One of the greatest 11.25 length defeats by a filly in history

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

And the idea of a tongue tie is to prevnt the tongue from being pulled back into the throat which can cause interference with the breathing mechanism, hanging out is of no signifigance since they breathe through their nostrils.

No doubt. However, shouldn't it be tied down sufficiently so that the horse can 'focus' on running, rather than paying with its (significantly extended) tongue, as RA was doing?

[the_fat_man]

Some interesting post race comments:

'Calvin Borel, rider of runner-up Rachel Alexandra (No. 2): “She just got outrun. I had everything my way, and she just got outrun.
“After we put away Life At Ten at the quarter pole, I didn’t feel any acceleration and I got worried. She wasn’t really there. I knew if anyone was running behind us, we were in trouble. If you can’t take the losing with the winning, you can’t be in the game.”

'Shug McGaughey, winning trainer of Persistently (No. 3):“I thought that [Rachel Alexandra] might be a little vulnerable going a mile and a quarter, and I knew we’d run a mile and a quarter. I knew we would run a mile and a quarter. Her female family runs a long way.....We were just lucky enough to pick up the pieces.”

' John Velazquez, jockey aboard third-place finisher Life At Ten (No. 4):
“That was a speed duel. I thought my filly would be on the lead, [Calvin Borel, jockey aboard Rachel Alexandra (No. 2)] would rate in second, but he sent her out and got in the lead and all that did was create more problems for my horse because now she was engaged. But I wasn’t going to take her back; I just left her alone. I wasn’t going to go back either, so I just held my position and left it alone. The half-mile pole came and I thought she was dead and then the three eighths pole came and she was done. Nothing left"

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Some interesting post race comments:

'Calvin Borel, rider of runner-up Rachel Alexandra (No. 2): “She just got outrun. I had everything my way, and she just got outrun.
“After we put away Life At Ten at the quarter pole, I didn’t feel any acceleration and I got worried. She wasn’t really there. I knew if anyone was running behind us, we were in trouble. If you can’t take the losing with the winning, you can’t be in the game.”

'Shug McGaughey, winning trainer of Persistently (No. 3):“I thought that [Rachel Alexandra] might be a little vulnerable going a mile and a quarter, and I knew we’d run a mile and a quarter. I knew we would run a mile and a quarter. Her female family runs a long way.....We were just lucky enough to pick up the pieces.”

' John Velazquez, jockey aboard third-place finisher Life At Ten (No. 4):
“That was a speed duel. I thought my filly would be on the lead, [Calvin Borel, jockey aboard Rachel Alexandra (No. 2)] would rate in second, but he sent her out and got in the lead and all that did was create more problems for my horse because now she was engaged. But I wasn’t going to take her back; I just left her alone. I wasn’t going to go back either, so I just held my position and left it alone. The half-mile pole came and I thought she was dead and then the three eighths pole came and she was done. Nothing left"

Both RA and Life At Ten were dead after a half mile. It's a true testament to Life At Ten that she was able to run her final six furlongs in a sensational 1:18.78 seconds after what happened in the first four furlongs.

Rachel Alexandra got her final six furlongs in an absolutely dazzling 1:16.94 seconds considering the pace.

That's called a speed duel. Borel doesn't want to admit he was involved in one because he doesn't want blame for the result.

Borel rode a perfect race - he tried to discourage Velazquez from commiting suicide by floating him out - but Johnny V. never backed down. If I was Borel I would have said the exact same thing. If you admit you got involved in a duel - you're just giving an owner an excuse to replace you.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

No doubt. However, shouldn't it be tied down sufficiently so that the horse can 'focus' on running, rather than paying with its (significantly extended) tongue, as RA was doing?

You tie it down as deep in the mouth as possible. The part of the tongue that you see isnt signifigant. It is really a non issue.