Focused Filly

From today’s Churchill Downs barn notes …

The whole morning Friday was decidedly not business as usual for Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) and Preakness (Grade I) winner Rachel Alexandra at Churchill Downs.

The first part of the morning was routine: a trip to the track at 6:20 for one time around the main track under exercise rider Dominic Terry.

Four hours later, the cameras were out and the backdrop was up between Barns 36 and 38 for a photo shoot of Rachel Alexandra by acclaimed fashion photographer Steven Klein. His images of the Oaks and Preakness winner are set to be published in the August issue of Vogue.

Klein may be best known for his striking photos of such pop icons as Madonna, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Britney Spears, Natalie Portman and Justin Timperlake. His work has appeared in Vogue and W and in ads for Calvin Klein and Dolce and Gabbana.

“Done photo shoots before, but first one for Vogue,” said Scott Blasi, the assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen who held the shank on the star filly while Klein shot his images just after noon.

Among those looking one were Barbara Banke, the wife of Stonestreet Stables’ Jess Jackson, the filly’s majority owner. Klein’s session with Rachel Alexandra grew out of a trip to the Preakness by Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour.

A 10’x16’ plywood wall was erected next to the Asmussen barn to serve as the backdrop for the photo shoot of the Preakness winner, who had to be awakened in her stall when was time for her star turn before the camera.

Found this bit really interesting & slightly ironic …

Calvin Borel, who won 13 races over Memorial Day Weekend, now has 917 career victories at Churchill Downs and is only eight behind Don Brumfield for second place all-time at the track (behind Pat Day).

Brumfield, a member of racing’s Hall of Fame, was the last jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks, Kentucky Derby and Preakness in the same year. Brumfield won the 1966 Oaks on Native Street, and took the Derby and Preakness on Kauai King.

So the big question today is: Who Do You Like?

I’ve weighed my choices carefully and I’ve come up with Rachel Alexandra.

Call me a feminist. Call me a favoritist. Call me a communist. I don’t care.

I think she’s the best horse in the field and I’m not afraid to admit it.

The concern I have with Pioneerof the Nile, Musket Man, and Papa Clem is that they will bounce. They’re individual efforts in the Derby were certainly admirable, but how much energy did they lose in the battle for the finish line and was it too much?

But, with Rachel Alexandra, I don’t fear the bounce because she was never asked to run – that was all her, baby.

Ok, I can hear your argument now: she didn’t beat anyone in the Oaks. So what? Big Brown didn’t beat anyone in the Derby last year either.

And, for those who want to point out that no horse has ever won from the 13 spot in the starting gate – again, I direct your attention to Big Brown’s Derby, where no horse in the 134-year history of the event had won from the far outside. And there haven’t been 15 horses in the history of the Preakness that have tried post 13, and none had a legit shot at a victory.

But it’s not about post position or rider or owner or anything other than: Who is the best horse?

And I truly think it’s her. She schooled that Oaks field and probably couldda done the same with the boys on Saturday. You don’t see horses work in the mornings that well. And she did it in a Grade One.

But I’m also very clear that she’s going to go off as the post time favorite and be, probably, just a bit too short of a price to play by herself.

Now the question becomes: Who do you use underneath her?

You can cross out Friesan Fire‘s last start – he had trouble the whole way ’round in the Derby and Larry Jones wouldn’t send the horse if he hadn’t bounced back 100%.

Derby winner Mine That Bird gets a new rider, one who will probably not be as patient as Calvin was in the Derby. No offense to Mike Smith, but we got a masterclass in talented riding that day and I don’t know if another jock could duplicate it ever again. But the horse has his own merits: his Derby win showed a grit and talent that surprised even his trainer.

Take the Points bothers me a ton: he liked the dirt earlier this year, gets Prado back in the saddle, and ran well behind good horses in key prep races.

Those in the NuhUh category: Luv Gov is probably better than we all give him credit for, but not yet and not in this group; Flying Private has the oddest jockey/trainer combo (why Alan why!?!) and seems to have an aversion to the winner’s circle; and Tone It Down who makes about as much sense in here as my dog Bailey, is the longshot local.

Several horses fit into the Want to Love More Than I Do But Can’t category: General Quarters (why not the Northern Dancer at Churchill?), Big Drama (Coa chose elsewhere and too many horses want the lead and, even with his post position, I just don’t know if he can gate-to-wire this bunch), and Terrain (he hasn’t won in a year).

So with all of the handicapping and over analyzing we all do with this racing stuff … what’s my final choice?

I’m going with:
Win – #13 Rachel Alexandra
Place – #5 Friesan Fire
Show – #11 Take the Points or #2 Mine That Bird
for the Superfecta – #9 Pioneerof the Nile or #3 Musket Man