Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Horse Racing Results: Zardana Upsets Rachel Alexandra in New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds
Posted on Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Horse of the Year and the Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra lost to Brazilian-bred Zardana, ridden by jockey David Flores, by 3/4 of a length in Saturday’s $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
“She was basically beat when that other horse (Zardana) went by her — but she didn’t quit,” said Rachel Alexandra’s jockey Calvin Borel after the race. “She dug in and fought right back and stayed with the winner the rest of the way. That’s the kind of racehorse she is. My little filly tried her heart out. She just needed the race, that’s all.”
Owned by Arnold Zetcher, trained by John Shirreffs, Zardana began her career with 3 straight wins at Hipodromo da Gavea in Brazil, has now expanded her unbeaten streak on a dirt surface to 4.
The New Orleans Ladies winner Zardana was settled behind pace setter Fighter Wing and Rachel Alexandra running in second, challenged the Horse of the Year entering the lane shortly after that one had taken command from the weakening early leader, gained the lead near the furlong grounds and proved best the rest of the way.
“We had a picture-perfect trip,” said jockey David Flores. “The strategy was simply to get her to relax and John said she would get the job done. I got after her pretty hard coming home but she’s a real warrior.”
Zardana returned mutuels of $21, $3.20 and $2.60, toured the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.55 and increased her lifetime earnings to $428,421 with her eighth victory in 19 career starts.
Rachel Alexandra paid $2.10 and $2.10 as the runner-up, and Unforgotten, who finished third 11 1/2-lengths farther back behind Rachel Alexandra, returned $3.20 in the show spot.
“We wouldn’t have brought her here if we didn’t think she could get the job done,” said winning owner Arnold Zetcher. “She’s small but she doesn’t back down from a fight.”
As for Rachel Alexandra, her plans for what has been a highly anticipated showdown with the John Shirreffs-trained Zenyatta, who won today’s Santa Margarita (G1) at Santa Anita Park, are now up in the air.
“If I thought she’d get beat I wouldn’t have run her today, so I’m definitely going to be cautious,” said two-time Eclipse Award-winning race horse trainer Steve Asmussen. “I’m just disappointed she didn’t win today. It was a lack in fitness and it’s our job to have her there and I didn’t do it.”
A decision won’t be made on the Apple Blossom until Rachel Alexandra’s connections have had the opportunity to evaluate today’s race and how the filly came out of it.
“You take her back, you evaluate her, you see how her mood is, her diet, how she goes back to the racetrack, how she breezes,” Asmussen said. “No crystal ball could see that far ahead.”
Horse racing news edited from www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.
Tags: Clear Sailing, Fighter Wing, Rachel Alexandra, Unforgotten, Zardana
"Horse Racing Results: Zardana Upsets Rachel Alexandra in New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds" was posted on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 11:10 pm and is filed under Fair Grounds, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Results & Payouts, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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