Zenyatta, Rachel And Mine That Bird

Racing needs all the help it can get in the popularity department. Right now, we have three horses with intriguing stories in the making. I'm talking about Zenyatta, Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra.

Mine That Bird's victory in this years' Kentucky Derby is proof that three year olds can improve drastically at any time, especially this time of year. His path to the Derby was less than glamorous and out of the mainstream. He came into the Derby from Sunland Park after being in Canada where he was that country's two year old of the year. Maybe the condition of the Churchill Downs track that day helped him to make that explosive run, maybe it was Calvin Borel, the path that he took along the rail or maybe it was a combination of the three. He then validated his performance by finishing a closing second to Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes two weeks later.

Speaking of Rachel, she is now undefeated in five starts, beating the colts in the Preakness very handily. We are still waiting to see if she will be given the ultimate test, the mile and a half Belmont Stakes where she will face Mine That Bird again along with some new faces from the three year old division who were not there in Baltimore last week. She is a very special horse and racing is blessed for having her around right now.

Last, but not least is Zenyatta. She is my favorite runner to watch right now, Yesterday's Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park was her latest conquest, coming after seven months off. The way she puts her head down and spreads her ears out while mowing down the competition is poetry in motion. She has done that in every one of her races and I cannot see her ever getting beat. I think that she can finish her career undefeated as long as she's healthy. She just has a desire to win like I have never seen before. How about a showdown in the Ladies Classic this fall at Santa Anita between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta?

Racing could really use it.

Hollywood Park Free Selection

Today we are going with one in the sixth race. The horse is number 3, Wineshine. Aaron Gryder takes the call for Craig Lewis who recently claimed this horse. Lewis does well first after the claim and has a high win percentage when using Gryder.


Race 6- #3 Wineshine