Looking at the options, my selfish choice would’ve been the Del Cap, if only because the proximity of Delaware Park to my home makes it a very convenient choice of destinations. All things considered though, the Haskell is definitely the right call.
Asmussen and Jackson basically had two choices as I see it, as the Coaching Club American Oaks couldn’t have been a very serious possibility given the likelihood of another drastically reduced field. There simply aren’t any 3-year-old fillies out there seemingly capable of taking on Rachel at the moment. That means the next step had to be either proving herself over older fillies and mares (the Del Cap), or going up against the boys again. They know what they’ve got in this horse and if they have any plans of seriously competing for Horse of the Year honors while skipping the Breeders’ Cup Classic, then they need to win BIG races. And you KNOW they’ve got such plans. The Haskell, quite frankly, was the biggest of the options on the table.
One of the more tantalizing aspects of this development to consider is that if Rachel were somehow able to prevail in both the Haskell and the Travers (held August 29 at historic Saratoga), I do believe she’d become the first filly in history to sweep the two races. But such talk amounts to getting way ahead of ourselves for the moment. For now Rachel will be squarely focused on the matchup at hand, which should include a showdown with “the other Bird” in Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird.
A victory by Rachel over Summer Bird and the boys in the Haskell would solidify her credentials as the champion 3-year-old of this year’s Triple Crown crop. She’d be the only runner amongst the Classic winners to be able to lay claim to victories over the other two. Stop and think about that for a moment. Even my beloved Curlin couldn’t say the same following his spectacular 2007 campaign.
In a perfect world, facing older fillies and mares in the Del Cap might’ve made a good deal of practical sense. Trouble is (for the Del Cap at least), the timing of the Haskell also makes it all the more attractive. Being held on August 2nd as opposed to July 19th grants Rachel two full extra weeks of rest and preparation.
As an interesting aside, anyone else find it ironic that both the Del Cap and the Haskell are run on Sundays? So much for my whole “Take Back Saturday“ idea, huh? 
In other related news, Jess Jackson seems to have purchased himself another Medaglia d’Oro filly for an as yet undisclosed price, acquiring the impressive Dashing Debby following her stakes victory at Calder on the “Summit of Speed” undercard. While the filly herself has some obvious promise, one can’t help but hope that Curlin develops a little bit of a “thang” for the Medags girls. All in good time, big fella. All in good time.
So with the recent Rachel development in mind, it looks like we’ll be saddling up to visit Monmouth Park the first weekend in August. It’s been a long time coming for this visit. I’ll share with you all that I’m still wrought with guilt for having not been there to support Curlin in one of his defining moments (the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic). I can’t help but think that on some level, despite having won that Classic, Jackson and Asmussen are itching for some redemption in the Haskell given Curlin’s lackluster performance in that race 2 years ago. And who knows? They gave out Bobbleheads of Big Brown at Monmouth this year. Is there enough time to put together a nifty Rachel themed promotion? If they do a Rachel bobblehead at some point, they’d better make sure they get that distinctive blaze right! I’d pull out all the stops for this one if I were Monmouth.
A fairly large sized crowd (13,000+) were on hand to see Rachel in what amounted to a “public workout” at Belmont in the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park late in June. Here’s hoping those of us that love this horse can rally and give her as strong a showing of support as she steps into the ring to face the boys again. Let’s top that number, people. Hell, let’s “knock it out the park!” Once again, in true Jerry McGuire style, I’ll ask:
“Who’s coming with me?!?!?!?”
One parting thought:
As I sit here with the Major League Baseball All-Star Game playing though, I must confess that I’m starting to warm to the notion that we really do need Rachel Alexandra in the Breeders’ Cup. I know, I know. I wrote that whole “In Support of Jess Jackson” piece when the news first broke, and I stand bye those words, even if it sparked some disagreement. It’s not that I’ve changed my mind, necessarily…I guess it’s just finally dawning on me that we are missing out on an “opportunity”, and that you only get so much of that oft-overused o-word in a lifetime’s worth of experiences. I digress.
All the more reason to make sure we capitalize on the opportunity at hand to watch Rachel in the Haskell, right?
There was another filly a time ago named RUFFIAN. Although the H is certainly not a ‘match race’ it seems that when RA races others ‘duck’ this talented horse. WILL ENJOY WATCHING HER RACE IN PERSON HOPEFULLY AT SARATOGA LATER IN THE SEASON.
I’ve been thinking the same thing regarding the Breeders Cup and I wouldn’t be surprised if Jess Jackson has a change of heart. Especially if Rachel keeps winning like this, and if the fans keep calling for it. He loves to see his horses beat the best and loves to please the fans. I remember when he said last year that Curlin would be bypassing the Breeders Cup, he said it was definite, that he saw no reason to risk Curlin losing on a “fake” surface when he had already proved himself on two continents. He really doesn’t seem to like things left open for questions, so I don’t think he’ll want to risk Zenyatta, Einstien etc, coming in and running away with the Classic and possible taking Horse Of The Year away from Rachel, then have everyone saying: “Well, what if Rachel had run…”
That’s my thoughts, he’s a very competitive person so I don’t think he’ll want to bypass the opportunity to silence all arguments.
I’ve been trying to resist the Ruffian comparisons, although I suppose at some point it might become inevitable. It’s just so hard to associate/compare horses from different eras. She is the standard by which all other fillies are judged.
Brian – I’m starting to feel the same way as well, and if we’re feeling that way, $20 says Jess may be wrestling with it as well. My guess is that if she sweeps the Haskell and Travers that it might pop back up again.
Does anyone really think the Haskell will be ” that ” eventful ?? I mean come on now, how many 3 yr olds have been sidelined due to injuries thus far. The Haskell will basically be just to showcase Rachel, nothing more ( oh, I’m sorry , to put some people in the stands too ). Heck, if I were part of Rachel’s connection’s , and seeing who’s left to run against , why not , something else to add to the resume ( oh , and add a little more to the bank account ).
NOT TO RAIN ON YOUR PARADE FOR RA – STEVE ASMUSSEN HAS BEEN SUSPENDED YET AGAIN FOR ILLEGAL MEDICATION DETECTED ON ONE OF HIS HORSES – sure he will appeal – but what does this mean when RA’s trainer is suspended yet again for another positive drug test???
Yup – who knows what might become of this. Seems possible that Rachel may wind up being transferred if the suspension goes through. Might she get reunited with her original trainer?