NEW ORLEANS --- America's most famous filly fizzled out and now the most anticipated race of the year is no sure thing.
Rachel Alexandra lost her first start of 2010, beaten by Zenyatta's stablemate, Zardana, in Saturday's $200,000 New Orleans Ladies.
What was seen as a tune-up for Rachel Alexandra before her showdown with unbeaten mare Zenyatta at the $5 million Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on April 9, turned into a huge upset.
Zardana shocked the packed grandstand at the Fair Grounds Race Course, edging past the 2009 Horse of the Year halfway down the final stretch and holding on to win by 3 of a length.
"She was strong early and got tired," Rachel Alexandra trainer Steve Asmussen said. "I'm just disappointed she didn't win today. It was a lack of fitness and it's our job to have her there and I didn't do it."
It turned out to be a great day for John Shirreffs, who trains both Zardana and Zenyatta. In Arcadia, Calif., Zenyatta made a successful return to the races, winning the $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap by 11/4 lengths and improving to 15-0.
The 6-year-old mare trailed a field of seven rivals going 1e miles in her season debut under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
"This was a great, great race for her and it wasn't taxing at all," Smith said. "We got enough out of this race to move forward."
Zenyatta was timed in 1:48.20 on the synthetic surface and paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10 as the overwhelming 1-5 wagering favorite in her first race in four months.
Now, after tourism officials in Hot Springs, Ark., had announced the printing of 50,000 trading cards of both Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, it appears that Zardana could wind up being Zenyatta's biggest rival instead. Asmussen declined to guarantee Rachel Alexandra's appearance at Oaklawn in April.
The $5 million purse for the Apple Blossom is only guaranteed if both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta race.
After going 8-0 as a 3-year-old, Rachel Alexandra was racing for the first time in more than six months but was an overwhelming 1-9 favorite, while Zardana, ridden by David Flores, was 91/2-1.
Rachel Alexandra broke comfortably from the No. 2 post position and quickly settled into second just outside of Fighter Wing. Jockey Calvin Borel seemed to have Rachel Alexandra calmly following Fighter Wing until easily pulling into first and moving to the rail in the middle of the final turn.
"I wanted to let her run her race early but they wanted me to wait," Borel said.
It's not clear if the strategy Borel preferred would have made a difference.
Zardana had the No. 3 post and quickly settled into third. She remained within four lengths of the leaders throughout and then rocketed down the final stretch.
Zardana paid $21, $3.20 and $2.60. Rachel Alexandra paid $2.10 and $2.10.
Zenyatta appeared to break from the starting gate on her back feet before Smith settled her into last on her first trip past the grandstand. Dance to My Tune led the way around the backstretch, with Zenyatta eight lengths back.
Coming out of the final turn, instead of going wide around the field -- her typical move -- Smith steered Zenyatta to the rail near the eighth pole. He found traffic down there, but she got by leader Dance to My Tune, and surged to the front with Smith never needing his whip.
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