Rachel, Pioneer, Terrain depart Churchill

Rachel Alexandra sets out on her journey to Pimlico (Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs)

The exodus of Churchill Downs-based contenders for Saturday’s 134th
running of the $1 million Preakness S. (G1) was completed on Wednesday
when major contenders RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro) and PIONEEROF
THE NILE (Empire Maker) stepped onto separate vans around 12:30 p.m.
(EDT) for the short trip to Louisville International Airport for their
flight to Baltimore.

Those major players figure to be the top two betting choices in
Saturday’s second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown.

Kentucky Oaks (G1) queen Rachel Alexandra spent some time standing in
the starting gate and galloped in what was a quiet morning at the
Louisville, Kentucky, venue before being shipped to Baltimore. The bay
lass, who will be running for the first time for new owners Stonestreet
Stables and Harold T. McCormick, was led from the barn of new trainer
Steve Asmussen to her waiting van by assistant trainer Scott Blasi. The
filly was doing fine before boarding a charter flight to Maryland for
the 134th Preakness, according to Blasi.

Rachel Alexandra will be the 53rd filly to run in the middle jewel of
the Triple Crown, the fifth in the last 70 years and the first since
Excellent Meeting in 1999. Four fillies have won the Preakness:
Flocarline in 1903; Whimsical, 1906; Rhine Maiden, 1915; and Nellie
Morse, 1924.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Ahmed Zayat’s homebred Pioneerof the Nile
stood in the starting gate and Churchill Downs and galloped Wednesday
morning before boarding a charter flight to Maryland. Assistant Jim
Barnes accompanied the colt, runner-up to MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) in
the Kentucky Derby (G1) and winner of the Santa Anita Derby (G1), to his
van. Two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Garrett Gomez retains the
mount aboard Pioneerof the Nile in the Preakness.