Rachel fires five-furlong bullet; next target to be determined

Last updated: 8/17/09 7:35 PM

Rachel fires five-furlong bullet; next target to be
determined

Even the fog can’t obscure a dazzling Rachel
(Beth Arkin/NYRA Photo)

Preakness S. (G1) and Haskell Invitational (G1) heroine RACHEL
ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro) worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.37 on a
foggy Monday morning on the fast Oklahoma training track, after which trainer
Steve Asmussen said discussions would begin “in earnest” on where the
star filly would make her next start.

Owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick,
Rachel Alexandra is nominated to four Grade 1 races at Saratoga, two
against females and two against males: the $600,000 Alabama for
three-year-old fillies on Saturday, the $1 million Travers against
three-year-old males on August 29, the $400,000 Personal Ensign against
fillies and mares on August 30, and the $500,000 Woodward against older
males on September 5.

Asmussen will also nominate the filly, who is seven-for-seven this
year, to the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2) at Philadelphia Park on
September 7.

“There are no races eliminated,” Asmussen said. “I will text
(message) Jess as to how the work went, he’ll call me, and we’ll discuss
what we’re going to do. We’ll digest where we’re at and try to do the
best thing for Rachel.”

With exercise rider Dominic Terry aboard, Rachel Alexandra went to the track
shortly before 6 a.m. (EDT) for the work, the fastest of 18 at the distance.
Watching through the mist, along with dozens of fans and members of the media,
was her regular jockey, Calvin Borel, who stood with Asmussen along the rail.

“She looked beautiful coming down the lane,” Asmussen said. “I saw her
approaching the eighth-pole and past the wire down to the turn. And the words
(that) came out of Dominic’s mouth: ‘Never better.'”

If she does not run in Saturday’s 1 1/4-mile Alabama, Asmussen said that
Rachel Alexandra would work again next week, also on the training track.

“There are no plans to work her on the main track,” the trainer said. “She
won at Monmouth Park (in the Haskell) training here and for the Mother Goose (at
Belmont Park) training here.”

Kensei, Rachel’s stablemate, is also in the Travers mix
(Bill Roberts/Horsephotos.com)

Working at 5:30 Monday morning was Jackson’s Jim Dandy S. (G2) winner KENSEI
(Mr. Greeley), who is also under consideration for the 1 1/4-mile Travers. With
Terry aboard, the bay colt went five furlongs on the Oklahoma training track in
1:01.85.

“Kensei worked very well,” Terry said. “I didn’t think a horse could work
better than the first set, then she (Rachel Alexandra) went out. I don’t have to
ask her for anything; just hold on and let her do her thing. I couldn’t ask for
anything more.”

After watching Rachel Alexandra, Borel crossed Union Avenue and climbed
aboard Jim Dandy runner-up WARRIOR’S REWARD (Medaglia d’Oro), breezing him five
furlongs in a bullet 1:00.26 over the main track. The move was the fastest of a
dozen at the distance.

“He’s on schedule; he was ready to work,” trainer Ian Wilkes said. “I wanted
a nice, focused, solid work from him. I was pleased with it. Calvin was pleased
with the way the horse worked and galloped out strongly.

“I want to keep him moving forward off his last race with this work,” Wilkes
said. “Now, we just have to do some maintenance work, make sure he’s OK and
comes out of it fine. You always have to worry about that. Any time you have to
work them, you always want to make sure they’re OK.”

Warrior’s Reward has finished behind Kensei in his past two starts. Prior to
the Jim Dandy, he stumbled at the start and wound up third in the Dwyer S. (G2)
as the 4-5 favorite.