2009 Preakness (G1)

10 Reasons why Rachel should be Horse of the Year (by Brian Zipse)

1) Geography - In many years, where a horse raced does not matter, but when there is such an interesting race as this, it needs to be taken into consideration. We are after all, looking for our National Champion. Zenyatta raced all of her races in the friendly confines of Southern California, meanwhile, Rachel Alexandra raced in six different states and at seven different tracks during 2009.
Advantage : Rachel Alexandra

2) Beyer Ratings - Like them or not, they are the best tool in American racing to place a quantitative standard as to how well a horse performed in a certain race. Zenyatta’s Beyers from this year are 103, 104, 99, 97, and 112. Rachel Alexandra’s Beyers are 100, 103, 101, 108, 108, 111, 116, and 109. Her average Beyer rating in the last five races (all Grade 1’s) is 110.4, which is higher than every Beyer rating than Zenyatta has ever run until her last race.
Advantage : Rachel Alexandra

3) Grade 1’s - A sheer numbers comparison: Zenyatta won four Grade 1 races in 2009, while Rachel Alexandra won five Grade 1 races this year.
Advantage : Rachel Alexandra

4) Overcoming Adversity - While many races tactically set up well for the two heroines, there were three races that notably did not. Rachel Alexandra overcame a 13 post and a speed dual (something never done in my lifetime) to win an American classic, the Preakness, by one length. She overcame a rabbit, and a fresh wave of challengers every step of the way to beat older males and win the Woodward by a head over Macho Again. In the Clement Hirsch Stakes, Zenyatta was too far behind a dawdling early pace and still managed to get up and win by a head. Her head victory was over a horse named Anabaa’s Creation.
Advantage : Rachel Alexandra

5) Total Races - Both horses were undefeated and raced exclusively in stakes races, so I will side with the horse that ran eight times compared to the horse who only ran five times.
Advantage : Rachel Alexandra

6) Versatility - Rachel Alexandra raced on seven different dirt surfaces (every track is a little different) and raced equally well on both dry and wet surfaces throughout the year. Zenyatta only raced on fast Pro-Ride surfaces and was scratched out of the Louisville Distaff due to an earlier rain. By race time the track was listed as good.
Advantage : Rachel Alexandra

7) Margins of Victory - Rachel Alexandra’s average margin of victory in her eight races this year, all stakes wins, was more than 8 lengths, including a 6 length win over our soon to be champion 3-year-old colt, Summer Bird. In many of these victories, she was being eased up before the wire. Zenyatta’s average margin of victory in her five races, all stakes wins, was just over 1 ¼ lengths.
Advantage : Rachel Alexandra

8) Horses Beaten - While it is true that both fantastic horses have beaten many top horses, especially in the BC Classic, Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward, one has beaten far more stakes winners, graded stakes winners and Grade 1 winners than the other one this year.
Advantage : Rachel Alexandra

9) Aggressiveness of Campaign - Zenyatta gained leaps and bounds when she became the first female ever to win the BC Classic in 26 runnings, but combined with her four relatively easy races prior, she falls short of the campaign waged by Rachel Alexandra, who ran against the boys on three different occasions. She became the first female ever to win the Woodward, the first female winner in 85 years of the Preakness, and only the second filly ever to win the Haskell.
Advantage : Rachel Alexandra

10) Quality Victories - Zenyatta has the biggest win of all, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but that one race does not trump all the prestigious victories that Rachel Alexandra racked up this year. The Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward are four of the most important races on the U.S. racing schedule. In elite races on the American landscape the sco

In watching the replays of the Triple Crown races, Mine That Bird had a sustained late move of three furlongs in the Derby and just over two furlongs in the Preakness. In the Belmont Stakes, his late move started about two to three furlongs back. He ran a very good race. He ran his race, but he flattened out and came up short. He was the only real contender to have run in both the Derby and the Preakness. That to have take some punch out of this overachiever. Even Borel said in the warm ups that MTB was "running hot". Dunkirk and Summer Bird were fresh horses. They will also both prove to be superior to Mine That Bird in the months ahead. Let's face it MTB had his 15 minutes of fame, he ran his heart out and he ran way beyond anyone's expectations. He'll win more races with the perfect set up but he certainly won't win 3 year old of the year by the time we wrap up on 2009.

Yes, and Asmussen was even classy about it... he probably figured there was no way he could take credit for it... so what the heck, go ahead and be nice for once.

But in all seriousness... Wiggins did do an amazing job.

Wow... what a race by the filly!

No worries this time. The Nile will flow so fast the others won't even see him!

The thing about Big Drama is he just loves to win. His Delta race was a nice race going two turns while very wide on the bullring track... as a two-year old. He should be respected...

Big Drama sets a solid, but moderate pace from the rail... Rachel goes wide in the beginning, but makes a sustained move on the far turn. Big Drama puts her away and holds off charges from Friesan Fire and Musket Man for the win

Bring on the mud. The more mud, the lower the price on Mine that Bird.... still has no chance...

What if Rachel draws post 13? How does Borel get her to the rail...

Actually, I think they probably want her to be on the outside. Will be interesting to see how the "choose" the post. I'm guessing they don't want her buried down on the inside with all kinds of traffic. It's been a few races since she's been in a tight spot.

Mentorass - I agree. Rachel has not been tested. When you talk of "compression"... this is how it was explained to me: Jump on the freeway in the middle of the day, drive in an open lane and it's a comfortable drive. That's what it's like for a horse to be alone on the lead or in the clear.

Now, imagine driving in the left lane with a guardrail and no shoulder, and then a trucker comes along and rides alongside you for several miles. That's much more tiring and not leisurely at all. That's the "compression" you refer to.

I don't think RA handles it. I think the only way she wins the Preakness is if there isn't a ton of pace and she gets a nice spot on the outside of horses with some breathing room and no dirt in her face.