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Not that it really matters here is my take on Rachel and Zenyatta. Positive- Zenyatta ran a solid race first time off the bench. She came into the race with plenty of work and left the race ready to run again
Negative- The field Zenyatta faced was atrocious. Place horse was 50-1. I tried anything and everything to find a horse for a potential upset and I was left with nothing.
Rachel
Positive- Horse came into the race a little short. She ran a VERY fast half mile considering there was a blistering head wind that probably did her in. She fought galiantly down the stretch facing a very tough horse in Zardana. Zardana is the kind of horse you look to MOVE FORWARD SIGNIFICANTLY on the dirt. Why? Well she has a stalking running style. She ran huge at hollywood(most similiar to dirt) and did not take the SA synthetic.
Negative- Still don't know if she will be 100% in the race with Zenyatta. Lost race. Still showing urgency to be on the lead.
So if the race actually happens the biggest factor will be pace. Who will be entered in this race that can cause pace issues for rachel. Borel said she wanted to go to the lead early but he held her back. If the pace gets to hot Zenyatta will be licking her chops.
Who would I bet? As long as there are no MAJOR pace issues my money will be on Rachel. Oaklawn, in my opinion, is a speed favoring track. look at the chart today and you will see approximately 5 of 10 winners to be front running style. Asmussen will not enter rachel if she is not 100% to face zenyatta.
- I am a firm believer that no horse can be as efficient on both the dirt and synthetic. No man would ever be able to convince me otherwise. Yes Zenyatta ran a 104 on the dirt at Oaklawn but will that be good enough on a track that favors speed against the likes of a 100% rachel? I do not believe so. Rachel is 2 for 2 at oaklawn. The stretch run is not as long as that Fairgrounds stretch run rachel faltered on today.
Bottomline- We saw rachel/zardana clear the field by 11 lengths. Zardana was primed to run a monster race and sure enough she did. Zenyatta won effortlessly against a bunch of bums and sure enough everyone will say that Rachel doesn't stand a chance. I beg to differ.
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