Better than Rachel
by Derek Simon
Sometimes I’m glad I live in the new millennium. Sure, I’ve had to endure the reality TV explosion — I just watched a trailer for “Steven Seagal: Lawman,” which leads me to believe that a “Shaun Cassidy/Parker Stevenson: Bounty Hunters” program can’t be far behind. But at least, in 2009, I can say what I’m about to say, with full confidence — OK, half-confidence — that I will not suffer the same fate as Galileo Galilei in 1633.
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
So (deep breath), here it goes: Rachel Alexandra is not the best three-year-old thoroughbred in training.
Yes, I know such a proclamation would have gotten me stoned, lashed or possibly even killed a few centuries ago, but, like Galileo, I have science on my side — or so I believe. In between watching the crazy antics of Tori and Dean, along with John and Kate plus those eight adorable little stagehands, I caught a replay of Quality Road’s return to racing in the $150,000 Amsterdam at Saratoga on Aug. 3. And, like I asserted after his very first start and, again, following his efforts in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby, the son of Elusive Quality is a very, very special racehorse. Rachel is good; Quality Road is better.
Sure, the Edward Evans’ homebred had a rail trip in the Amsterdam — but it was the outer rail. After breaking slowly in the field of six, jockey John Velazquez kept Quality Road outside of the leaders before making a move turning for home in the Grade 2 feature. The amazing part is Velazquez didn’t even flash his whip until he saw Capt. Candyman Can, one of this year’s top three-year-old sprinters, began to rally on his outside.
What’s more, the official final time of 1:13.74 for the 6 ½-furlong Amsterdam (it was initially reported as 1:13.42) broke the Saratoga track record by nearly a second — and the stakes record by nearly three. At the Spa, for heaven’s sake, the track that held its first thoroughbred meet a month after the Battle of Gettysburg. The track that has been graced by such champions as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit and Gallant Fox (whose 8-length loss to 100-1 Jim Dandy in the 1930 Travers Stakes greatly contributed to Saratoga’s reputation as a “Graveyard of Champions”).
Quality Road Tops Travers
Having just proclaimed Quality Road as the top sophomore in training, I guess there’s not much mystery surrounding which horse I think is best in this weekend’s Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Still, the $1 million “Midsummer Derby” lured a stellar cast — even without Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra among the entrants.
In addition to Quality Road, Hold Me Back, Charitable Man, Warrior’s Reward, Our Edge, Summer Bird and Kensei are all scheduled to face the Saratoga starter on Saturday. Of these likely also-rans, I’m most intrigued by Charitable Man, Our Edge and Kensei.
I thought Charitable Man had a very useful prep in the Jim Dandy, where he made a couple of nice moves — the first, rounding the far turn and, the second, in deep stretch to grab the show. While no match for Kensei, the son of Lemon Drop Kid earned a lifetime-best 102 Beyer speed figure and -5 late speed ration (LSR) that day.
Our Edge, on the other hand, has the classic look of a LaPenta/Zito upset special, especially given the way he blew away the field in the Grade 3 Barbaro Stakes at Delaware Park in his latest start on July 19.
And Kensei? He just continues to improve race after race. His win in the Jim Dandy was accomplished with ridiculous ease and, before that, he posted an equally facile score in the Dwyer.
‘Simon Says’ Racing Podcast to Feature Analysis of Saratoga’s Late Pick-4
Be sure to listen to my newest podcast for in-depth analysis of Saturday’s late Pick-4 at Saratoga, which includes my “Lock of the Year” (just kidding; I’ve been listening to too many sports betting shows of late).
Currently a full-time freelance business/sports writer, Derek has been published by Motley Fool, Newsmax, Dulcinea Media, iStockAnalyst, Beacon Equity Research and a host of other online and offline venues.
The opinions of Youbet Update writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Youbet.com or its subsidiaries.
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