Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta

Entitled “The Champions Return,” the show will be hosted by Scott Hazelton
and Gary Stevens, who will be live at the Fair Grounds for Rachel Alexandra’s
race, the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies’ Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. It will go as
the 10th race at approximately 3:15 p.m. PST. The $250,000 Santa Margarita
Invitational Handicap (gr. I) will be Santa Anita’s seventh race with a probable
post time of 3:40 p.m.

Team Zenyatta plans to use the Santa Margarita as a steppingstone to the the
much-anticipated $5 million Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park on April
9 against Rachel Alexandra. Zenyatta was assigned top weight of 127 pounds March 7 as
one of 17 nominated for the 1 1/8-mile Santa Margarita.

“She worked very well Friday morning (March 5),” trainer John Shirreffs said of her
six-furlong breeze in 1:11.80 at Hollywood Park. “I had her in 1:11 and three or four.
She looks like she’s on top of her game right now.”

Shirreffs said that Zenyatta would probably van over to Santa Anita on March 11.

“She worked unbelievable the other day,” said her regular rider, Mike Smith. “I know it
sounds funny, but I really think she’s getting better. She seems more and more focused and
she couldn’t be doing any better.”

Rachel Alexandra schooled in the Fair Grounds paddock March 6 for Scott Blasi, assistant
trainer to Steve Asmussen, who was on hand with the rest of Team Rachel as the 4-year-old
filly made a couple of tours around the walking ring before walking through the tunnel and
onto the track.

Rachel Alexandra is to have her final timed workout before the New Orleans Ladies on the
morning of March 8. Meanwhile, she continues to gallop aggressively on a daily basis.

“Her gallops have been very strong,” Asmussen said. “She’s not 100% fit for this and we’re
aware of that. She’s had six works in six months. But she’s a very physical horse; she is Rachel.”

Before leaving the paddock, Asmussen added: “I’m very concerned about her fitness level.”

Rachel Alexandra would be the first reigning Horse of the Year to race in New Orleans since
Triple Crown winner Whirlaway took the Fair Grounds Handicap in 1942.
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Boasting a purse of $1.5 million, the race would be contested over 1 1/8 miles on The Park’s dirt track.
The track hopes that the race would also entice other top performers.

“This would be the greatest horse race of the 21st century,” said Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale of Gallery
Furniture, “and it would be a privilege for Gallery Furniture to promote this as taking place in Houston. You go girls!”

“We are continuing to work on all fronts to get Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, as well as other top horses
from around the world, to come to Sam Houston Race Park and participate in what would be one of the most exciting
races in horse racing history,” said Andrea Young, President and Chief Operating Officer, Sam Houston Race Park.

“Adding a race of this caliber to our MAXXAM Gold Cup event is a great way to showcase our nationally recognized
racing surface — it’s a great time of year weather-wise, and we think it’s an ideal way to close out our
Thoroughbred meet.”

The two superstar females have yet to meet on the track, but their connections have expressed an interest in such
a confrontation in 2010.

Both distaffers won Eclipse Awards in their respective divisions unanimously — Rachel Alexandra in the champion
three-year-old filly category, Zenyatta as champion older mare. In their highly charged contest for the Horse of
the Year title, Rachel Alexandra prevailed over Zenyatta by a vote of 130 to 99.

Although Zenyatta was originally retired after her stunning victory over males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1),
owners Jerry and Ann Moss had a change of heart, and recently revealed that the six-year-old would return to racing
this year. The John Shirreffs trainee had continued to post half-mile moves at her Hollywood Park base, and this past
Sunday, she breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5.

Shirreffs has indicated that the March 13 Santa Margarita H. (G1) at Santa Anita could be a logical spot for her reappearance.

In contrast, Rachel Alexandra has not raced since capturing the September 5 Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga, where she
became the first filly ever to defeat males in that historic prize. The Steve Asmussen pupil had a busier 2009 than
Zenyatta. Unlike her older rival, who began her season in May and raced a total of five times in Southern California,
Rachel Alexandra was on the go from February and compiled a perfect eight-for-eight mark at three.

In the aftermath of her triumphal march through seven tracks, landing such major races as the Kentucky Oaks (G1),
Preakness S. (G1), Mother Goose S. (G1) and Haskell Invitational (G1) prior to the Woodward, her connections decided
to rest her in advance of a 2010 campaign. Majority owner Jess Jackson also made no secret of his dislike for synthetic
racing surfaces, thereby ruling out a hoped-for showdown with Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride.

Rachel Alexandra is currently wintering at Fair Grounds. While she has been galloping, she is not expected to turn in
her first official breeze until later this month or possibly during the first week of February.

Rachel Alexandra (Rachel) dominated three groups of horses in 2009. She devastated three-year-old fillies in both the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose Stakes. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro defeated three-year-old males in the Preakness and Haskell Invitational, and then beat older males in the Woodward at Saratoga.

Zenyatta already came into 2009 with a championship in her file after winning the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. The mare was undefeated in nine career starts, but had never faced males in a race. All but one of her starts had been in California on synthetic tracks.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Zenyatta did not make her first start of 2009 until the Milady Handicap in May. She reeled off four straight wins by not very wide margins. While Rachel won most of her races by wide margins, Zenyatta’s biggest win was by 2 1/2-lengths.

Zenyatta’s owners Jerry and Ann Moss along with Shirreffs decided the only race left to go was the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. The mare put on a show by going from last in the 12 horse field to record a one- length victory over Arlington Million winner Gio Ponti in the 1 1/4-mile event.

The two women had been one-two in the NTRA poll since July with Rachel holding the top position by a comfortable margin. Jess Jackson, co-owner of Rachel, decided not to race her on the artificial surface of Santa Anita and gave the filly time off until 2010.

The absence of Rachel from the Classic did not diminish the result. The historic victory by Zenyatta, becoming the first female to win the race, vaulted her past Rachel in the final poll of the year.

“All I know is that she performed unbelievably on a great day,” said Shirreffs. “She took center stage and did her thing.”

Zenyatta received 10 first-place votes to Rachel’s nine and the mare had a total of 181 points to 176. Rachel had earlier been voted the best three-year- old of year after the conclusion of the Triple Crown series.

Horse of the Year for 2009 won’t be announced until the Eclipse Award dinner in January. If there is any justice in horse racing Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will be co-winners of the ultimate honor.

Both women went undefeated this year, Rachel in eight starts and Zenyatta in five. Zenyatta earned $3.3 million while Rachel banked $2.7 million.

“Her popularity is overwhelming,” said Zenyatta’s trainer. “She has great fans.”

Mine That Bird shot into the racing world with his 50-1 win in the Kentucky Derby. However, the gelding never won again in 2009. His half-brother Summer Bird secured the Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old male with wins in the Belmont Stakes, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

The top turf horse of the year was Gio Ponti. The four-year-old colt won the Arlington Million and was second to Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. That last performance might also give him the crown as best handicap male of the year.

Sadly, Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel passed away from cancer. The Brooklyn-native was 68. He won 3,654 races out of 17,657 mounts for $227,947,775.

“Bobby Frankel was a winner at every level he competed,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Greg Avioli, “including in the Breeders’ Cup, where his six career wins are part of his wonderful legacy as one of the true greats of our game.”

Frankel was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1995. He was voted outstanding trainer in 1993 and from 2000 to 2003.

“Bobby Frankel was one of the greatest trainers in thoroughbred racing history,” said Alex Waldrop, NTRA President and CEO. “His outstanding horsemanship, coupled with a keen insight into the game, made him a force in the sport for the last 40 years. His immense talent, and his abiding love for his horses, will be sorely missed.”

2009 will go down as one of the most outstanding in thoroughbred history. Great achievements fueled the year with two females leading the way into the record books.

James McIngvale, a Houston horse owner known for his high profile promotions on behalf of his Gallery Furniture stores, first proposed a $2-million match race between the two females back in August to take place in September or early October at Sam Houston, but both owners of the horses declined.

“Of course the Breeders Cup (Classic, gr. I) win was one of historic proportions for Zenyatta, her owners and trainers,” said McIngvale. “We are more dedicated than ever to bringing her and Rachel Alexandra to Houston for an epic showdown of the two greatest racehorses in the world.”

“We are fully prepared to host this race as part of our John B. Connally Turf Festival, in the event that both parties are interested in participating,” said Andrea Young, president and chief operating officer of Sam Houston. “This is our largest race day of the year, and we would be proud to welcome not only Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, but top horses from around the world, to race on our nationally recognized surface. We would absolutely love to have this historic race take place at The Park.”

Like Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra also defeated males in the Preakness Stakes, Haskell Invitational, and Woodward Stakes (all gr. I). She is owned by Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick and trained Steve Asmussen.

Zenyatta, owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Sherriffs, is a winner of four other grade I races this year on the West Coast circuit.

Both females are undefeated this year and are the top contenders for Horse of the Year honors.

Could very well be the race of the year. Hope they pull it off.

Each of them have stellar credentials in trying to become the first female to win the year-end honor since Azeri in 2002.

Rachel Alexandra went 8 for 8 this year, including three wins over males, and became the first filly in 85 years to beat the boys in the Preakness Stakes.

Zenyatta improved to 14-0 for her career with a one-length victory against a loaded field of males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, many of whom Rachel Alexandra had already beaten.

The 5-year-old mare went 5 for 5 this year, but Saturday’s race was her first against the boys. It was also likely her last. Trainer John Shirreffs said Sunday that Zenyatta would be sent to Kentucky to breed, even though Rachel Alexandra is expected to campaign next year.

So who rules in this Year of the Girl?

“You tell me,” Shirreffs said.

It’s a debate sure to simmer until January, when the Eclipse Awards — the Oscars of horse racing — are presented in Beverly Hills. Members of the National Turf Writers Association, the Daily Racing Form and racing secretaries at the major tracks decide the year’s champion horses.

Even before Zenyatta’s come-from-behind win Saturday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert suggested the horses should share the top honor.

“If they don’t reward her with Horse of the Year, it would be a travesty, or at least co-Horses of the Year,” said Baffert, who trained sixth-place Classic finisher Richard’s Kid. “It was the only time in horse racing that I didn’t mind getting beat in a big race.”

Chip Woolley Jr., trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, said before the Classic that Rachel Alexandra had already clinched Horse of the Year.

“She’s put up eight races on eight different racetracks, beat the boys three times and beat the fillies,” said Woolley, whose colt finished ninth in the Classic behind Zenyatta.

“The one thing everybody keeps forgetting, she beat the fillies with authority,” he said of Rachel Alexandra. “She didn’t win by a neck or a length or two lengths. She beat ‘em by 20 and in a big gallop. When you look at that and you put everything together, I think she’s a very deserving champion.”

Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird was beaten by Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell Invitational and by Zenyatta in the Classic. His trainer, Tim Ice, was critical of Rachel’s absence Saturday at Santa Anita.

“Each sport has their championship game,” he said. “If you don’t compete in the championship game, then you shouldn’t be a champion. This is the highlight of the year as far as all the great horses coming together. This should name Horse of the Year.”

Zenyatta’s owners, Jerry and Ann Moss, are playing it down the middle.

“It’s not really up to us,” Jerry Moss said. “We just brought the horse here. We beat whoever showed up. I’m not taking anything away from that other filly. As I’ve always said, she ran a tremendous campaign, and they deserve a lot of credit. I think it’s a tough one.”

Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta didn’t meet in the Breeders’ Cup because Rachel’s principal owner Jess Jackson dislikes Santa Anita’s synthetic surface. The 3-year-old filly ran on eight different tracks while traveling the country this year.

Zenyatta, on the other hand, stayed exclusively in Southern California. The only time she ever ran outside the state was last year, when she won on dirt at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

Her jockey, Hall of Famer Mike Smith, is admittedly biased.

“I think it would be a crying shame if she didn’t win Horse of the Year,” he said. “I wish they would have brought her (Rachel) here so we could have proved to the racing world what Zenyatta’s really about. I’m not going to go out and say I’m going to beat her, but I would have given anything to run against her.”

Both horses were at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week. Rachel Alexandra won the Derby-eve Kentucky Oaks for fillies by a record 20 1/4 lengths, while Zenyatta was scratched from her scheduled race because of a muddy track.

“She could’ve run just the same as everybody else on the mud that day. I think everybody’s forgotten about that,” Woolley said. “She’s picked her spots very carefully.”

The industry attempted to bring the filly from the East and mare from the West together on the track, but their respective owners were having none of it.

The Breeders’ Cup offered to add $1 million to the winner’s share of the Classic purse if both horses ran. Zenyatta earned $2.7 million for her victory.

Online wagering services TVG and Betfair Ltd. offered to raise the purse of the Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 3 to $1 million from $600,000 if Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta both ran, but neither showed up.

Like the Mosses, Jackson said he always put his horse’s health and welfare ahead of running for big purses. Of course, neither owner had reason to chase the cash. Jerry Moss made his money in the music business as co-founder of A&M Records, while Jackson owns Kendall-Jackson Winery in Northern California.

Both camps earned industry-wide kudos for running their stars against the boys, which helped attract big crowds and public interest beyond racing fans.

“That’s something you really got to pat them on the back for,” Woolley said.

If Ali/Frazier was the fight of the century this would be the horse race of the century. It’s a shame will not take place.

By BETH HARRIS