This Week in Horse Racing

This week was not a good one for my faves. :( And it just got worse. It's been announced that Rachel will NOT be pointed to the Apple Blossom where $5 million has been offered if both she and Zen race.

Rachel Alexandra finished second to Zardana in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds yesterday. Zardana matched the Horse of the Year mare at the top of the stretch and outdueled her to go on to win by three-quarters of a length. Trainer Steve Asmussen has been saying for the last week that the Rachel was not 100% fit going into the race. Unforgotten trailed the two leaders by 11 1/2 lengths at the finish. It was Rachel's first loss since Sara Louise beat her as a 2-year-old in the Pocahontas Stakes. Rachel and Zenyatta were expected to meet for the first time in the Apple Blossom Invitational. At this point, it doesn't look like that is an option any longer.

Life is Sweet, last year's Ladies Classic winner who was being pointed towards the Dubai World Cup, has been retired after experiencing muscle cramps following a workout yesterday. According to Life is Sweet's owner and trainer, tying up is nothing new for the five-year-old mare. Life is Sweet may be bred to Smart Strike.

Lookin' at Lucky, trying blinkers and dirt for the first time in his 2010 debut, won the Rebel Stakes yesterday. The race was amazing. I hope all three of these boys go to the Derby because I think any one of them could take home the roses. All three horses stayed well back off the pace. Dublin was forced far wide through the first turn and then hung back second to last behind Lucky and Promise. Dublin and Promise started to move up together with two furlongs to go, passing Lucky and staying just off the front runner until they reached the final turn. All three of them kicked and came home together. At first it looked like Promise was going to take it, but Lucky came up with a final surge and won the photo finish. Dublin finished a length back in third.

Sidney's Candy went wire-to-wire in the San Felipe, his first start around two turns. Interactif tried to get up to win, but ran out of track and finished second by a half-length. The favorite, Caracortado, finished another length and a half back in third.

Odysseus took the Tampa Bay Derby in thrilling photo finish style. Odysseus made his move coming into the stretch, but was soon joined by favorite Super Saver, Schoolyard Dreams, and Gleam of Hope. Odysseus seemed to be finished when the three swept past him coming out of the final turn, but Odysseus rerallied and went on to hold off the rapidly gaining Schoolyard Dreams. Super Saver finished third, a half-length behind Schoolyard Dreams. Gleam of Hope was fourth.

Big Brown, who currently stands at Three Chimneys for $55,000, may be shuttled to Australia beginning this year.

Buddy's Saint, winner of the Remsen and Nashua Stakes, suffered a bone chip in his right front ankle following a workout today. The son of Saint Liam is off the Kentucky Derby trail, but hopefully will make a return to racing in the fall. After a disastrous trip and ninth place finish in the Fountain of Youth, Buddy's Saint was being pointed to the Wood Memorial in the hope that he would rebound and be pointed to the Kentucky Derby.

And last but DEFINITELY not least, Zenyatta extended her winning record to 15 for 15 yesterday with her win the Santa Margarita Invitation Handicap yesterday!!!!!!!! Zenyatta was carrying 127 pounds, 15 pounds higher than the second place finisher. The win took place just a few minutes after her connections watched Rachel lose to Zardana. Zenyatta is only one win away of tying Citation, Cigar, Mister Frisky, and Hallowed Dreams in their records of 16 consecutive wins. Zenyatta will go ahead to the Apple Blossom regardless of whether Rachel is there to meet her at the gate or not.