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One of thoroughbred racing's most illustrious fillies has been retired from racing.  Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra has been sent to the breeding shed by her owner Jess Jackson before the end of her four year old year, with no explanation other than a reference to her less than stellar 2010 racing performance.  Her retirement ensures that there will be no match-up between her and the undefeated champion older filly or mare Zenyatta, winner of last year's Breeders Cup Classic. 
 

It's Oaks Down in the River City and for those of you who are unfamiliar with the ways of Louisville, that means it's a holiday here and no one will be working, whether they go to the track or stay home and plant a garden.  The day has dawned with beautiful blue skies, sunshine and temperatures that are expected to hit 85 by post time of the Kentucky Oaks.  This is in stark contrast to the weather forecast for tomorrow, which features heavy thunderstorms all day, making for a sloppy track and a drenched crowd, particularly in the infield.


Derby Week is usually good for new on the racing and breeding industry, since so many players descend on Louisville for the week.  This week, however, news has been relatively scarce.  We have learned that Frank Stronach, the man responsible for taking Santa Anita, Gulfstream  and Pimlico racetracks into bankruptcy, will be allowed to keep them as they emerge from bankruptcy; a result which should be viewed with mixed emotions.  He is a better owner than a group of creditors would have been, but he needs to hire someone with a bold vision and the ability to generate cash from sources other than on track wagering or we will be right back where we started in just a few years.

In a interesting article, Joe Drape of the New York Times takes a look at the economic woes of the thoroughbred industry as seen by the depressed state of the industry in Kentucky.  The Kentucky horse industry has been trying to get authority to operate casinos, or at least slot machines, for years now only to be thwarted every time by the Republican controlled State Senate, which refuses to pass any bill authorizing gambling or permitting any measure go to the voters for approval.

The Oaks Day card at Churchill Downs features a number of stakes races in addition to the Oaks itself.  The most interesting of these will be the $400,000 Grade II La Troienne, which marks the return of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra to Churchill Downs where she won the 2009 Kentucky Oaks.   She is a 3-5 morning line favorite in the 1 1/16 mile race, which also features Zardana, the only horse to ever beat her.  Zardana bested Rachel Alexandra in her return to racing on March 13.

The Oaks is a bit more wide open than orginally anticipated as a result of the entry of Devil May Care in the Derby, although Blind Luck will go off as a heavy favorite.  Include Quiet Temper and Amen Hallejuah in your exacta. 

As for the Derby, the misfortune afflicting favorites has continued as the favorite and second favorite have drawn terrible post positions.  Lookin At Lucky will be in post position one and Sidney's Candy has drawn the far outside, post position twenty.  I'll be back later with my Kentucky Derby picks since the weather is forcing me to reconsider some choices but I'll leave you with this thought: consider the slop performance in their pedigree as you try to discern how these horses will run