$5 Million Lure to Get Rachel, Zenyatta

Calling it “one of the most important moments at Oaklawn and in Arkansas sports,” Oaklawn Park president Charles J. Cella has upped the purse of the April 3 Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) to $5 million provided champions Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta both start, according to a track release.

At a morning press conference Feb. 4, Cella reported that he has spoken with the owners of both Rachel Alexandra (Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick) and Zenyatta (Jerry and Ann Moss). Both parties showed enthusiasm for bringing their champions to Oaklawn for the first Saturday of the Racing Festival of the South, Calla said.

Shortly after the Oaklawn Park announcement, Jackson issued a statement indicating his horse would participate, provided she was healthy and it fit her schedule, and Zenyatta's trainer, John Shirreffs, weighed in with a comment.

"My family and I would love to see her run at Oaklawn Park," Jackson said in the statement. "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. 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.”

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/55201/5-million-lure-to-get-rachel-zenyatta

Hell--- even give them a no gate start. ---plus, winner takes all.

To bad Charles Howard ain't around to market it.

I hate them but you are probably right about the marketing possibilities. I would create buzz. I think Zenyatta would get her clock cleaned in a Match Race. I like her chances better in a full field race like the Apple Blossom.

and it was devastating to lose a horse like Ruffian the way we did. As a fan, anytime a horse breaksdown, well...it just knocks the guts out of me.

My problem with Match races are that they are usually pretty boring. The horse that gets the lead wins. Zenyatta's running style would put her at a great disadvantage. Charlie Whittingham had a horse named Miss Musket that raced against the great mare Chris Evert. Chris Evert won by 50 lengths. Miss Musket was disadvantaged by her running style and just got tired of chasing and spit the bit. Boring.

The Apple Blossom is going to be capped at 10 horses. Lots of things can happen and it should prove to be an exciting race.

She has only had a couple of works since the race last Sept at Saratoga.
She had a lot of time off and it looks like they are just starting her back
in serious training.

No way she would be ready for this.

I think this would be a huge draw (I'd hope a network would carry it)

she went really slow in her first work back and then 2 days ago she was a little faster. Just Pat's probably right. Rachel won't be ready.

Zenyatta on the other hand could possibly have a race under her belt before the Apple Blossom.

Wouldn't that be interesting? Zenyatta on her toes and Rachel's condition suspect.