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Battle of America’s best
2009 U.S. Horse-Of-The-Year Rachel Alexandra’s principal owner Jess Jackson announced that "his filly won't run against undefeated champion Zenyatta in the Gr1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 3, but he’s proposing a 3-race series in which racing's leading ladies will meet, reported bloodhorse.com.
Last week Oaklawn president Charles Cella offered to raise the Apple Blossom purse to US$5 million “provided champions Rachel Alexandra - last year’s Gr1 Kentucky Derby and Gr1 Preakness Stakes winner - and Zenyatta - unbeaten in 14 runs - both start,” offering potentially the largest purse for a filly and mare race in the history of North American thoroughbred racing.
Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro-Lotta Kim, by Roar) and Zenyatta (Street Cry-Vertigineux, by Kris S) were unanimous Eclipse Award winners in their respective divisions in 2009 and were the only finalists for US Horse-Of-The-Year. Jackson confirmed he has been in discussions with US National Thoroughbred Racing Association president Alex Waldrop and “hopes he and the owners of Zenyatta can work out the details”.
Jackson noted, “if training and racing schedules, as well as purse money, can be worked out” the three-race series would hopefully take place, declaring: “The fans have spoken. The media has spoken. Everyone wants to see Rachel race against Zenyatta, including me. In fact, I want it to happen several times this year.”
Commenting on the original Oaklawn offer, Rachel Alexandra’s trainer Steve Asmussen added: “Out of respect for the level of competition and the importance of this race, I have told Mr. Jackson it was not in the best interest of the horse to race on April 3. Getting to this level of fitness after a six-month layoff takes time. If all goes according to schedule and we do not have any further weather delays, the earliest we could have a prep race would be the middle of March. It is then not fair to Rachel to ask her to race again 3 weeks later.”

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