And so it begins.
Not since Godzilla saved Japan from imminent destruction at the hands of Mechagodzilla has such an incredible, mind blowing event taken place between creatures capable of capturing man’s undivided attention. On a day that included a complete turnaround on the topic, we finally have confirmation that Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will meet in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on Friday, April 9th. The race everyone has clamored for is thus upon us. Our big chance to garner a sliver of national attention outside of the Kentucky Derby or Breeders’ Cup is finally here! Damn the torpedoes! It’s on like Donkey Kong!
Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta
Of course, these are fragile creatures we’re dealing with, even if they are unbelievably gifted athletes (equiletes?). Before we get too excited about things, it goes without saying that anything can happen.
Let’s think about this for a moment though. What do have here? I’m talking about the horse race of course. You’ll have to free your mind for a moment from the Japanese monster movie greatness. Two Hall of Famers in a showdown for the ages! One can almost see it now. Rachel Alexandra, the Preakness champion out in front as the field turns for home. Undefeated Zenyatta swinging to the center of the track as she inhales runners with every stride on her way to the wire. The two make eye contact, locking horns mentally and physically. A battle of wills for the ages ensues. A desperate finish. No quarter asked. No quarter given. An all out battle for the wire.
Anyone else feel like maybe we’ve seen this before?
Maybe it’s just me, but the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff sure sounds very similar to what we may see in the Apple Blossom. Certainly it’s one of the easier races to attempt to draw a direct comparison from. The major difference of course being the stage – one being at the Breeders’ Cup, where such matchups, for the good of the sport, probably should happen – and the other being at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs Arkansas on a Friday night in early April – not a bad setting at all, just not the biggest stage one could imagine for such an epic race to happen.
Getting back to the race comparison – think about it. Winning Colors was the Derby champion, jetting out to a commanding early lead. Personal Ensign. the undefeated older filly that was racing on a surface some questioned whether she would enjoy. Personal Ensign comes thundering down the center of the track, meaning business with every step, catching Winning Colors in a photo finish at the wire. Seems to me that stretch battle between them is very close to what we might expect in the Apple Blossom this year.
Will history repeat itself? I’m quite certain each of these magnificent horses will run their hearts out in impressive performances. Their class will certainly rise to the top. I usually like to play longshots in situations like this where the public turns the affair into a two horse race, but not here. Not against these two monsters. I’m not sure which is Godzilla and which is Mechagodzilla – but I don’t think there’s a filly or mare in the nation that stands a chance against them. Thankfully the purse money was boosted to $5 million in an attempt to ensure both horses would run. Considering the wealth of the respective owners involved here, I don’t think money is the principal motivating factor – it’s competition. In that sense, think of the purse boost as insurance for the horses filling out the Superfecta as much as it is for the likely top two finishers.
To be honest about it though, I can’t even bet on the race apart from perhaps purchasing a souvenir $2 ticket on each. In an odd way, I’ll be rooting for both of them. That’s sort of a unique position for me. I’ve never cared so deeply about something so momentous without having a clear cut “side” I was on. I’m not taking sides here. This one is bigger than that sort of petty nonsense. This is about history, greatness, and everything that made us love the game of horse racing. All I want is a good, clean race where all runners return safely – basically what I’m hoping for each time the gate springs open.
Well, that’s not entirely true. That’s not ALL I want.
From the moment the Rachel/Zenyatta debate first raged, I’ve maintained a desire to see only one outcome – a dead heat where neither horse is forced to accept defeat.
They’re just too darned good for that. I suppose it’s the proverbial rock and a hard place. The fan and competitor in me wants to watch them race, but in my heart I don’t want to see either lose. Oh well. I suppose we can’t have our cake and eat it too. At some point you must let the caged birds fly.
Who knows though – given how close that 1988 Distaff was? I’m just sayin’ – don’t be shocked if it is a dead heat.
I guess i can continue working on my “Rachatta” shirts.
“Zenandra” will also be available
Great article…pretty much sums up how I’m feeling…I can’t wait to see them race but I don’t want either to lose.
Love it!
Gooooooooooo, Godzilla!!
(Mecha is reedikulously scary)
I have to assume the other fillies in the race will be represented by the tiny, twin singing princesses of Mothra fame.
I for one am sorry to see this race this early in the season.
Unless it’s very very close, one of these horses is going to be marked as a loser and “also ran” for the rest of the year (maybe for the rest of her life) and except for her hard core fans, no one will care about her anymore (look how so many Zenyatta fans jumped ship when RA came along last year).
Horse racing and both Rachel and Zenyatta would have been better served to hold this meeting later in the season after we saw how both have come back, but I guess rich men’s greed prevailed.
Whoever wins, it’s going to be a sad sad day for thousands of fans and a long racing season to dwell upon it.
Hey Kevin, love the Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla, my brother and I were introduced to those movies when we were little boys by my Grandfather and we’ve loved them ever since. I’d bet that this showdown will be just a little more anticipated and far less corny though! (:
You are absolutely right, the comparison to the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff is very interesting. A horse who loves to set the pace, or be very close, and a horse who closes from far back or even dead last. Wonder if the outcome will be the same. I will say though and as good as Winning Colors was, she was certainly no Rachel Alexandra. Personal Ensign can’t be knocked though, perfection is perfection.
A dead heat would be terrific, not to mention probably one of the biggest stories in sports history. But I think that Rachel will be the one to beat if she can rate right off the pace like she did in the Oaks, Mother Goose and Haskell. She always accelerates and opens up coming off the last turn into the homestretch, and in cases like the 3 previously mentioned races, she blows away with ease. If she can do that again I don’t think Zenyatta can catch her unless they alter her “far-back” running style and sit closer to the pace or in mid-pack.
Brian – that’s AWESOME that you were raised on Godzilla movies! About the Apple Blossom – I’ll just say that I don’t think there was a horse on Earth (save for perhaps Sea the Stars) who could’ve denied Zenyatta in that Classic. Very impressive. I think she has to be the favorite. if you picture a finish like the Woodward, only instead of Macho Again it’s Zenyatta – things get a little more scary. That being said, she deserves every accolade she’s received, so we ought to be in for an amazing finish here. This one stands to have all of our hearts in our throats.
@Tencent: “Rachatta Zenyxandra”
@Superfecta: I thought of using Mothra in the title here…but then I remembered Mecha and thought I had to use him instead.
@tvnewsbadge – well said. Especially that last sentence: “Whoever wins, it’s going to be a sad sad day for thousands of fans and a long racing season to dwell upon it.”
We know that one of those slots in the race for the Apple Blossom show spot will NOT be filled by St. Trinians, as Mike Mitchell says he will keep her on the synthetics for the “foreseeable future”
Also, if the rumors are true about Life is Sweet going to for the Dubai World Cup, doesn’t that and the Apple Blossom have the feeling of “semi-final action”, specifically like a tennis grand slam:
In the (Middle) East bracket: Life is Sweet (Venus) vs Vodka (Kim Clijsters)
In the (South)west bracket: Zenyatta (Serena) vs Rachel (Justine Henin)
It will probably depend on the pace of the race. Zenyatta runs from last. Slow pace would help Rachel, fast pace Zenyatta.
True Kevin (about the Woodward) but if Zenyatta had been in the Woodward I don’t think Calvin Borel would have been rash enough to try and go gate-to-wire the same way he did. I can’t wait to see them clash!