Bid Rachel Alexandra a Good Afternoon (and benefit cancer research at the same time)

by Fran Jurga | 1 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

Maybe not all eyes are on the Breeders Cup preparations at Santa Anita racetrack in California this week. Plenty of people are keeping an eye on a fund-raising auction being conducted by Kendall-Jackson Wines.

Bidding is currently close to $6000 for a private visit with Herself, champion three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra, in January. The package includes a trip for two to New Orleans, and two nights in the Windsor Court hotel, as well.

If you've been dying to get close to the superstar, here's your chance, but you'd better hurry--bidding closes on Wednesday. This will be the final item in the auction of her collectibles to benefit the V Foundation. Bottles of her Pinot Noir are still available, though the limited edition collectible bottles signed by Calvin Borel are sold out.

Click here to place your bid.

What's Rachel Alexandra Got that Zenyatta Doesn't?

Zenyatta, winning the Grade 1 Vanity at Hollywood Park in June, originally uploaded by Jeff (aka crystaldiamondk2).

We may never know the answer to that question, but that's ok. You can only shake your head: Greatness in stereo, on both coasts of the USA, as the racing year prepares to wrap up after being dominated by these two stellar mares.

Undefeated California mare Zenyatta did it again on Saturday, making it 13 in a row with a strong victory in the Grade 1 Lady's Secret at Santa Anita, as she prepares for her run in the 2009 Breeders Cup next month. Will she defend her title against the fillies and mares or dare to run in the Classic against the likes of Belmont, Travers and Jockey Gold Cup winner Summer Bird and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird? (And maybe even Euro superstars Rip Van Winkle and Sea the Stars!)

Meanwhile, three-year-old superstar Rachel Alexandra is resting at Kentucky's Churchill Downs after beating all comers of all ages at tracks in New York, New Jersey, and Kentucky this summer. Her owner is no fan of the racing surface at Santa Anita, and won't send her west to run on it, so we won't see Zenyatta race against Rachel Alexandra.

Zenyatta reminds me of a super-engineered German touring car, built for speed and precision and power. Rachel Alexandra reminds me of an Italian sports car, all light and lines and synchronicity.

I am an unabashed fan of both, and love what each has done for racing, although I don't see why people seem to feel that they have to choose between one or the other. Given the short shelf life of racehorses, enjoy these two superstars while you can!

Speaking of shelf life, a racehorse's may be short, but we all know what improves with age, and there is one thing that Rachel Alexandra has that Zenyatta does not (at least that I have heard about)...and that is her own line of wines.

Since the holidays are coming and I know the supply is very limited, I thought I would mention that if you have a special person or corporate connection on your gift list who is a racing fan, a gift of a bottle of the limited edition Rachel Alexandra wines from Kendall-Jackson wineries (owner Jess Jackson of Kendall-Jackson is part owner of Rachel Alexandra) would be the ultimate gift.

This is not an ad. It is the simple truth, and it's great marketing. A boxed bottle signed by jockey Calvin Borel is $150; a plain old bottle with that beautiful filly's face on it is $50.

The wine is a 2007 vintage pinot noir, sourced from the winery’s Arroyo Seco vineyard in Monterey County, California.

The kj.com web page also features the Kendall-Jackson/Rachel Alexandra Running Auction, a five-month-long charity auction featuring sports items from Rachel Alexandra’s already-historic three-year-old racing season. All of the proceeds from the auction benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Currently up for auction is Calvin Borel's victory crop, with bidding at $1500. Auctioning of Rachel's collectibles this fall has raised almost $12,000 for The V Foundation.

Rachel may be done running for the year but her team is obviously still active. Now all eyes are on Zenyatta--and she's an eyeful! Thanks to Jeff for the loan of this great photo of Zenyatta in mid-air.

Waiting for Rachel: It's Worth Getting Up, or Staying Up, to See the Filly

Waiting for Rachel, originally uploaded by budmeister 26.2.

One of the "happening" places on the horse world map every August is Saratoga Springs, New York. It's been happening there for horses for over 150 years, and not much has changed. The track that launched Man o' War and Secretariat into national prominence looks much the same now as then.

This summer, the happening hype is magnified by the presence of a true sports celebrity, in the form of champion filly Rachel Alexandra.

When the filly leaves her stall, the word travels fast. When a work is scheduled, the curious gather. The Saratoga Special reported that 67 people lined the rail in the post-dawn light on Monday when Rachel worked on Saratoga's Oklahoma training track. Secretariat's public works attracted thousands back in the 1970s.

The faithful arrived early. Staked out a spot. And waited for the sun to come up, which it does in a very beautiful way in Saratoga.

Across the street, Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird has joined the Saratoga summer crowd of fine three-year-olds training up to next Saturday's Travers Stakes, the "mid-summer derby". Summer Bird, Quality Road and Kensai attract the curious, too. They're all here.

The question is if they will meet each other next Saturday on the main track. So far, everyone appears to be in fine condition.

Dawn at Saratoga, waiting for the champ to gallop by: this is the place to be.

Thanks to Budmeister 26.2 for capturing so beautifully a could-only-be-Saratoga silhouette.

This May Be All the Colts Will See of Rachel Alexandra Today

Rachel Alexandra's Braids, originally uploaded by Rock and Racehorses.

UPDATE: Since this post was written, Rachel did devastate the boys and all they did see was her back. Jockey Calvin Borel finished the rainy race with clean white plants. Scroll down to the watch the race on YouTube, thanks to Mr. Partymanners.

She's the one to beat. You'll see her in this month's Vogue magazine. Her stall at Saratoga is protected. She's the best, jockey Calvin Borel says confidently.

In an hour or so, Rachel will run against Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird and that sharp gray colt Munnings in the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational at New Jersey's Monmouth Park.

Normally, Monmouth would be baking in the August heat on Haskell day. But it's been pouring this afternoon. The television crew had to abandon their set. Horses are reported to have had mishaps in earlier races, details are not available yet.

Rachel's run in the rain before. She can do it again.

The Kentucky Derby begins with the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home", the Preakness with "Maryland, My Maryland". The Belmont, of course, likes "New York, New York".

So what will they sing in Jersey today when Rachel prances onto the track? It's perfect: Springsteen's "Born to Run".

Then get out of her way.

Thanks to Sarah K. Andrew and Rock and Racehorses for this great photo straight from Monmouth. Click the link under the photo to see more great shots of the filly enjoying her brief vacation on the Jersey Shore.