NEWS
VIDEO: Rachel Alexandra breezes at Fair Grounds
Posted: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 3:03 PM
RACHEL ALEXANDRA
Fair Grounds photo by Lynn Roberts
To view video of Rachel Alexandra's workout, click here.
Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra breezed six furlongs in 1:13.60 on Tuesday morning at Fair Grounds, rolling past a stablemate in her first workout in company this year.
Rachel Alexandra registered fractions of :13, :25.60, :38.40, :51 and 1:02.20 through five furlongs. She galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.40 and one mile in 1:41.20.
The Medaglia d’Oro filly worked in company with Depaul, a three-year-old winning colt. She is scheduled for one more workout, on Monday, in preparation for her comeback race on March 13 in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes.
“I was hoping she’d go a little quicker,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “She settled off the other horse really nicely. She stayed with her left lead trying to stay with the other horse, then she switched to her right lead and accelerated. We’re happy with where she’s at. The main thing is she’s healthy and this is a step in the process to getting her back to her previous level.”
Rachel Alexandra, under regular exercise rider Dominic Terry, broke off a length behind her workmate. She collared him at the three-sixteenths pole and finished about six lengths in front. Depaul was timed in 1:14.80.
Rachel Alexandra had breezed by herself in previous workouts this year.
“The concern was that her last work was so smooth and easy that she didn’t get enough out of it,” Asmussen said. “The other horse is a variable that ensures that she gets more out of it.
“She was a little keen early. She was very aggressive and hard-held early. For [Terry] to still have control with one in front of her was very impressive. It was a little slower from the five-eighths to the three-eighths.”
The New Orleans Ladies will serve as Rachel Alexandra’s prep for her planned Apple Blossom Invitational Stakes (G1) showdown with Zenyatta on April 9 at Oaklawn Park.
