NEWS
Rachel Alexandra runs off with Fleur de Lis
Posted: Saturday, June 12, 2010 3:35 PM
RACHEL ALEXANDRA
PhotosByZ.com/Thoroughbred Times
For video of the Fleur de Lis Handicap, click here.
by Patrick Reed
Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old filly, served notice that she is rounding back into peak form on Saturday with a dominant 10 ½-length win in the $214,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Following two second-place finishes to begin her four-year-old campaign, the connections of Rachel Alexandra had to deal with questions regarding her fitness level and competitive drive compared with last year, when the Medaglia d’Oro filly amassed a perfect eight-for-eight record. She won the Preakness Stakes (G1)—the first filly to win the second jewel of the Triple Crown since 1924—and the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) against her age group and then took the Woodward Stakes (G1) against older males to become the first female winner in Woodward history.
On Saturday, with regular rider Calvin Borel aboard, Rachel Alexandra shook free from four overmatched opponents at the top of the Churchill stretch to win in convincing fashion. She covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.78 on a track rated as fast and improved her career record to 12 wins in 17 starts and earnings of $3,206,730.
Sent off as the 1-to-10 favorite, Rachel Alexandra briefly contested the early lead with multiple stakes winner and 5.90-to-1 second betting choice Jessica Is Back before Borel settled her into a close stalking position on the first turn. She remained in that position through the backstretch as Jessica Is Back led the field through an opening half-mile in :47.25.
With minimal urging from Borel, Rachel Alexandra drew even with Jessica Is Back heading into the far turn and quickly dispatched that foe at the quarter pole. Distinctive Dixie loomed a threat on Rachel Alexandra’s outside entering the stretch but proved to be no match in the final furlong. With several shakes of the reins, Borel kept Rachel Alexandra to task before gathering her up late and she finished with plenty in reserve.
“She is just getting back,” Borel said of Rachel Alexandra. “You have to give her a chance. She did the impossible when she was a three-year-old. I think you’ll see a great future now.
“She did everything right today. [Trainer] Steve [Asmussen] told me just to run my race and see where we were at. She showed up today. I just don’t think she was ready before, but Steve knows what he is doing.”
Distinctive Dixie held on for second by two lengths over Jessica Is Back.
Rachel Alexandra commenced her 2010 campaign on March 13 in preparation for a planned faceoff with undefeated champion Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Invitational Stakes (G1) at Oaklawn Park in April. She tired in deep stretch to finish second to Zardana (Brz) in the 1 1/16-mile New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds, however, and followed that effort with a similar surrender in the late going to Unrivaled Belle in the La Troienne Stakes (G2) on May 1 at Churchill Downs at the same distance.
Rachel Alexandra subsequently strung together a series of strong workouts at Churchill, giving owner Jess Jackson and Asmussen the confidence to maintain her planned racing schedule with an eye toward a Breeders’ Cup start in November.
“I’m very proud for everybody that she won,” Asmussen said on Saturday. “We are all grateful that Mr. Jackson and [Jackson’s wife] Barbara Banke put a Horse of the Year back in training and take all of the advice and criticism.
“Rachel’s a machine and she ran a great race today, and hopefully this is a step in the right direction for the rest of the year. It’s an honor to train a horse like her.”
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Patrick Reed is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Lee Anne, Boerne, TX on July 28, 2010 at 05:25 PM
Mimi, I am proud to join you in your assessment and exclamations regarding RA, Big Z, Big Brown, etc. and the ridiculous bashing by the announcer. Superior Talent, superior fitness, brains, beauty! Art in Motion! Thank God for allowing us to exist in the same world with these amazing creatures!!!!
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Posted by: Mimi, San Antonio, TX on July 19, 2010 at 12:21 AM
Ha! Nicely put, Garry!
Both are awesome mares. How come every time Big Z or RA race someone starts an argument about which one is better than the other?? Can't we just enjoy these beautiful mares for what they are and stop wanting them to race eachother??
And oh my gosh-all tongue and eyeballs?? Can't you come up with a better line than that, announcer? She wasn't tired in this race. Most people should know that horses have a toothless space in their mouth that makes it easy for their tongue to flop out while they run. She was having fun, which is happy to see.
RA got 2nd in her 2 races this year after a SIX MONTH LAYOFF!! Zardana and Unrivaled Belle had to be at the top of their game-which they were-to beat Rachel Alexandra-who was not at the top of her game.
Anyone who bashes ANY horse sounds like a complete idiot, but they especially sound idiotic if they bash talented horses such as RA, Big Z, Big Brown, etc.
I MEAN COME ON PEOPLE YOU'RE HATING ON A HORSE!!! YOU KNOW HOW STUPID THAT MAKES YOU LOOK?!?!?!?
Let's love the awesome horses for who they are while they're around!!
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Posted by: Garry, Elizabethtown, KY on July 18, 2010 at 05:42 PM
This comment is specifically to Connie from Belgrade MT. This is for the comment you left on the 14. First of all you said that Zenyatta's time down the stretch was faster than Rachel Alexandras. i watched Zenyatta's on tv and I saw Rachel Alexandra live, the reason Zenyatta's was faster was because Mike Smith had the beat the living hell out of her down the entire stretch, where as Rachel Alexandra ran the length of the stretch under a hand ride, as a matter of fact Calvin Borel eased her up. And second of all you commented that Rachel Alexandra does not ship west and she has raced in 6 different states, and then you use Zenyatta coming to Arkansas. She has left home twice in 17 races and you even dare to compare the two traveling. What you need to do Connie is find a good doctor that will write you a lot of prescriptions for crazy pills.
And now to Bruce. Donkeys really? You continue to make us all laugh. Keep them coming. You are like arguing with a kid that only sees in black and white.
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Posted by: race fan, Miami, FL on July 05, 2010 at 10:06 PM
at least there is something to talk about in horse racing.... Its exactly what this sport has needed.... Both horses are great... One has ankle issues, RA and the other can't win outside of CA... But in the end at least it is giving exposure to the industry...
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Posted by: blackjack, fargo, ND on June 25, 2010 at 10:40 PM
AfleeetAlex, Hey, We listened to you RA fans so much last year about how good she was and was always going to be, We really thought you fans knew what you were talking about when you said she was the best, My gosh, how surprised we were when the 2009 HOTY lost her first two races to claimers.........Goes to show, You dont know what you are talling about.....your RA more than likely will have to go to the BCL.......JJ will have a fit to think she will lose to zen or Qr in the biggest race of all, the BCC, he already ducked one five million dollar race because he coudlnt stand the thought that Zen beat RA.........He is a coward....
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