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Newsmakers of the Year No. 1: The queens

Posted: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 3:11 PM

RACHEL ALEXANDRA

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club

by Jeff Lowe

Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, the two females who dominated the spotlight in American racing throughout 2009, first shared headlines leading up to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) card on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

A preview on the THOROUGHBRED TIMES website began with “Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta provide Oaks day star power.”

Zenyatta ended up ceding the attention—she was scratched from the Louisville Distaff Stakes (G2) the morning of the race because of concern that she would be running on an off track. Rachel Alexandra took her chance to shine in the Oaks and delivered a mesmerizing performance, soaring to a 20 1/4-length win, the most lopsided result in the 135-year history of the race.

In establishing herself as a phenom, both in the Oaks and 15 days later in the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1), Rachel Alexandra achieved a crucial public relations victory for Thoroughbred racing, one year after the nightmare demise of another three-year-old filly, Eight Belles, in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

Rachel Alexandra only enhanced her unique profile, and Zenyatta added her own procession of highlights with an undefeated season and a Hollywood-like climax in her triumph over males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

The one elusive element was a showdown between the two of them, but they did provide a platform for debate, inside and outside the industry, that will build toward the unveiling of the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year on January 18.

“Obviously there have been a lot economic issues, but this year is going to be one of the most memorable in this sport’s history because of these unforgettable achievements by Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta,” said Alex Waldrop, who dealt with a public relations crisis in 2008 as president and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. “Clearly the Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta debate and their accomplishments have been the big story this year, and they’ve been critical to the industry, in a very positive way.

“We haven’t polled this particular aspect but we do know from polling that the stories throughout racing this year have helped the impression of our sport nationwide. It’s created a positive environment for racing, in spite of the economic challenges this year.”

National attention

The New York Times demonstrated the prominence of the subject on November 11, posting an online point and counterpoint debate between Assistant Sports Editor Jay Schreiber and Turf writer Joe Drape. In an accompanying poll that remained active on December 9, 2,592 respondents (69%) agreed with Schreiber that Rachel Alexandra deserved to be Horse of the Year. Drape backed Zenyatta, and 1,154 respondents (31%) joined him.

The achievements of both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta prompted the three organizations that decide the Eclipse Awards to consider allowing the unprecedented option of voting for co-recipients of the Horse of the Year award. Daily Racing Form supported the concept, but was overruled by the National Turf Writers Association and National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

Voters will have to choose one winner—any split votes will not be counted.

Zenyatta’s co-owner, Jerry Moss, acknowledged that the decision may not come easily.

“I’m not taking anything away from [Rachel Alexandra],” Moss said in a press conference after Zenyatta became the first female winner of the $5-million Classic. “I think it's a tough one. So you guys are going to have to figure it out.”

Both campaigns carried gripping elements of history in the making. 

Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick purchased Rachel Alexandra from her breeder, Dolphus Morrison, for a reported price of $10-million after the Oaks. She went on to defeat males three times over her last four starts.

The one exception was a 19 1/4-length romp in the Mother Goose Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, in which she roared past her two rivals, eventual Grade 2 winner Malibu Prayer and eventual two-time Grade 1 winner Flashing, in a stakes-record 1:46.33 for 1 1/8 miles.

Rachel Alexandra was the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924. She joined Racing Hall of Fame member Serena’s Song as the only filly winners in the 42-year history of the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.

On September 5 at Saratoga Race Course, Rachel Alexandra turned back seven older males and became the first female winner in 56 editions of the Woodward Stakes (G1). She also was the first three-year-old filly to beat older males in a major route race in New York since Lady Primrose succeeded in the 1887 Manhattan Handicap.

Time to shine

Rachel Alexandra rested on her laurels for the rest of 2009, and Zenyatta moved to center stage. After starting her five-year-old season with repeat wins in the Milady (G2) and Vanity (G1) Handicaps at Hollywood Park and Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, Zenyatta reached an important milestone in winning the Lady’s Secret Stakes (G1) on October 10 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

With her 13th win in 13 career starts, Zenyatta matched the undefeated record of Personal Ensign, the Hall of Fame mare who concluded her career with a stirring victory over Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Winning Colors in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Churchill.

Zenyatta supplied her own dramatics as she faced males for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, her career finale. The Street Cry (Ire) mare missed the break but kicked in with her usual rally, gobbling up ground in the stretch to win by one length under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

Together, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta combined for 13 wins in 13 starts in 2009, nine of them at the Grade 1 level.

“I’m just glad they both got to do their thing, and their owners deserve a lot of credit for putting their horses up in the tough spots,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said prior to the Breeders’ Cup. “In a way, you’d like to see them run against each other, but in the end I’m actually glad they’re not going to. You’d hate to see either of them lose.”

Jeff Lowe is a THOROUGHBRED TIMES staff writer

NOTE: Below are videos for each start both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta made this year.