Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

It's Official
Zenyatta & Rachel Alexandra To Vie in Apple Blossom

February 15, 2010

The match up that every fan of horse racing wants is on according to ESPN.com and Oaklawn Park. Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta are both scheduled to compete in the Apple Blossom Invitational April 9th.

“The Apple Blossom Invitational has been renegotiated. Both principles are on line and have pledged to me they will enter their horses and race,” said Charles Cella, who is the owner of Oaklawn Park, which is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas.. “The date will be Friday, the ninth of April. All other conditions remain the same.”

The Apple Blossom Invitational is a 1 1/8 mile race. If both horses participate, which they are schedule to do, the purse for the event with jump from $500,000 to $5 million. The total purse would match the highest in the sport, equaling the payout of the Breeders’ Cup.

The proposed meeting of the two has not been a smooth ride however, as Cella has been continuously pursuing both owners to reach an agreement. Jess Jackson, who is the owner of Rachel Alexandra, requested that the race be moved back a week so the horse would be more prepared.

“I’ve never had so much trouble giving $5 million away,” Cella remarked “We’ve got a solid commitment, assuming, of course, their health continues.”

Co-owner of Zenyatta Jerry Moss said that he would be willing to have the race moved back a week “if that’s what’s needed.”

“We had a conversation about that today. We’re still hoping the race happens,” Moss said.

Additionally, Jackson issued a statement last week in which he said that he met with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association to discuss the possibility of several races with Zenyatta. Moss claimed that he had not been part of any such discussion with Jackson.

“The whole thing was a big surprise to us,” Moss remarked. “We knew nothing about it. We absolutely were not a party to any of it. We’d like to see in writing what’s intended. We had returned from New York [Wednesday]. I went with my wife to the dentist. We got back in the office in the afternoon and saw what was being written. That was the first we knew about it.”

“As far as we’re concerned, our focus is on Oaklawn, and we’re still hoping that happens.”

The first race on the 2010 schedule for Zenyatta will take place at the Santa Margarita Invitational on March 13th. The Apple Blossom Invitational scenario is not yet iron clad, as variables can occur throughout the year.

“We always go race to race,” Moss said. “We’ll look at our horse after each race and then make a judgment. We’ve got these two races picked out. Beyond that, it would be premature to comment. But our plan, like last year, is to point for the Breeders’ Cup at the end of the year. That’s not a change in our philosophy. Since the Breeders’ Cup this year is at Churchill Downs, we will be traveling.”

Both horses are the superstars of their sport. Rachel Alexandra edged out Zenyatta for horse of the year honors in 2009. Zenyatta tabbed a second runner-up finish to American tennis star Serena William for the Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year in 2009.

Zenyatta is the head-to-head favorite heading into the Apple Blossom Invitational over Rachel Alexandra according to the Horse Racing Betting Lines at Bodog Sportsbook. Zenyatta has been installed with odds at -125 to finish ahead of her counterpart. Rachel Alexandra boasts odds of -105.