Foals from Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta in training at Saratoga
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Champion mares Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta never faced each other on the racetrack. Perhaps someday their first foals will.
Jess’s Dream, the first foal out of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, arrived at Saratoga on Sunday, joining Cozmic One, the first foal out of 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, who has been here since the meet began. Neither colt will race at this meet, but it is hoped that both will debut this fall.
The only time Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta were on the same grounds was in the spring of 2009, when both were at Churchill Downs. Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks, while Zenyatta scratched out of what was then known as the Louisville Stakes.
Jess’s Dream, by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, is with trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. On Monday, he had his first day on the track, galloping once around the 1 1/8-mile oval outside of a stablemate. Jess’s Dream had six workouts at Stonestreet Farm near Ocala, Fla., before shipping to Saratoga.
“It’s extremely gratifying to see him on the racetrack, especially up here,” said Barbara Banke, the head of Stonestreet Farm, which owns Jess’s Dream and campaigned Rachel Alexandra, who beat males in the 2009 Woodward Stakes here. “He was very happy this morning, rearing up, bouncing around. The van ride did not take anything out of his little, furry self.”
Jess’s Dream is named after Jess Jackson, Barbara’s husband, who died in 2011.
While being led around the walking ring before heading to the track, Jess’s Dream reared up on his hind legs.
“He was showing traits of the mom this morning, leaping in the air,” Banke said.
Banke employs many trainers. She said she chose McLaughlin for Jess’s Dream because of his work with well-bred, two-turn horses who need time to get to the races.
“He brings experience with the higher level, and we already have a lot with Todd [Pletcher],” Banke said. “We thought he needed maybe a little bit more bringing along before he goes into some system, so I think he’ll get the individual attention he needs here.”
“We feel honored to have been chosen to have him in our barn,” McLaughlin said. “He’s by a Horse of the Year out of the Horse of the Year – pretty special. Hopefully, we have some luck with him. He went around there great today, looked good, covered a lot of ground.”
Banke said she hopes Jess’s Dream can debut at Belmont in the fall, perhaps in a one-turn, one-mile race.
Across the street, about as far away as possible, Cozmic One resides in the barn of John Shirreffs. He arrived at Belmont Park in June and is getting close to his first official breeze. Since Saturday, Shirreffs has brought Cozmic One over to the main track side, electing to gallop him on the half-mile oval at Clare Court.
“It’s a long, long walk over there,” Shirreffs said. “He gets to experience cars, golf carts, it gives him a chance to see the world. Cozmic One is a 2-year-old trying to learn how to become a racehorse.”
Shirreffs said that owner Jerry Moss would like to see Cozmic One race at 2.
“That’s what Mr. Moss is talking about – he’s hoping he does run as a 2-year-old,” Shirreffs said.