(Monday, March 15) Rachel Alexandra will not be heading to Oaklawn Park for next month's Apple Blossom invitational (G1), where she was expected to meet up with Zenyatta.

After running a disappointing second at 1/9 odds in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes behind the John Shirreffs trained Zardana, owner Jess Jackson announced that Rachel Alexandra would stay at Fair Grounds for the time being.

In a press release Jackson said, "Yesterday's race while a disappointment, helped us define Rachel Alexandra's racing condition. While she is healthy, just as I had anticipated, she is not in top form. Therefore, I decided today she will not be going to the Oaklawn Invitational on April 9."

In Saturday's race, the 2009 Horse of the Year was making her first start in six months. She did not look anything like the filly that won all eight of her starts in 2009, three against males.

Her training at Fair Grounds earlier this year was hampered by bad weather, and perhaps she was just a short horse.

That is what trainer Steve Asmussen thinks.

"I'm just disappointed she didn't win today, " Asmussen said. "It was a lack in fitness and it's our job to have her there and I didn't do it."

Jockey Calvin Borel said, "My little filly tried hard. She needed the race, that's all. She needed the race more than anything."

Asmussen said his filly came out of the race in good order. He stated after the race that he thought Rachel Alexandra was " about her being 75 or 80-percent fit."

The original plan was to ship her to Oaklawn Park Monday morning for the April 9 race, but those plans are now scrapped.

The big question now is whether she races again at all. Jackson has stated she will be bred to Curlin, and it's certainly possible in the next week or so we could hear she is retired and heading to the breeding shed.

My gut feeling is she is done racing, but with Jackson, you just never know.

Meanwhile on the west coast, Zenyatta put in a sharp performance winning the Santa Margarita Handicap (G1), running her career record to a perfect 15 for 15.

Jockey Mike Smith usually takes an overland route with the mare, and there were a few anxious moments turning for home when it appeared Zenyatta did not have enough running room.

Smith had to check behind horses and decided to take an inside route near the eighth pole, and once she found room to run she exploded to draw clear under a hand ride to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

The mare returned $2.60 to win and topped a $45.00 exacta completed by 52/1 longshot Dance to My Tune.

Zenyatta owner Jerry Moss said in a statement Sunday: "We're disappointed that we're not going to be able to face each other in the Apple Blossom. Hopefully, we can meet down the line. We respect both Steve Asmussen and Mr. Jackson as horsemen and they're going to do what's right for their horse."

Trainer John Shirreffs must have gotten some added satisfaction by not only Zenyatta's victory, but also knocking off Rachel Alexandra with Zardana, a Brazilian bred six year old mare who has now won eight of her 19 career starts.

The mare had raced only on turf and synthetic surfaces since arriving in the U.S. She will join her stablemate Zenyatta on the trip to Oaklawn Park for the Apple Blossom.

Derby Preps: Lookin At Lucky made his three year old debut a winning one in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and his stature as one of the Kentucky Derby favorites is safe.

Trainer Bob Baffert is seeking his fourth Derby win, and this colt looks like the real deal. A winner of five of six starts as a two year old, he was making his first start off nearly a three month break in the Rebel.

"He's a horse that can overcome," said Baffert. "He's a great athlete and a great horse. He has that will to win, which is half the battle. He reminds me of Silver Charm in that you know he's going to show up every time."

Noble's Promise was only beaten a head and looks like a serious Derby threat although Lookin At Lucky has now defeated him three straight times.

Dublin did not show the finish I was expecting to see, but I'm not going to give up on him just yet.

Odysseus somehow got his nose in front at the wire to win the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) over Schoolyard Dreams.

Even track announcer Richard Grunder thought the colt had little chance, stating in his race call, "Odysseus will have to wait for another day!"

Oops.

Sidney's Candy was the lone speed in the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita and used it to his advantage, talking the field gate to wire to win by a half length over Interactif.

The colt was making his first start around two turns, and the John Sadler trainee still appears to have plenty of upside potential.

Caracortado checked in third while suffering his first defeat. The gelding won his first five starts including the Robert B. Lewis (G2) on Feb. 13.

If we saw the eventual Derby winner on Saturday, chances are we saw him in the Rebel.

Upcoming Derby Preps:

March 20
Gulfstream Park
Florida Derby (G1) 1 1/8M
Swale Stakes (G2) 7F
Laurel Park
rivate Terms Stakes 1M