Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta return to the track on Saturday.(credit:
Jack Kendall)
American horse racing fanatics will be looking forward to the weekend with baited breath as superstar fillies Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta return to the track on Saturday.
It will be the first step on a collision course that will see the two go to war in the $5 million Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 9 and with so much hype surrounding the contest, all eyes will be on the two as they make their seasonal reappearances.
Rachel Alexandra will tackle the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds while Zenyatta will take her chance in the $250,00 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita.
2009 Horse Of The year Rachel Alexandra will start a warm favourite for the New Orleans Ladies and trainer Steve Asmussen explained: "Her gallops have been very strong.
"She's not 100 percent fit for this and we're aware of that. But, she's a very physical horse; she is Rachel ... I'm very concerned about her fitness level."
Meanwhile Zenyatta will have to carry a lot of weight against her rivals in the Santa Margarita Handicap and jockey Mike Smith explained: "That's a lot of weight to start off the year with.
"Certainly, it's a concern. But, she is a big mare and she carried 129 in the (2009) Vanity. Hopefully, this won't bother her too much."
Smith also admitted that he hopes Rachel Alexandra is successful at Fair Grounds so the two can get on with their meeting at Arkansas.
"I am a big fan of Rachel's and I hope she runs big so we can meet," Smith said. "It would be one of the most watched races in history ... if we both get there."
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Rachel Alexandra 1/2 (Ladbrokes) VS Zenyatta 6/4 (Ladbrokes)