Rachel in Rude health

Preakness and multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Rachel Alexandra was back on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course Monday morning for a more serious workout.

Trainer Steve Asmussen and assistant Scott Blasi watched as the three-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro breezed five furlongs in 1:01.38, the fastest work of twelve at the distance. She took the first three fractions in :12 3/5, :25 and :37 1/5 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 4/5. This was the first time that Asmussen has been at his Saratoga stable since Rachel Alexandra arrived there on June 28.

“She’s tremendous; she’s a beautiful animal; she’s doing great,” Asmussen said. “She was unbelievably light on her feet today and she felt great about doing it. It was about as easy as she could do it. It was exactly what I was hoping to see.”

Rachel Alexandra’s next start remains a question mark, with several races being considered by her connections. One of those races is the Grade 2, $1 million Delaware Handicap for fillies and mares three-years-old and up going 1¼ miles at Delaware Park this Sunday, July 19.


Rachel worked well

“I think [a decision] to eliminate the Delaware Handicap will have to be made today or tomorrow from a timing standpoint,” Asmussen said. “They are drawing the entries tomorrow [for the race].”

Along with the Delaware Handicap, owners Jess Jackson, principal of Stonestreet Stables, and Harold T. McCormick and trainer Asmussen may also be considering the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for three-year-old fillies running 1¼ miles on July 25 at Belmont Park and the Grade 1, $1 million, nine-furlong Haskell Invitational for three-year-olds on Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park.

“It’s a timing thing more than anything,” Asmussen said. “Her being a three-year-old filly that has success outside of her division just gives [us] that many more options. I think the only thing that we can state is the obvious – that’s her and she looks good.”

I have the feeling that the Breeders Cup meeting on the 7th of Nov, will be very special with the numerous options.

Haskell Invitational next for Rachel Alexandra


US SUPERFILLY Rachel Alexandra is to have her next run in the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on August 2, her connections announced on Tuesday.


The Grade 1 race will be Rachel Alexandra's second start against males. She won the middle leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes on May 16, in between two stunningly easy triumphs against her own gender in the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose Stakes.



Jess Jackson, who owns Rachel Alexandra, chose the Haskell over the $1m Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on Sunday and the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park on July 25, for three-year-old fillies but worth only $300,000.


"Rachel Alexandra is progressing well after her stakes record victory in the Mother Goose," Jackson said in a statement.

"She's in top condition. If this preparation continues, our target is to race in the Haskell Invitational in about three weeks. We are all looking forward to seeing this great athlete performagain against both colts and fillies."

Potential rivals in the Haskell include Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird.

Rachel Alexandra worked five furlongs in 1m 1.38s over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga on Monday.

After the workout, trainer Steve Asmussen said, "She's doing great. Her being a three-year-old filly that has success outside of her division just gives us that many more options."