Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra to race against Breeders Cup Classic winner Zenyatta in the $5 million Apple Blossom

It’s really going to happen.

Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra is set to face off against Breeders Cup Classic winner Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Handicap on April 9 at Oaklawn Park. Both parties have signed off on the race. Charles Cella, owner of Oaklawn Park, has agreed to move the race back in order to allow both more time to get a prep race in before the big showdown. This will be the biggest race since Seabiscuit faced War Admiral at Pimlico Racecourse in 1938.

The race will take place the day before the Arkansas Derby. I’m so excited I can hardly type! I plan to be on site for the race come hell or high water. Zenyatta will prep next month at Santa Anita. Rachel Alexandra’s connections plan to race her in the middle of next month. I would imagine her comeback race will take place at Fair Grounds. I want to see both get a nice and easy prep before the Apple Blossom.

The racing on April 9-10 at Oaklawn Park is going to be electrifying. There are very few things in the racing world better than this.

“The race is a go,” a delighted Charles Cella told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “Both parties have signed off on it. I feel like we’ve been through the ringer on this thing. Now, we’re really excited about it.

“This is truly a race for the ages.”

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

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Tiz Chrome and American Lion head Robert B. Lewis Stakes

The Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes has been very strong in recent years. Some of the recent winners include Pioneerof The Nile, Crown of Thorns, Great Hunter, and Declan’s Moon. The race is contested at 8.5 furlongs over the main track at Santa Anita. The field is left short at just 5 horses this year after draining problems caused it to be canceled when it was supposed to run last weekend.

Bob Baffert will attempt to win this race for the second year in a row and the fourth time overall with Tiz Chrome. The son of Tiznow won a minor stakes last out in a blistering time going 6.5 furlongs at Hollywood Park. He powered away to win by 4 lengths. Garrett Gomez will retain the mount. It will be interesting to see how he handles the distance. His pedigree suggests he won’t have any problems, but you never know.

Caracortado looks like a strong contender for trainer Michael Machowsky and jockey Paul Atkinson. He has won all four of his races. He has a versatile running style which will come in handy due to the short field in this event. The son of Cat Dreams rallied strongly last out to win a statebred stakes event by 1 3/4 lengths. La Nez finished third in that race and will be racing against Blind Luck in the Las Virgenes earlier on the card. If she fares well it would flatter the form of this gelding.

American Lion enters this race after a winning effort in the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue. The Eion Harty trainee broke onto the scene with a 6 3/4 length maiden special weight win at Keeneland. He is also a son of Tiznow like his rival Tiz Chrome. Julien Leparoux will pilot the colt. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if he was able to put together a big effort and win this race.

Dave In Dixie and Tango Tango round out the field. The latter ships in from Golden Gate and the prior was last seen finishing 6th in the Norfolk Stakes.

Who is your top selection for the Robert B. Lewis Stakes? Click here for information on how to get my picks and plays for this race and all the stakes action this weekend!

Delta Jackpot winner Rule squares off against Uptowncharlybrown in the Sam F. Davis Stakes

The Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs has been an excellent race in the past few years. Last years winner was General Quarters. He went on to take the Grade 1 Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland. In 2007 Any Given Saturday won the race and later that year took the Haskell Invitational. In 2006 Bluegrass Cat won the race before running second to Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby. The $225,000 purse would go very far in helping a prospective Kentucky Derby horse get the earnings he needs to make the race. Let’s take a look at the field!

Todd Pletcher has a hot Kentucky Derby prospect in Delta Jackpot winner Rule. The son of Roman Ruler broke the track record for one mile  in a minor stakes at Delta Downs prior to that win. He has speed to spare and should make the lead. I have to wonder if he is cranked up for this race. He doesn’t have to win so the connections may or may not be giving it everything in this spot.  John Velasquez will retain the mount and seek to improve this colts win streak to four races. It won’t be easy.

Uptowncharlybrown took the Pasco Stakes by 6 lengths last out under Daniel Centeno after breaking his maiden by 9 lengths. Both of those win came at Tampa Bay Downs. He is a closer and will be rolling late in this race. The connections will need him to perform well if he is going to stay on track for the First Saturday in May. A win here would go a long way towards getting him the earnings he needs to be in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.

Derek Ryan will send out Schoolyard Dreams after he won an optional claimer last out. He has elected to add blinkers. The son of Stephen Got Even sports a bullet four furlong breeze and has been working very well for the past few weeks. He beat a nice colt in Tempted To Tapit two races back. Cornelio Velasquez will pick up the mount since Daniel Centeno opted to stay with Uptowncharlybrown. This colt doesn’t seem too fast on paper, but I’ve got a good feeling about him.

Middle Of The Nite will attempt to shake things up here for trainer Thomas Albertrani. His last trip to the track resulted in a close third place finish behind the highly thought of Eskendereya at Gulfstream Park. The son of Offlee Wild will be racing for West Point Thoroughbreds. It is likely that he will confront Rule for the lead.

Who do you like in the Sam F. Davis Stakes? My picks and plays are available by clicking here. My selections did very well last weekend and included $17.40 winner Peppi Knows in the Whirlaway Stakes. Don’t miss out!