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SARGA.CO - In horse racing, some rivalries define an era, while others never leave the thought of “what if?”. During the late 2000s, the US scene was blessed with two great mares who dominated the sport in very different ways: the front-running Rachel Alexandra and the late-surging Zenyatta.
Although both became legends pitted against each other by their fans, the two horses neveractually faced each other on the racetrack.
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Rachel Alexandra was renowned for her aggressive running style. She loved to seize the lead from the break and overwhelm her rivals with her exceptional speed.
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Rachel Alexandra captured the racing world's imagination in 2009. After taking the Kentucky Oaks, she outpaced the colts in the Preakness Stakes to become the first filly winner in 85 years, then followed that up with wins in the Haskell Invitational and against older males in the Woodward Stakes.
Meanwhile, Zenyatta captivated fans with a dramatic unbeaten streak and breathtaking stretch runs to overcome large deficits. Her most famous performance came when she became the first female horse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic.
At the end of the year, Rachel Alexandra was named Horse of the Year. However, many fans and analysts argued that Zenyatta's undefeated season and Breeders' Cup Classic victory made her just as deserving.
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Why They Never Faced Off
In 2009, both mares were at their strongest, and a showdown seemed inevitable; thus, discussions about a potential meeting intensified throughout the season. So, the question fans continue to ask is simple: Why didn't they race each other?
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What put things to bed were differences in racing schedules, surface preferences, and management decisions. Rachel Alexandra's connections chose not to run in the Breeders' Cup, while Zenyatta continued her campaign toward the Classics.
As a result, the two biggest mares of the era remained separated by circumstance, with the rivalry only reaching its zenith in the voting booth.
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Who Would Have Won?
It remains impossible to answer which one of the two would’ve hypothetically won, had they actually raced to the finish at their peak together.
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Rachel Alexandra's early speed and tactical versatility may have allowed her to control the race from the front, whereas Zenyatta's relentless closing kick could have cut through the final furlong from the back.
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That their styles were almost perfectly opposite is what makes this lost matchup so interesting to US horse racing fans even generations later.
In a sport built on results, the story of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta remains a rare exception: a legendary rivalry that exists entirely in possibility.
(Source: America's Best Racing)
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