Jess Jackson, who owns Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) in conjunction with Harold McCormick of Alabama, is working with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and its chief executive officer Alex Waldrop to put together a three-race series between the four-year-old filly and two-time champion older female Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}).

"The fans have spoken. The media has spoken. Everyone wants to see Rachel race against Zenyatta--including me," Jackson said in a release.

"In fact, I want it to happen several times this year. We ha ve been in discussions with the hope of coordinate training schedules, racing schedules, purses and all ancillary factors, so that we can all agree upon three dates and three venues for what will be a racing series to rival the Triple Crown."

He added, "Hopefully, these discussions will take place at earliest possible time so that we can announce something that will give the fans a season to remember. The announcement of the proposal, which has been in the works for several weeks, coincides with the announcement that Rachel Alexandra will not race in the GI Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park Apr. 3.

"Out of respect for the level of competition and the importance of this race, I have told Mr. Jackson it was not in the best interest of the horse to race on Apr. 3," said the filly's trainer Steve Asmussen.

"Getting to this level of fitness after a six-month layoff takes time. If all goes according to schedule, and we do not have any further weather delays, the earliest we could have a prep race would be the middle of March. It is then not fair to Rachel to ask her to race again three weeks later."

Oaklawn officials announced last week that the purse of the Apple Blossom would be raised to $5 million if both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta converged on the Hot Springs oval.