JESS JACKSON REMAINS NON-COMMITTAL ON APPLE BLOSSOM
Statement by Jess Jackson on Apple Blossom Invitational:
“As you have heard me say many times before, a number of factors must be considered when deciding where to race a horse — the number one factor being the condition of the horse. Rachel will tell us when she is ready to start her 2010 campaign and we humans must agree she is in top form.
My family and I would love to see her run at Oaklawn Park. If she is in top form and it fits in our schedule, we will be there. Rachel, as you know, likes the track having won twice there last year. ”
Tags: Apple Blossom, jess jackson, oaklawn park, Paulick Report, Rachel Alexandra
February 4th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Fits in our schedule?! LOL Jackson is showing his chicken #$%@ feathers re. Z as usual!! Pathetic.
February 4th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Nancy/Ca,
Please, It would be seven months since Rachel’s previous race, Calling Mr. Jackson chicken ___ is just out of line. Rachel would need a prep before the Apple Blossom, Rachel would never go there as it being her first race since the Woodward, That is common sense, It has nothing to do with anyone being a coward, It is good racing sense. Same goes with Zenyatta, She would never go to the Apple as her first race since the classic, I hope both prep on March 13th then go in the Apple Blossom, We shall see…
To call him “Pathetic” shows your ignorance on how one conditions a horse for a HUGE race…
February 4th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Rachel hasn’t been in serious training for months, and racing her before she is ready is asking for either injury or a showdown ( which all of us want) when one of the two competitors isn’t in top form. If one of the teams in the Super Bowl had been sitting on the couch watching TV for the past three months would it at all be a fair matchup? I doubt it. Rachel’s camp has said for weeks now that she probably won’t be ready for the Apple Blossom, and just because the track wants to throw a bunch of money at that race doesn’t mean she’s magically going to be more ready than before.
Zenyatta didn’t win Horse of the Year. Nothing is going to change that. It’s time to let it go, Nancy. The horse comes first, remember? Not your petty agenda.
February 4th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Millionaire racehorse owners aren’t going to be influenced by a track’s publicity stunt.
While I often disagree with Jee Jackson on some things, this is the right thing to do. If the horses are ready & in good form, I am sure they’ll find a way to meet.
However, as I have reiterated before, there’s plenty of other excitement right now in racing, as we build towards Derby & the Triple Crown season. This isn’t the only game in town. Don’t bankrupt the publicity on this one race.
February 4th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
They should meet when they are both ready. The panting won’t slow down if this doesn’t turn out to be their race. Any publicity these two ladies generate is great publicity for thoroughbred racing.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
That’s a lot of money to entice horses, and if they’re ready to meet, fine, but the biggest factor always has to be the best interest of the horses. I get tired of people taking shots at Jackson, especially after all his filly did last year for racing. And I certainly think each horse would need a prep prior to the Apple Blossom. Zenyatta may go in the Santa Margarita, but as of now, I don’t think anything is definite for Rachel.
I hope all the money in the world, in and of itself, wouldn’t be enough to attract Rachel and Zenyatta, and reading Jackson’s statement is reassuring. Only the mental and physical fitness of the filly and the mare, and the judgement of their connections, should determine their racing agendas.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
I just can’t see Rachel Alexandra being ready for that kind of race in that amount of time. And frankly, I wish Mr. Jackson would point that out.
February 4th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Leaving the Apple Blossom on it’s regularly scheduled April 3 date was a dumb move…what they really should do is run it on April 11, the day after the Arkansas Derby. They’ll probably need some kind of special dispensation from the racing commission, since the 10th is supposed to be the last day of the meet, but if they did it this way, the attendance and handle would all be truly incremental. It would also make sense for Rachel and her connections.
She had her first work back on Sunday, Jan 31. Assuming a work a week, if she were to run in the “Fair Grounds Special Race for Rachel” scheduled for Mar 13, she would have six works in her and face a mediocre bunch. That should be plenty.
Then she would have 29 days until the Apple Blossom showdown.
This shouldn’t be so complicated, but the Oaklawn folks built in an excuse for Rachel by leaving the race on the 3rd and they also hurt themselves by not making any result of the Apple Blossom completely incremental to the bottom line (although…who knows about regulatory crap).
Now, if these guys had any kind of imagination, they would have scheduled for 4/13, then partnered with Pimlico to come up with a 2nd battle on Preakness Friday - 5/14 - another magical month of rest for the two super fillies; then come up with a third battle in the Stephen Foster on 6/12.
Three races…co-branding with the Triple Crown…a little battle of the sexes in the Stephen Foster…and let’s face it, racing truly sucks between the Belmont Stakes and the opening of Saratoga…so this would give us at least one thing to look forward to.
Of course, for any of this to happen, the both super rich guys and both super successful trainers have to realize that running the horses is critical to the game.
February 4th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Doesn’t anyone remember this race being tossed around as the ideal meeting place for R & Z since just after the Breeders Cup? Weren’t there comments that Champions shouldn’t race for $500M and the amount needed should be a $1-2 MM purse?
These 2 horses are not out in a field somewhere. Both are in training, both are not ready to run yet, but it is reasonable to assume they will/can be ready by spring. These are sound Champions, not broken down $5,000 claimers. They don’t need to find an easy spot or a race to get them fit.
Assmussen is the leading trainer in the US and Sherriffs certainly is more than competent. Frankel, Mandella and McAnally had phenomenal success bringing horses off the shelf to win major races. It has been done before and can be done again.
This could be the race of the decade. There is no track that is more suited to a match between Z and R. I would like to see an early commitment from the owners here because a $5MM purse will attract some of the best F/M in the world vs a substantially a much weaker field if only one runs here.
Where is the sportsmanship here? As far as the winning purse, the winner could donate the winnings to horse welfare and retirement programs. That would make a huge statement that industry stakeholders are firmly committed to the humane treatment of former racehorses.
Many thanks to Mr. Cella and OP for providing this unique opportunity to see these two great mares in the same race. Losing will take nothing away from either horse. Yet not running almost guarantees we will never see these two Champions face each other in the same race.
February 4th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
@8 Steve D
I agree April 11 would be a much more attractive date for both parties. It would be a smart move and would allow both horses to get a race in on March 13. OP may very well be willing to apply to the racing commission for an exchange of a regular day for April 11, but they would have to have assurances from Z and R’s connections, that barring injury, they would be committed to running.
February 4th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Poster #1 get over it. You make your horse look bad. You do nothing for the sport with that crude attitude. Not the kind of ‘fan’ this sport needs. Fan-a-tic more like.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
A Zenyatta - Rachel series of three races with or without the boys with a big bonus for racing in all three and a bigger one for winning all three.
One condition: the whip must be used a maximum of 6 times per race to protect Rachel.
I hope that Oaklawn can be flexible with its dates.
Churchill Downs must be praying for a no show so Oaklawn doesn’t steal its thunder…
February 4th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Is the whip “rule” in reference to the Woodward?????
February 4th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Rachel can’t be ready for that race. 1 1/16 would be more logical off layoff. The 1 1/8 give advantage to Zenyatta. Rachel won’t show.
February 4th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Whips off.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:08 am
Priscilla you are right. 6 hits are 6 too many, I was thinking of the 20+ hits Rachel got in the Woodward… Whips off for all starters.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:34 am
This will never happen. So stop the nonsense.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:06 am
The Stephen Foster in June at Churchill would seem a better fit. Everything would have to break perfectly for Rachel to be ready for this race.