Rachel Alexandra heads field of eight in Kentucky Oaks

After recording a sensational work on Monday, Rachel Alexandra was alert and hungry on Tuesday (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

While Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (G1) is likely to coronate the nation’s best
three-year-old colt from a long list of candidates, there has been very little
dissention among most fans and experts as to who the best three-year-old filly
is heading into Friday’s $500,000
Kentucky
Oaks (G1). The talk and buzz for weeks has been all about RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia
d’Oro), and the Hal Wiggins charge will have the opportunity to meet the lofty
expectations set for her when she takes on seven rivals in the 1 1/8-mile
affair, the highlight of a blockbuster program at Churchill Downs which includes
five other stakes, four of which are graded.

Rachel Alexandra, who was made the 3-5 morning-line choice, received post 6 at Tuesday’s draw and will be ridden in the
Oaks by regular pilot Calvin Borel. Though far from perfect with three losses in
nine career starts, Rachel Alexandra has been nearly invincible since taking the
Golden Rod S. (G2) by 4 3/4 lengths over the Churchill strip in November. She
has looked just as spectacular in her three races this campaign, dominating an
overmatched field by eight lengths in the Martha Washington S., winning eased up
by 1 3/4 lengths in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), and most recently turning in an
8 3/4-length tour de force in the Fantasy S. (G2) at her winter base of Oaklawn.

Justwhistledixie is the top challenger against the mighty favorite (Ed Van Meter)

If anyone is going to upset the heavy favorite, many think it will be
JUSTWHISTLEDIXIE (Dixie Union), the 5-2 second choice in the morning line. Also
undefeated in three starts this year, Justwhistledixie was easily the best
three-year-old filly in Florida over the winter following scores in the Davona
Dale S. (G2) and Bonnie Miss S. (G2). The latter victory was over the Oaks
distance of nine furlongs, giving the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained miss an
experience edge Rachel Alexandra does not have. Justwhistledixie will break from
post 5 under Julien Leparoux.

FLYING SPUR (Giant’s Causeway), who made a belated rally to finish second to
Rachel Alexandra in the Fair Grounds Oaks, will be making her first start since
that race on Friday. The Bill Mott pupil, who has but a single maiden victory to
her credit in six starts, fared much better that day following a distant fourth
in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) in her previous start. Owner Mike Rutherford is
hoping to avenge the defeat of his filly Lakeway, who missed in the 1994 Oaks by
a head as the odds-on favorite. Garrett Gomez will be aboard Flying Spur, who
breaks from post 8 and is listed as the 8-1 third choice in the morning line.