Enough with the language, this forum is probably one of the most civil of all of our fourms. If you disagree with someone fine but next time I see you calling posters or mods assinine or idiotic because they make a simple statement about a horse it will be your last in this forum. Please remember you are being given this warning in good faith.
FWIW - I doubt RA will run more than two more races tops (and maybe none) before she is retired and starts having multi-million dollar foals. The insurance premiums alone when she races are enough to hasten her retirement. Curlin paid $3,000,000 a year in insurance premiums as a 4 year old making it nearly impossible to earn a substantial profit despite winning The 2008 Dubai Cup with a purse of $6,000,000 and $3.6M to the winner.
Right now this animal can only lesson her value as a stud mare by losing a race such as The Belmont in three weeks, or races such as The BC $2,000,000 Fillies and Mares Turf Classic or The $2,000,000 BC Ladies Classic (both against older fillies) or even the $5,000,000 BC Classic (against the best mature horses in the world)
Enough BC speculation as it is months away still.
RA is due to workout at Churchill on May 25th. A workout that should go a long way towards convincing trainer Steve Asmussen and principle owner Jess Jackson whether or not to enter the filly in the Belmont last won by a filly just two years ago in 2007 with Rags to Riches and jockey John Velazquez by a head on the last jump over a game Asmussen trained Curlin after a thrilling stretch run..
Waiting for her in a short field will be Mine That Bird who was sired by Birdstone, who upset Smarty Jones with a blazing stretch run to win the 2004 Belmont. Based on the gelding’s pedigree, the added distance should not be a problem.
Among the trainers who started Preakness also-rans, few wanted another run against Rachel Alexandra or Mine That Bird. Only D. Wayne Lukas expressed interest in the Belmont, with Flying Private, who was fourth in the Preakness.
There will be several new faces in the Belmont though, including Charitable Man, among the best 2-year-olds in the country last year. He was held out of the Derby after a poor effort in the Blue Grass Stakes over a synthetic surface, but he rebounded with a win in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont, a track he obviously likes.
Another candidate is Dunkirk, the Florida Derby runner-up, who had a horrible trip in the Derby on his way to an 11th-place finish, but whose owners and trainer see the Belmont as a more suitable test with a small field chances of a bad trip lessen.
BTW..2007 was it for Rags to Riches who ran her last race in the $250,000 Gazelle Stakes at Belmont Park on September 15th 2007 but finished second to Lear's Princess. The filly resumed training at age 4. Then on March 24, 2008, trainer Todd Pletcher announced that Rags to Riches had re-injured her right front pastern and was retiring. Rags gave birth to her first foal a filly by Giant's Causeway on March 9, 2009. Both are doing well.
Anyway gynecologist , there is no reason to insult anyone on this forum regarding their opinion. This forum is here for civil and courteous discussion about horse racing. Talk horses all you want but show a little civility please.
Your cooperation will be very much appreciated.
Thank you, wilheim
