By Brett Martel
The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — Rachel Alexandra was beaten by Zenyatta’s stablemate, Zardana, in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies at the Fair Grounds Race Course on Saturday.
Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year after going 8-0 as a 3-year-old, was racing for the first time in more than six months. Still, the race was expected to be a warm-up for her showdown with unbeaten Zenyatta at the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on April 9. Ridden by Calvin Borel, who also rode her to a win over males at last year’s Preakness Stakes, Rachel Alexandra was a 1-9 favorite.
Instead it was Zardana, going off at 9-1 and ridden by David Flores, that shocked the packed grandstand, quickly shooting from third to first coming out of the final turn and winning by 3-4 of a length.
Zardana posted a winning time of 1:43.55 on the 1 1-16-mile dry and fast dirt track on a cool, breezy day in New Orleans. Unforgotten was third.
Zardana paid $21, $3.20 and $2.60. Rachel Alexandra paid $2.10 and $2.10 and Unforgotten paid $3.20.
Rachel Alexandra had the No. 2 post position and quickly settled into second just outside of Fighter Wing.
