By Harry King
LITTLE ROCK — Zenyatta vs. Rachel Alexandra at Oaklawn Park on April 3 seemed no better than 50-50 until considering the Charles J. Cella factor.
The owner of the racetrack in Hot Springs is not prone to announce a $5 million race for the buzz of it. Cella had numerous conversations with the two principals involved prior to last week’s news conference and both sides had a heads-up on the where and when of the announcement. There was nary a discouraging word.
Considering those things, the guesstimate is 70 percent, maybe 80, that the “Race for the Ages” will come to fruition in Hot Springs with the world watching.
A racetrack familiar to both sides and home to neither, Oaklawn is perfect for Zenyatta vs. Rachel.
Although Cella announced his carrot almost two months prior to the Apple Blossom and his contact with the owners gave them time to make plans, I thought timing might be the snafu. Like other athletes, thoroughbreds need time to prepare for a peak effort.
Tiger Woods won’t play in The Masters without competing in a tournament in the weeks prior and the Arkansas football team won’t jump into Southeastern Conference play without sharpening its skills vs. for-hire opponents.
Zenyatta has remained in training, but both she and Rachel have been away from the races long enough to lose their edge.
Barely a week ago, Rachel ran an easy half-mile in New Orleans — her first workout since winning in New York last September. Originally to be retired this year, Zenyatta has not raced since making her case for Horse of the Year with a scintillating victory over the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in early November. Her only race outside of the synthetic tracks in California was at Oaklawn in 2008, but her workouts have been on the training track at Hollywood Park, a natural dirt track similar to Oaklawn.
There is a race for Zenyatta in California in March, but it is a handicap and her side is waiting on the weight assignments. If she runs and wins her 15th straight, she would ship to Arkansas and compete again in 21 days — the shortest turn-around of her career.
On the other side, Rachel trainer Steve Asmussen won’t spot Zenyatta a prep race. The folks at the Fairgrounds have a $200,000 race on March 13 and there is talk they would move it up a week if Rachel participates.
Zenyatta vs. Rachel Alexandra is about owners Jerry and Ann Moss believing their Zenyatta has been twice deprived of Horse of the Year. Anybody who watched Moss grimace while Jess Jackson made an acceptance speech for his Horse of the Year knows that Moss wants an on-track opportunity to prove who is best.
The $2.5 million to the winner is secondary.
Moss and his former partner, Tijuana Brass trumpet player Herb Alpert, sold their record company years ago for about $500 million. Later, their music publishing company brought $363 million.
Last year, Jackson was No. 428 on the Forbes list with $1.8 billion.
So, we have two sportsmen with tons of money, fierce pride, and a determination to make sure the other guy doesn’t have an edge.
Somebody suggested that NBC could incorporate the Apple Blossom into its April 3 telecast of the Santa Anita Derby and the Wood Memorial. If it’s Zenyatta vs. Rachel, there is no reason to share the stage with two Kentucky Derby prep races.
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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
