Rachel Alexandra Retired

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The irony, of course, is that if Shirreffs hadn't sent Zardana to the Fair Grounds, the $5 Million Apple Blossom would have taken place.

makes you wonder, doesn't it? if he wanted the faceoff so bad...why send zardana? everyone knew what would happen if rachel lost that day.

[dagolfer33]

Originally Posted by Danzig

makes you wonder, doesn't it? if he wanted the faceoff so bad...why send zardana? everyone knew what would happen if rachel lost that day.

Makes me wonder why they interpreted that race as a "she's not ready" instead of "she needed the race".

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by dagolfer33

Makes me wonder why they interpreted that race as a "she's not ready" instead of "she needed the race".

Jackson tried to micro manage RA just the same as the Moss's with Zenyatta.

The problem was that RA didn't want to race anymore.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

The problem was that RA didn't want to race anymore.

Complete and utter bullshit.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Complete and utter bullshit.

Says you and RA stopped racing at her best after getting the whip in the Woodward.

RA had enough pure talent to hang in there as a 4yo when she really didnt give it her best effort, but you're the EXPERT.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

Says you and RA stopped racing at her best after getting the whip in the Woodward.

RA had enough pure talent to hang in there as a 4yo when she really didnt give it her best effort, but you're the EXPERT.

You're the one who thinks you can read the horse's mind and tell how she's feeling and what she wants to do. But yeah, I'm the know-it-all.

Rachel stopped running well because she was whipped in the Woodward, according to you. Are you a writer for Disney? Because that's fabricated fairytale presumptive nonsense.

[Dahoss]

The only thing that bothers me is the timing of the retirement. If she's healthy, she should finish off the year.

Hopefully in the next few years we'll get another matchup that fans want to see and we'll have owners who actually want to see it also. Owners that aren't so wrapped up in their own ego.

[analyizethis]

It shows another problem with the game when this great filly competes for 3 seasons and never goes to the Breeders' Cup, which is designed (I guess) to showcase the top stars in an end of the year event that should decide championships.

It is no wonder that we never develop new fans in the game. They would observe "So what's up with the healthy defending HOY being retired five weeks before the biggest day in US racing after running all season"?

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

The problem was that RA didn't want to race anymore.

This is ridiculous. Go back and watch the fleur de lis again from this year and then explain to me why it is so much worse than most of her races last year, or how it is evidence that she "didn't want to race."
Just because she won the Oaks by a huge margin last year doesn't mean she ran better in that race than she did this year going 9f at CD. In fact, she basically ran the exact same race again except this year she ran a little bit faster while also carrying a couple of extra pounds.
Clearly she didn't turn in performances this year that were quite on par with what she did in the Haskell and Woodward last year, but her races this year stack up pretty well with what she did last year at Oaklawn, and in the Oaks and Preakness, etc. I think the idea that she fell out of form dramatically this year is completely wrong.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by miraja2

This is ridiculous. Go back and watch the fleur de lis again from this year and then explain to me why it is so much worse than most of her races last year, or how it is evidence that she "didn't want to race."
Just because she won the Oaks by a huge margin last year doesn't mean she ran better in that race than she did this year going 9f at CD. In fact, she basically ran the exact same race again except this year she ran a little bit faster while also carrying a couple of extra pounds.
Clearly she didn't turn in performances this year that were quite on par with what she did in the Haskell and Woodward last year, but her races this year stack up pretty well with what she did last year at Oaklawn, and in the Oaks and Preakness, etc. I think the idea that she fell out of form dramatically this year is completely wrong.

I'm not saying she fell out of form, she just failed to do what a filly with her ability and class will do.

WIN as a 4 yo. Some just no longer have a intrest in racing.

Even her trainer expressed concerns about "Keeping her happy" and not wanting to do anything to upset her routine. Hell he was walking on eggs to try and figure out how to get her to use that extra gear. Experianced horse people on this board told us that she was done and most didn't listen.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

I'm not saying she fell out of form, she just failed to do what a filly with her ability and class will do.

WIN as a 4 yo. Some just no longer have a intrest in racing.

So who won the Fleur de Lis and the Lady's Secret?

I still don't understand your point. Can you explain to me how her performance in the Fleur de Lis (in particular) demostrated her lack of interest in racing this year?

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by miraja2

So who won the Fleur de Lis and the Lady's Secret?

I still don't understand your point. Can you explain to me how her performance in the Fleur de Lis (in particular) demostrated her lack of interest in racing this year?

SHE WAS SAD DON'T YOU GETS IT !!!!!!!!!!!! That's totally why she ran 2 or 3 Beyer points slower this year than last!!!!

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by miraja2

So who won the Fleur de Lis and the Lady's Secret?

I still don't understand your point. Can you explain to me how her performance in the Fleur de Lis (in particular) demostrated her lack of interest in racing this year?

I guess Hal wiggins is a fool too, but it seems that he to thought that the Woodward was RAs turning point.

I think Steve did a great job with her in 2009, winning all those races. It was very aggressive and they got what they wanted out of her. But I think they paid the price. I think the Woodward gutted her.
JS: So you think the Woodward took that much out of her. What makes you say that?

HW: Just watching the race. She was all out and I think sometimes when a filly has to do that she has a hard time coming back, even with rest. It might have quit being fun for her. When she was running against 3-year-old fillies she was never extended; she did it so easily. After races, she was dragging the rider around the track. After you give everything you have a couple times, it takes something away from them.

But then what does he know.

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Danzig

makes you wonder, doesn't it? if he wanted the faceoff so bad...why send zardana? everyone knew what would happen if rachel lost that day.

I gathered that that was not his idea. Zardana's owner is the one that wanted to take her on, wasn't he? I always thought Shirreffs would've preferred not to do that. It's not like the Mosses had any say.

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Danzig

makes you wonder, doesn't it? if he wanted the faceoff so bad...why send zardana? everyone knew what would happen if rachel lost that day.

i don't think they thought zardana would win. she was a third string "feel out" the competition entry. the real tip off was when they pulled out of the big race. why pull out because you lost the first race back after a long layoff? answer: they knew rachel was not right before everyone else and losing confirmed their fears......look how they picked her schedule after that. a couple of those races were a joke compared to last year. the horse went from taking on any race to special set up races that she lost half of. the race (at monmouth) that set her up for the personal ensign was a disgrace. "oh, we beat a bunch of claimers lets stretch her out to 10 furlongs, in a grade one." the horse probably should of retired months before that! the "faceoff" race that some are crying about would of been a farce if it happened at all this year.