Rachel Alexandra has final tune up for Mother Goose

Last updated: 6/22/09 4:34 PM

Rachel Alexandra prepares to take the Big Apple by storm
(Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs)

RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro), winner of the Preakness S. (G1) and
Kentucky Oaks (G1), worked four furlongs in :49 4/5 at Churchill Downs on Monday
in preparation for her scheduled return to racing in Saturday’s $300,000 Mother
Goose S. (G1) at Belmont Park.

Exercise rider Dominic Terry was in the saddle as the filly covered the
distance over a fast track in fractional times of :13, :25 and :37 2/5. Her
half-mile work ranked as the 17th fastest of 51 at the distance and the Steve
Asmussen-trainee galloped out five furlongs in 1:03 2/5.

“The filly went beautiful this morning,” Asmussen said. “She looked very
happy. (Assistant trainer) Scott (Blasi) and Dominic have done a great job
keeping her happy.”

Rachel Alexandra will face three-year-old fillies in the 1 1/8-mile Mother
Goose, which will be her first race since her win over Kentucky Derby (G1)
winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone) and 11 other males in the Preakness at Pimlico
on May 16.

Her Preakness victory lifted Rachel Alexandra’s career record to 11-8-2-0
with earnings of $1,618,354.

The filly will ship to New York on Tuesday and will be accompanied by Blasi
on the flight. She will be bedded down at trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn in stall
number 5, the same stall occupied by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

Rachel Alexandra figures to be an overwhelming favorite in the Mother Goose,
which is expected to attract a short field.

The Mother Goose lost a potential starter Monday when trainer Kiaran
McLaughlin announced that multiple Grade 2 winner Justwhistledixie (Dixie
Union), second in the June 6 Acorn S. (G1) in her last start, would bypass the
race.

“We’re going to point her toward the (August 8) Test (S. [G1] at Saratoga)
instead,” he said. “We just decided it’s back a little quick for us.”

McLaughlin also said that DREAM PLAY (Hennessy), winner of the Dearly
Precious S. and the Comely S. (G2), was questionable for the Mother Goose.

Florida Oaks (G3) winner DON’T FORGET GIL (Kafwain), Nassau County S. (G3)
heroine FLASHING (A.P. Indy) and MALIBU PRAYER (Malibu Moon), who captured
her last two starts by a combined margin of 20 1/4 lengths, are the remaining
likely starters for the Mother Goose.