Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick’s RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro),
Sent to the lead by regular pilot Calvin Borel, Rachel Alexandra conceded a
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Turning for home Borel, who bided his time before asking the filly for
everything she had, finally asked his mount to go. She responded by repelling a
first bid by Bullsbay, but it was a second one by Macho Again that nearly proved
to be the filly’s undoing. While she looked home free, albeit by a small margin,
just inside the sixteenth pole, the leg-weary vixen had to dig deep as Macho
Again made one last lunge under right-handed urging by Robby Albarado. But
Rachel Alexandra would not be denied, prevailing by a head with Bullsbay 1 1/2
lengths behind in third.
“She was a little aggressive early, but I was comfortable,” said
Borel of Rachel Alexandra, who unseated him in the post parade. “Five weeks
(since her last race) — she was real fresh. I was comfortable, the last 40
yards I was a little worried, but she just kept digging in. She’s unbelievable.
“She would never let (Macho Again) go by her. Every time he went up to her,
she would dig in again. She is such a tremendous filly. He ran up to her three
times, and she kept giving me a little bit more.”
“I never thought I had her,” Albarado admitted. “She’s a champion. Champions
Running a final furlong in :12 4/5, Rachel Alexandra completed the fast-track
“I can’t say enough about the race she put in today under the circumstances,”
“That’s my Rachel,” majority owner Jess Jackson beamed. “(Her next start)
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Rachel Alexandra, who long ago solidified her claim as the year’s champion
three-year-old filly, joined a select group of former divisional winners to have
beaten older males in their championship campaigns. The others were Surfside,
who captured the 2000 Clark H. (G2); Misty Morn, who won the 1955 Gallant Fox
H.; Busher, heroine of the Arlington H. and Washington Park H. in 1945; Twilight
Tear, the 1944 Pimlico Special winner; and Stefanita, who triumphed in the 1943
Bryan & O’Hara Memorial H. over Hall of Famer Alsab. Busher and Twilight Tear
were also named Horse of the Year, the only three-year-old fillies so honored.
Rachel Alexandra has now won 11 races, nine of those in succession, and
pushed her earnings to $2,948,354 to go along with her 14-11-2-0 career line.
Her only off-the-board run came in her career debut at Churchill Downs in 2008,
but she immediately followed that up with a 1 1/4-length maiden special weight
score under the Twin Spires. Second in the Debutante S. (G3) in her black-type
bow, the bay lass next up tried Keeneland’s Polytrack and recorded a
three-length allowance victory. She returned to Churchill to finish out her
juvenile campaign, recording a second in the Pocahontas S. (G3) and beginning
her current win streak with a 4 3/4-length score in the Golden Rod S. (G2).
That latter race appeared to be a turning point for the filly. She made her
Following her win in the Oaks, Rachel Alexandra was purchased by Jess
Future plans for the filly also changed, as her previous connections had
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Last time, Rachel Alexandra blitzed three-year-old males again in the Haskell
Invitational (G1), romping in the slop by six lengths over Summer Bird (Birdstone),
the Belmont S. (G1) winner who returned last week to win the Travers S. (G1).
The Kentucky-bred Rachel Alexandra is the first foal out of the
stakes-winning and Grade 2-placed Lotta Kim (Roar), who has also produced an
unraced juvenile colt by Empire Maker named Empire Ruler. Lotta Kim is a
half-sister to 2001 Pocahontas S. winner Lotta Rhythm (Rhythm), who was third in
that same year’s Golden Rod, as well as last year’s Tejano Run S. victor High
Blues (High Yield). Also included in the female family is 1991 Miss Preakness S.
heroine Missy’s Music (Travelling Music) and Grade 3 winner Devil Diamond
(Devil’s Bag).