Rachel Alexandra (foaled January 29, 2006 in Kentucky) is a currently active American Thoroughbred filly racehorse and the 2009 Horse of the Year winner. She came to fame on May 16, 2009 when she became the first filly in 85 years (since Nellie Morse in 1924) to win the Preakness Stakes. She has won races in six states (KY, LA, AR, MD, NY, and NJ.), on 8 different tracks, against fillies and top colts and older horses, achieving a long string of consecutive wins including many Grade 1 stakes races. She has broken or come close to the stakes and/or track records in many of her races, as well as broken records for largest winning margins.
Then the gates popped open, and the good times this town is known for did not exactly roll. In fact, by the time the race was over, horseplayers and horse lovers alike were forlorn. Rachel Alexandra had not only lost but perhaps derailed what was supposed to be a race for the ages against Zenyatta in the $5 million Apple Blossom Invitational on April 9 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
“It was a very aggressive gallop,” Scott Blasi, Asmussen’s top assistant, said.
Jackson was guarded in his assessment of Rachel Alexandra.
“She’s going to need another race before she really defines herself the way she did early last year, but I think she’s 85 percent to 90, maybe 95, right now,” he said.
EIGHTYFIVEINAFIFTY IS FOURTH The 3-year-old colt Hurricane Ike, ridden by Calvin Borel and trained by John Sadler, beat Aikenite by two and three-quarter lengths to win the $200,000 Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs. Eightyfiveinafifty, who needed a win to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby next Saturday, went off as the 3-2 favorite but faded and finished fourth.
"We know the media and many fans would have liked to see her run in the Belmont Stakes - we feel the same,'' Jackson said in a press release. "But all of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her. While she is in great shape, having strong works, and recovering well from her amazing performances, we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation. Since March 14, Rachel has won four graded races with just two weeks' rest between her last two victories. We will always put her long-term well-being first. And, of course, we want to run her when she is fresh.''
Rachel Alexandra is 5 for 5 this year, including wins in the Fair Grounds Oaks (March 14), Fantasy at Oaklawn Park (April 5), Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs (May 1), and Preakness Stakes (May 16). Jackson, and his business partner, Harold McCormick, purchased Rachel Alexandra privately from her previous owners, Dolphus Morrison and Michael Lauffer, after the Kentucky Oaks and turned her over to trainer Steve Asmussen. He supplemented her to the Preakness for a cost of $100,000 and she rewarded him and his partner.
Tags: kentucky oaks, churchill downs, oil spill, kentucky oaks 2010, kentucky derby
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