Sunday, February 14, 2010

Rachel Alexandra vs. Zenyatta

Horse racing is known as the Sport of Kings. Now it's the sport of Queens, at least for one day. On April 9 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., champion females Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra will meet for the first time in the Apple Blossom Invitational on April 9.

It should be a fun event and it could be very well be an event that puts another layer of energy into a sport, which needs all the respect and new type of events it can get.

Rachel Alexandra won all eight of her races last year and beat the boys in the Preakness. Zenyatta, who is 14-0 in her splendid career, became the first female to win the Breeders' Cup Classic last November.

In every other major sport, the best take on the best for the benefit of the sport. Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra can captivate the sporting world and it can be an event like a Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup, where a large chunk of the country and world is tuning in.

These two fillies are the best of the best, boy or girl, in the sport of horse racing. What both horses have accomplished is a tremendous compliment to their talent, but also to their respective trainers and owners. Every year, I get excited about the Triple Crown series and certainly about the local racing at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

But on April 9, an event featuring two of the best horses of our era takes place and it should be an event the rest of the nation takes notice of as well.

This is like Ali vs. Frazier, Texas vs. Oklahoma, The Cowboys vs. The Steelers. So for you fans out there on the fringe, be aware that you will be watching the best of the best and could be watching a classic at that.

- Felix

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