Rachel vs. Zenyatta a no go

LOS ANGELES - Rachel Alexandra won't be going to Arkansas next month to face Zenyatta in their highly anticipated $5 million showdown, leaving racing's other female superstar to take on all comers.

Rachel Alexandra's owner, Jess Jackson, said Sunday that his 2009 Horse of the Year is not in top form after her defeat by Zenyatta's stablemate, Zardana, in the New Orleans Ladies at the Fair Grounds. So the scheduled meeting between racing's most talked about horses is off, leaving the spotlight to Zenyatta on April 9 in the Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park.

"Yesterday's race, while a disappointment, helped us define Rachel Alexandra's racing condition," Jackson said in a statement. "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 Oaklawn for the race.

Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta were making their first starts of the year Saturday in what were supposed to be prep races for next month's event, which saw its purse raised to $5 million from $500,000 only if both horses started.

Zenyatta's co-owner Jerry Moss said his 6-year-old mare will keep her schedule after winning the Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita on Saturday.

"We're disappointed that we're not going to be able to face each other in the Apple Blossom," he said Sunday from his California home. "Hopefully, we can meet down the line."