Unrivaled Belle Upsets Rachel Alexandra In La Troienna Stakes

Wednesday, 05 May 2010 06:00

Rachel Alexandra is the reigning ECLIPSE Award ‘Horse of the Year’ winner. She’s also 0-2 in 2010 after her second shocking upset defeat of the year. Unrivaled Belle pulled away down the stretch and won the La Troienne Stakes as part of the Kentucky Oaks undercard, relegating Rachel Alexandra to a second place finish. Rachel Alexandra destroyed the field in last year’s Kentucky Oaks, winning the race by 20 ¼ lengths.

Despite competing in only one race this year, Rachel Alexandra has remained in the news due to her ongoing and yet to be consummated rivalry with the sport’s other superstar female, Zenyatta. The two horses were originally scheduled to face each other on the track for the first time in the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. After a disappointing second place finish in last month's New Orleans Ladies Handicap at Fair Grounds, Jackson announced that he was pulling Rachel out of the Apple Blossom. Rachel’s trainer, Steve Asmussen, said that while disappointed he wouldn’t overreact to the setback: "Obviously I'm discouraged. I don't run a horse to get beat by any means. Especially a horse like Rachel. But it would not be very effective to have any knee jerk reactions to this."

"I thought she was very comfortable, nice and relaxed, she's just not quite as fast as she was last year. She was steady today but not quick. I don't see any reason for her not to ultimately be as explosive as she was last year. She's just not there yet and it's possible this is somewhat of a hangover from her hard campaign last season."

Owner Jess Jackson immediately put to rest rumors that Rachel would be retired:

"She'll need to get another race or two under her belt before she's back. Her races last year took a lot out of her, specifically the Woodward, and after six months she's not ready to be back at 100 percent. This race didn't define her. I suspect she can improve 10 lengths off what we saw today. Steve and I are satisfied with the fact she came out of the race healthy. She's on her toes, and we're happy with her."

Jackson was less effusive when discussing jockey Calvin Borel:

"I gave Calvin no directions before the race. Maybe Steve did. I just told him to go out there and let her run. I was a little surprised by the result but the winner was obviously the better horse today."

Jockey Kent Desormeaux was aboard Unrivaled Belle for trainer Bill Mott. After the race, Mott was unsure about his next move:

"There's a Grade 2 here in June but maybe as well as she ran today we'll raise our sights and look for a Grade 1 somewhere."

Morena finished third in the La Troienne, five lengths behind Rachel Alexandra. Zardana, who beat Rachel at the New Orleans Ladies Handicap, went off as a 5-1 second favorite in the race but faded badly and finished a well beaten fifth.

< Prev		Next >

Unrivaled Belle Upsets Rachel Alexandra In La Troienna Stakes

Unrivaled Belle Upsets Rachel Alexandra In La Troienna Stakes

Whats Hot Now