Rachel, Papa take to the track for final Haskell works

Rachel will attempt to make history yet again in the Haskell (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) queen RACHEL ALEXANDRA
(Medaglia d’Oro) had her final workout Monday morning at Saratoga as she
continues to prepare for her next start in the $1.25 million Haskell
Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Over the fast Oklahoma training track at Saratoga, Rachel Alexandra
put in a half-mile breeze of :49.26, seventh fastest of 24 works for the
distance on the morning, with exercise rider Dominic Terry aboard.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said she will remain at his Saratoga barn until
Thursday night or Friday morning when she will be shipped to Monmouth
Park. The bay lass is scheduled to school Friday afternoon
with the horses running in the 6TH race.

“We want her to stay in a nice rhythm,” Asmussen said. “We want her
on her feet. We want her to be responsive to (jockey Calvin Borel) and
in his hands so he can do what he thinks is appropriate with her come
race time.”

Rachel Alexandra has won her last seven starts, including a
dominating 19 1/4-length score in the June 27 Mother Goose S. (G1) and a
record-setting 20 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1.
After becoming the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes,
she is looking to be just the second filly to win the Haskell, following
Hall of Famer Serena’s Song, who won the 1 1/8-mile contest in 1995.

“She seems to be doing extremely well,” Asmussen added. “We want
everything to go well, and we expect it to (go well). We have a tall
task for her this week. We want to show the respect that we think it
deserves. We’re excited about the opportunity.”

Papa Clem easily handled Monmouth’s muddy track (Equi-Photo)

The Arkansas Derby (G2) winner was most recently third in Monmouth’s Long
Branch S. on July 18. His Triple Crown campaign netted him a fourth in the
Kentucky Derby (G1) and a sixth in the Preakness following his Arkansas Derby
score. The Gary Stute trainee is scheduled to have Elvis Trujillo, currently the
leading rider at Monmouth, in the irons for the Haskell.

In other Haskell news, DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) arrived on the
Monmouth Park backstretch at 8 a.m. (EDT) Monday morning after a 24-hour
van ride from Calder in Florida.

“He walked and got a bath,” trainer David Fawkes said. “That’s it.
He’ll go to the track tomorrow. He shipped great and everything is set
with him.”

Duke of Mischief, who captured the Iowa Derby by five lengths last
out, will have two-time Monmouth riding champion Eibar Coa back aboard
in the Haskell.