Champions Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) and Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) led the list of 2016 inductees into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame, announced Monday from Saratoga. Also elected into this year's class is multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer Steve Asmussen and multiple Eclipse Award-winning jockey Ramon Dominguez. The electees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame Aug. 12 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga.
Originally racing for breeder Dolphus Morrison and trainer Hal Wiggins, Rachel Alexandra romped home first by 20 1/4 lengths in the 2009 GI Kentucky Oaks.
Sold privately to Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick following her Classic victory, Rachel Alexandra went on to win that year's GI Preakness S., GI Mother Goose S. and GI Haskell Invitational before defeating older males with a gritty performance in the GI Woodward S. at Saratoga under the tutelage of fellow inductee Steve Asmussen. She was named champion 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year that season.
Jerry and Ann Moss's Zenyatta became the first female to win the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with her electrifying victory over Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat) in 2009. The charismatic dark bay was named champion older mare in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and Horse of the Year in 2010, while winning 13 Grade I events. She suffered the only loss of her 20-race career when a heartbreaking runner-up to Blame (Arch) in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic.
The 39-year-old Ramon Dominguez captured the Eclipse Award as the nation's top jockey in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He led all North American riders in earnings each of those years, setting a record of $25,639,432 in 2012. Dominguez led all jockeys in wins in 2001 and 2003 and was second in wins on seven other occasions. He won a total of 20 individual meet riding titles on the New York Racing Association circuit, including a record 68 wins at Saratoga in 2012. Dominguez won three Breeders' Cup races and was the regular rider on 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam).
Steve Asmussen, who won the Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding trainer in 2008 and 2009, has led all North American trainers in wins nine times and earnings three times. He has ranked in the top 10 in both wins and earnings every year since 2000. In addition to Rachel Alexandra, Asmussen trained 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year Curlin, as well as champions Kodiak Kowboy (Posse), My Miss Aurelia (Smart Strike) and Untapable (Tapit). He has won five Breeders' Cup races. The 50-year-old is expected to be represented in this year's GI Kentucky Derby by Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Creator (Cupid).
The contemporary electees were chosen from a nationwide voting panel comprised of 188 racing writers, broadcasters, industry officials and historians from a group of 10 finalists selected by the Hall of Fame's 16-member Nominating Committee.
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