Rachel Alexandra is ready for a race. How about the Travers Stakes? The mid-summer derby is less then two weeks away and it could easily become thee race of the year if her connections opt to enter her in this spot. The Haskell was a perfect spot, and that’s where she went to roll home an easy winner in the slop.
Impressive Florida Derby winner and Kentucky Derby would-be favorite Quality Road and the Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird are definite for the mid-summer derby. The Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird is also set to go. The addition of Rachel Alexandra would make this race something we have not seen in a long time. If she runs, all three winners if this years Triple Crown races would show up at the same place at the same time on the same track. That would make this Travers Stakes a real showdown between the nations top 3-year-olds. Without much doubt in my mind the two best 3-year-old dirt horses in the United States would run against each other in a race that could be one for the ages. The kind of race you will be talking about for years to come.
Rachel Alexandra would be faced with a legitimate test in the likes of Quality Road. Quality Road was ThoroughbredZone’s Number 1 ranked Kentucky Derby horse for much of the spring based on his explosive wins in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby. He missed the run for the roses due to his quarter crack issues. He since has been transferred from Jimmy Jerkens barn to Todd Pletchers barn. He returned earlier in the month, and showed no signs of rust, smashing a 30-year-old track record for 6 ½ furlongs held by Topsider in the GII Amsterdam at Saratoga on August 3, 2009. He displayed that brilliant, determined speed that he has had since day one. He stopped the clock in a spectacular 1:13.74.
He is Travers bound and will be the favorite and—without much doubt—be thee horse to defeat in this years Travers Stakes. That is if Rachel Alexandra does not show up. If she does, well look out. We have a horserace. A great horserace. This would not just be a horserace, but an event, an epic match up between a horse that has emerged as one of the greatest fillies of all-time, versus a fast horse that has the potential to be an all time great himself. There is little doubt that both these horses are the two best 3-years-olds in training on dirt right now in this country.
Many in racing are drooling over a potential match up of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, but the addition of Rachel Alexandra in this years Travers would trump that match up, for now anyway. This is the race I want to see, Rachel Alexandra and Quality Road in the Travers. This is a race that would be something else. It would be a blockbuster race in more ways then one. The drama would build to a fever pitch right up till the moment the gate springs open.
The chances of this happening are not overwhelming, considering the connections of Rachel Alexandra also own the fast-developing Kensei who is a certain starter in the 1 ¼ mile Travers Stakes next Saturday. However knowing Jess Jackson is a true sportsman, he could very well decide to go for it anyway. If he does, we are looking at a race for the ages, it would certainly be must see TV. A major network will hopefully step up and televise this race. This one would have to be on where people can see this race. That would be a real shame if this were not covered.
I would love to see this, but at the same time I really believe both horses are special, and actually if they stayed separated, that would be okay by me. I would hate to see either of these horses lose. They are both champions. They are both spectacular runners. If it does not happen, then so be it. It could also be a tough race on both, but that’s what would happen if the best of the best square off an a 1 ¼. The Travers Stakes will still be a great race with the field that has already been assembled, and Rachel Alexandra will find another spot, and that will be a great race to wherever she shows up. She is a true star. However if they do both run in The Travers that would be something else—a showdown between the best of the best. An epic match up that has the makings of an instant classic. You would never forget this one.
Travers Stakes Preview Next Week
