Rachel Alexandra to Woodward; Kensei to Travers

Rachel will try to bolster her historic resume still further (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro) will attempt to make history again as she takes on older males for the first time in the Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga on September 5, trainer Steve Asmussen announced Monday. A leading contender for Horse of the Year after having twice defeated colts in the Preakness S. (G1) and Haskell Invitational (G1), Rachel Alexandra is attempting to become the first female to win the 1 1/8-mile Woodward, won last year by Jackson’s two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. “Rachel Alexandra’s workouts have been excellent,” said Jess Jackson, who co-owns the filly with Harold McCormick. “(McCormick), my family and I, like other fans of horse racing, want to see her tested. If she goes up against older male horses, we’ll be better able to get a measure of her greatness.” In light of the historic significance of the race, The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has raised the purse for the Woodward from $500,000 to $750,000.

“Raising the Woodward purse will help attract a top field to what will be a
historic race,” NYRA Vice President and Director of Racing P.J. Campo said. “In
addition, we felt that to have a filly like Rachel Alexandra seeking to become
the first ever female to win the Woodward warranted an increase in purse.”

Asmussen, accompanied by Jackson’s wife, Barbara Banke, made the announcement
after Rachel Alexandra worked six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 over a muddy main track
Monday morning at Saratoga, ending speculation she would face three-year-old
colts again in Saturday’s Travers S. (G1) on Saturday or older fillies in the
Personal Ensign S. (G1) the following day.

With regular exercise rider Dominic Terry aboard, and jockey Calvin Borel
watching from the grandstand, NYRA clockers caught Rachel Alexandra in splits of
:24 1/5, :36 1/5, :47 4/5 and :59 3/5. She was caught galloping out seven furlongs
in 1:25 2/5.

“It was awesome,” Terry said. “She’s amazing.”

Rachel Alexandra, owner of an eight-race winning streak that dates back to
November 29, 2008, was purchased by Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and Harold
McCormick following her 20 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). She
then made history by becoming the first filly since 1924 to win the Preakness,
defeating Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) by a length. In
her next start, she won the Mother Goose S. (G1) at Belmont Park by 19 1/4
lengths, then beat colts again in the Haskell, defeating Belmont S. (G1) winner
SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone) by six lengths.

“Legacy,” said Asmussen when asked about choosing the Woodward as Rachel
Alexandra’s next start. “Jess’s sportsmanship about what they can do is quite
obvious, instead of just talk … there’s just so much — no filly has won the
Woodward, for everything else that she’s done I think that it’s the showcase or
the platform that she’s worthy of.”

The best previous finish by a filly in the Woodward was in 1986, when
eventual Horse of the Year Lady’s Secret finished second behind Precisionist.

Instead of Rachel Alexandra contesting the Travers, Jackson and Asmussen will
be represented in the “Mid-Summer Derby” by Jim Dandy S. (G2) winner KENSEI (Mr.
Greeley),  who worked a half-mile in :50 on Monday.

“Given how well Kensei was doing, I thought he deserved a chance in the
Travers,” Asmussen said. “It would be a race that would mark his career and with
that decision, Rachel will be pointed towards the Woodward.”