the BC is going to bring more publicity than the Preakness and Haskell....if being stubborn means Jackson's going to run her in races like the latter, I hope he continues this mad stubborn campaign. If anyone else owned her, it's very unlikely she does both the Preakness and Haskell.

As many problems as the BC admittedly has, anyone who complains about why horse racing is so fractured and can't gain any national traction, probably should look to you for an answer. Taking your toys and running away won't solve anything, but all the dirt lovers who insist they love racing lose all credibility when they promote splintering what little base we have. No one outside the industry will notice if RA doesn't run in the BC, but if promoted in the right way, a whole lot more of the public would be aware if she did run.

I agree on your Asmussen/Poly angle..I just think it would have more merit if he had more than 3 months to mess her up.

I disagree...The Preakness did great numbers and she got huge pub..for horse racing. No one outside the fans ever heard of The Haskel so that's moot, but you can make a huge story out of Rachel against the boys in the BC. If someone wants to make a case why it's physically not good for her, that's one thing, but so far the arguments come from four factions..those that hate poly, those that hate the BC, those who think NY racing is the end all and all of the above.

How about the Woodward? Who does she have to fear? Dry Martini? She'd sip him for an apperitif and gulp Asiatic Boy for dinner.

Try six months.

Wouldn't you like the chance to be proven right?

Putting myself in the connections shoes - I wouldn't even have run her in the Haskell .. she'd have been in the Del Cap or got another chance for a 20 length Grade 1 against the great Funny Moon.

Putting myself in Asmussen's shoes regarding synthetic tracks ... it's like a new bar comes to town and every time you go there - someone takes you outside and kicks your ass. After that happens enough you avoid the place.

But yeah, I'd like to bet against her. Sure. But as a fan, I don't want to see her embarassed.

Pretty much how I feel. :)

I bet Assmussen would go there if Dr Dirt would let him.and wait a minute, if you could knock down a big ticket since when have you cared about embarassment;)

I really don't get it...if the agenda is to rid the World of Poly, that's fine, but RA not running in the BC ain't going to change a thing.

It might make those geniuses running the BC think twice about holding the event at poly facility (especially in back to back years).

My problem with the BC really has nothing to do with the dirt/synthetic issue. It's what the BC has done to the entire racing calendar that bothers me.

They won't do that again...guaranteed..so..next? Sorry Matt..but everyone needs to look at the big picture here and get rid of their hard ons for poly and the BC.

I wouldn't be surprised if she matched her Oaks number with that effort in terms of Thorograph. It was that good. I was more impressed with this race than the Oaks actually.

I hope she blows off the BC Cup.. They have no business running at SA back to back.. They should let the Euro's come and blow away all the crap that we have here for Poly/Pro Ride. Save Zenyatta who cares how well Dry friggin Martini runs in the BC Classic. I am looking more forward to the BC jumps in Far Hills in October then I am the friggin 2 year old turf race... Seriously a 2 year old turf championship race.. Bob has there been a two year old significant turf race in the US this year yet? It's August

If someone was smart at NYRA they would hook a big time sponsor for 3mil race and get Zenyatta and Rachel together..maybe even throw in a few colt slugs to fill the field. race it at Belmont in late Sept. and make the BC an afterthought.. Obviously the NTRA would punish NYRA and the next time they got the BC would be 2000 and dead.

I think it could be higher, I got a 121 and that may even be a couple points conservative. I just ran the numbers and got these for the 2 turn stakes:

Majestic Light Actin Good 92
Jersey Derby Endymion 87
Matchmaker Captains Lover 79
Lady's Secret Devil House 94
Oceanport Get Serious 98
Haskell Rachel Alexandra 121

Might even have been better by a 1/2 point or point. She got a -4 in the Oaks and she was 3w3w this time...

That's a different and legitimate conversation. I fear I am veering into stubborness showed by a rare few over this, but I can't help myself. Horse racing's best interests are served by RA running in a BC race...there is no minute agenda that can overcome this big picture reality.

I have spoken:wf

Problem is the figures that makes for the 2nd to 5th place finishers in the Haskell. I find those tough to stomach if you give Rachel a 121.

Screw the NTRA. Screw the BC. I love this idea. Only they should do it on BC Day. Get the Dubai people involved.

This is true, but if you don't believe in a decision and have the right to decide against it, wouldn't you?

I really think you are overestimating the promotability of the BC to non-racing fans.

never thought of the Woodward, the only thing I think is maybe the connections just want to take it one step at a time in terms of taking on the next challenges. Then next logical stop besides the Travers in the PE.

that's of course they do plan on running her at the Spa this summer, which I have a feeling it's going to be a long two weeks or so of hearing the blah blah blah, of "We haven't decided anything yet blah blah blah" and then we'll get We're going to run her at the Belmont Fall Meet and so like the year when Curlin won the Preakness, Asmussen will have RA 100 feet from the track and not race her there. Frustrating especially on this sports biggest meet.

The best bet for the Sport, in terms of National interest and hoopla, and Jess Jackson say's he is all about the sport, would be The Travers. ESPN will give it the national coverage. It being Saratoga will have the East Coast Press,.

It would be a circus that everyone would want to watch.

So Jess Jackson, if you read these forums run her in the Travers:D

I have no problem with Summer Bird and Munnings getting 110-111's in that scenario, they ran that well. The other two are tougher to argue for however.

I'd rather see Golidkova, Zenyatta, and Rachel square off in the BC Mile than any of them race on the synthetic. At least on the turf they'd prove something on a surface with historical significance.

I have nothing against poly but it should be its own race on its on track. Dirt horses aren't forced to run on grass.. So why should dirt horses be forced to run on poly. If you have to have Poly races race them a different day at a different facilty.. The introduction of a unique third surface is fracturing racing further.. You not milk, you are not meat, your poly.. If Belmont or Woodbine replaces a turf course with poly/or back to dirt then you can BC all at one place.. I see know reason to force dirt horses to compete on poly. To me California really f'd up racing

My greyhound could beat most two year old turf horses..understood..it's a different timeline than "dirt" horses for the most part. But there are better ways to take a stand against the BC and Poly than let your sport's biggest star boycott a race..that's all I'm saying.

While I respect your opinion, I disagree.

Ending the BC forever with one devestating blow is not a minute agenda.

My only 2 cents to add on this thread is that I will always remember Rags2Riches beating the guys.

Bring on a great matchup gal versus guys - LOVE it! Must add it will / should be great for the sport:$:

And I really think you are underestimating the potential of RA to non-racing fans..If it wasn't her specifically I wouldn't take up this fight, but racing as an industry has waited forever for a real positive to market the sport and all the hatred of you know what should take a back seat for what is best for the sport. Mr and Mrs Joe Blow won't know what surface she is running on, but if The Today Show has a feature on her, and if marketed right they would, then they just might watch...and that's a start. We are all way too close to the industry sometimes to take a step back and realize our biggest star not running in our second biggest race can't be a good thing.

But Justin...it won't

I personally don't hate poly. I understand that it's here to stay, so you just adapt. My problem with it, is the way it was jammed down everyones throat. One day out of nowhere it was deemed to be better and safer than dirt and every track in California was getting it.
Of course it would be great for the game if Rachel ran in the BC (especially the classic). And the BC people should do whatever they can to get her there. But unfortunately Assmussen is the guy holding all the cards here. Maybe he is holding out for another track such as Monmouth/Meadowlands or Mountaineer to create a stakes race (like they did for Big Brown) and give him and Jackson a blank check to run her at their track BC weekend. If that doesn't materialize he could always decide to go to Santa Anita. Or then again he could just take his ball and go home, in that case everyone loses.

It would suck..She is a huge star and she is on the raise.. Isn't it the Moss's responsiblity to get her(Zenyatta) out of California. Enough already. She is a huge star as well. These people have made millions in the game. I might add they have given back on coutless ocassions. They are charitable people who care about the sport. Hence, get your friggin mare on a plane and race her on dirt again against Rachel. IF they do that, then I would hope Jess jackson would see fit to go to the BC and challenge her on her home turf/poly..

I blame PETA....one bad meet at del mar and the **** up 100 years of history.

And what happens if she loses? Pretty anti-climatic and the people go away.

Zenyatta will beat her to a pulp on that surface...

I'd empty my pockets on Euphony against RA on a synthetic track. She'd have no chance with Euphony .. not that Euphony is that much horse.

She will probably run a lot better than Big Brown did in the Belmont .. but I'm convinced that using RA running in the Breeders Cup to market the sport won't turn out so hot when she runs dreadful and excuses start to fly.

Excuses that will sound very pathetic to those who don't fully understand a complex sport.

Maybe Byk can talk Jess into giving her back to the super talented Hal Wiggins if they decide to go to SA.. lol