Guess who's coming to town? "The Race" gets a WHOLE LOT juicier!

It doesn't get much more tantalizing than this.

The great Bambera, a 4-year-old super filly from Venezuela, just got nominated to the Apple Blossom! Some of you may have heard of the talents of this South American race horse, but now we are all going to see it ourselves if she makes it to Oaklawn! Bambera was a champion in her country 2 years in a row, and was Venezuela's 2009 Horse of the Year. She has won 16 of 18 starts (14 of them Grade 1), more races than Zenyatta and Rachel. She is the leading money winner of all time for Venezuelan horses.

This is scary and exciting at the same time! If any horse could take down Rachel and Zenyatta, it would be Bambera. She has such a zealous following, she is known as "Her Royal Highness" to her fans. She almost became the first and only horse in the world to win two Triple Crowns. You see, in Venezuela there’s a female Triple Crown and one for the males, and she won 5 of the 6 races. The one in which she came in second, she lost to a horse that she has now defeated 3 different times, and losing to him only because she had been raced too many times with very little rest and because of jockey error. She demolished the field in her country's version of the classic:

Video: (#9, Bambera's jockey is in the turquoise jacket) Bambera wins the Gran Premio Simón Bolívar 2009

She then went after the best horse in Mexico "Vivian Record." Vivian Record had won the Mexican version of the Triple Tiara by a combined margin of 79 lengths and annihilated her country's colts by 9 lengths in the qualifying race for the Carribean version of the classic, an international race called the "Clasico del Caribe". This race became a Latin American version of Rachel Vs Zenyatta. In a hard fought battle for the lead (reminiscent of Secretariat and Sham), Bambera eventually won it clearly over Vivian Record.

Video: (Her jockey in the turquoise jacket) Bambera wins the Clasico del Caribe 2009 . 

Bambera has a lot in common with Rachel Alexandra. Bambera's grandsire is the same as Rachel Alexandra's great grandsire: Sadler's Wells. Bambera also has the same running style as Rachel Alexandra, a front runner. This may set up Zenyatta perfectly for the kill. However, it could be that Rachel will take stalking position and take off like she did in the Kentucky Oaks or Mother Goose. We will see ...

Calvin Borel wins the George Woolf Award

Regular jockey for Rachel Alexandra has just won the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award for 2010. The trophy is a 1 foot high bronze sculpture of George Woolf.

Borel enjoyed a banner season in 2009. He was on Rachel Alexandra for all 8 of her victories last year, starting with the Martha Washington, Fair Grounds Oaks, Fantasy, Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Mother Goose, Haskell, and Woodward. He also famously rode the 50-1 longshot Mine That Bird from last place weaving through horses and riding on the rail to save ground to win the Kentucky Derby decisively by 6-3/4 lengths. That was the second biggest upset in the history of the Kentucky Derby.

Santa Anita Park (in Arcadia, California) sponsors the Woolf Award which is given annually to a single jockey whose career and personal character reflects high standards on and off the track. The award is named after Hall of Fame jockey George Woolf, nicknamed "The Iceman" for his calm demeanor before and during a race. He was legendary as a one of the all-time great riders early last century before he was killed in a spill at Santa Anita in 1946. George Woolf began racing thoroughbred horses professionally since 1928 and was most famously one of the jockeys for Seabiscuit, . Since 1950, the award is presented annually, and since 1985 jockey members of the Jockeys' Guild have voted for their peers since. Other finalists this year were Garrett Gomez, Randall Meier, Gallyn Mitchell and DeShawn Parker.

George Woolf

Reserved Seating has SOLD OUT at the Apple Blossom

Sorry folks.

As of February 12, 2010, reserved seating has been sold out for the Apple Blossom. The cheapest currently found on eBay is $1,100 starting bid for 2 tickets!

However, if you are still dying to see the race in person, Oaklawn offers general admission for $2 with seating available on the track’s apron and infield on a first-come, first-served basis. Since the track will open no later than 10:00am (more probably 9:00am or even earlier), it would be best to get there as early as possible and wait in line with all the other Rachel Maniacs and Zenyatta fans. Oaklawn will not set post times for the Apple Blossom card until finalizing television coverage for the feature race itself, but he expects the first-race post time to be around 1 p.m.

Reserved seating is only one of many concerns for fans still looking to see the Apple Blossom live. There is now a scarcity of rooms in Hot Springs where the race is being held, as well as diminishing availabilities in the outlying areas. Hot Springs has 4,000 rooms for lodgers, and the area around it has about 10,000 rooms. Because of the Apple Blossom being the first race where Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will meet, Oaklawn is expecting to break their record attendance of 72,464. Unless everyone is bunking together, finding rooming could prove hairy.

Rachel's exercise rider in an accident but not seriously injured

On Monday morning February 15, 2010, Dominic Terry, the regular exercise rider for Rachel Alexandra and other horses in Steve Asmussen's barn, was thrown from the filly "Wild Forest Cat" after completing a morning workout. He was taken to University Hospital where Terry complained to emergency medical technicians of wrist and neck pain. X-rays were then taken and revealed no broken bones.

Why Zenyatta might be the biggest challenge ever for Rachel

I am a Rachel fan, hands down. But Zenyatta is not to be taken lightly. Here are some reasons why:

1) Zenyatta beat some top horses in the Breeders Cup 2009: Rip Van Winkle, Gio Ponti, Einstein, Summer Bird, Mine That Bird, Colonel John. Granted, this can be explained away because of the unpredictability of the artificial surface. But, what if it would have happened anyway, regardless of the surface? Hm.

2) Zenyatta's wins against mares has mostly been in handicap where she was carrying ridiculously high weights, sometimes spotting her rivals up to 18 pounds. How fast can she be without all that weight on her?

3) Zenyatta has been training and working out almost every week since her Breeders Cup win. She is in top shape. Rachel has not been working out. She raced in September 2009, rested in October, rested in November, was scheduled to start training in December but oh the rain! The rain in New Orleans where she is staying was record breaking in December and higher than normal in January, and that has prevented her from having scheduled workouts. She has had only 3 workouts since her last race: twice at only 4 furlongs and once at 5 furlongs.

On the other hand: Rachel Alexandra has won by 20+ lengths against other fillies. She has won by a total margin of 64-1/2 and a head in her last 8 races. She is so terrifying that her competition in her last distaff race was only 2 horses. Let's hope that Louisiana has some unusually dry weather in February and March so she can be decently prepared for April!

Rachel's first start will be the "New Orleans Ladies"

Jess Jackson announced that Rachel will make her 4-year-old debut in the March 13, 2010, 1-1/16 mile $200,000 (not graded) New Orleans Ladies, at Fair Grounds Race Track in New Orleans, Louisiana. This is a new race created by officials at Fair Grounds in hopes that Rachel Alexandra would make her first start of the season there. This would be considered a prep race for her April 9, 2010 showdown with Zenyatta.

"We're obviously thrilled by the news that Rachel Alexandra, already a legend based on her accomplishments last year, intends to make her 2010 debut at Fair Grounds," track vice president Eric Halstrom said. "We are already working to make sure March 13 will be a special day befitting of racing royalty."

"There are other tracks that have offered to have us go, but right now we would prefer to stay here," Jackson said.

Hopefully, the New Orleans Ladies will not be wet like it was last year when Rachel won the Fair Grounds Oaks. Interestingly, the two races will be almost exactly (shy just one day) a year apart.

Rachel won the Fair Grounds Oaks last March 2009, in the slop.

Rachel Alexandra's regimen is stepped up despite the rain

In the past, the rain has hindered Rachel Alexandra from having workouts.

No more.

In view of the upcoming meet with Zenyatta, Rachel has no time to lose. Rachel worked 5 furlongs in 1:03.80 this morning, being one of only two horses that dared to work timed workouts in just-rained on track. Rachel's trainer Steve Asmussen was careful to see how the other horses fared on the sloppy track (and it seemed they took it well) before he gave the go-ahead for Rachel to run on it. The wet conditions were not optimal for training, but the calculated risk was decided upon because of the limited time left before the Apple Blossom. The region has been pelted with an unusually wet winter and has resulted in multiple delays in Rachel Alexandra's training schedule.

"It's not anyone's fault, but with the rain and track conditions it's been a serious setback to Rachel's routine," Jackson said. "She's behind schedule and that means we're compressed to try to get everything done and keep her on schedule leading up to works and preparing for a major competition at Oaklawn."

This is only the third workout since her last race in September 2009, and the first at 5 furlongs. Asmussen has also stepped up the workouts by increasing frequency from once a week to once every 6 days. Her last workout was last Saturday, today is Friday, and her next workout is scheduled to be next Thursday.

“Today just keeps us on rhythm,’’ the assistant trainer Scott Blasi said, “It keeps us on track, without having to overdo it. With the track and the weather being what it is, we were a little cautious today. Next week, we’ll start picking it up. She’ll be more aggressive next week. I think next week will be more of a tell of where she is physically.’’

Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta Race is ON

For a moment, Rachel is pulled out of the race

Jess Jackson announced Wednesday February 10, 2010 that Rachel Alexandra would not be ready to race in the Apple Blossom on April 3, 2010. He deferred to her trainer Steve Asmussen who felt it too close in time to the the earliest prep race she could enter, and that is only if the weather cooperates. Rachel has only just started workouts recently and would not be at her best in such an important race. Jackson then proposed to the officials at Oaklawn to move the Apple Blossom a week later, but they were unable to do so because April 10, 2010 is already one of the track's most important days when it hosts the Arkansas Derby, a prep race for the Kentucky Derby.

Asmussen said. "Getting to this level of fitness after a six-month layoff takes time. If all goes according to schedule, and we do not have any further weather delays, the earliest we could have a prep race would be the middle of March. It is then not fair to Rachel to ask her to race again three weeks later."

Jess Jackson then began talking to connections at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association about the possibility of a three race series in which Rachel and Zenyatta would face off. Alex Waldrop of the NTRA said he will support any race that will feature two of horse racing's biggest stars.

Jerry Moss, owner of Zenyatta showed surprise about this announcement, telling the Associated Press, "I have no idea what he's even talking about. Which three races? And where? And when? ... we haven't even been consulted about it. So, I don't know what I'm supposed to say."


After concessions were made, the race is back on

On February 11, 2010, just a day after Jess Jackson's announcement, Charles J Cella, President of Oaklawn Race Track, conceded to move back the date of the Apple Blossom from April 3, 2010 to Friday April 9, 2010 so that Rachel Alexandra's connections would reconsider running in that race.

"I've never had so much trouble giving $5 million away," Cella said. "We've got a solid commitment, assuming, of course, their health continues."

“The most important day in Arkansas sports history has now become the most important two days in Arkansas sports history. This is truly a race for the ages. I understand the concerns of all competitors in needing a prep race and properly preparing for a race of this magnitude, especially in light of the weather we’ve been experiencing recently around the country. Both parties want this to happen when their champions are at their absolute peak. This date makes that possible.”

“We're really excited about it. I'm not sure we will believe this is happening until after it's over.”


Video: Associated Press talks about the match
Video: HRTV Talks about the match

Vying for a Rachel Alexandra Vs Zenyatta Showdown

Oaklawn Park

Charles Cella showing five fingers representing the $5 million

On February 4, 2010, the President of Oaklawn Park Charles Cella announced that it will increase the April 3, 2010 Apple Blossom's purse from $500,000 to $5 million should both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta run, with $2.5 million going to the winner. This would make this race the richest race ever for a distaff race. Should either of them not run, it will revert back to the original $500,000. The distance has been changed from 1-1/16 mile to 1-1/8 mile, and instead of it being a handicap, all horses will carry 123 lbs in weight. The name of the race will be changed from the "Apple Blossom Handicap" to the "Apple Blossom Invitational".

If both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta participate, the field would be limited to 10. The purse would be split in a way that would attract quality participants. The winner would receive 50 percent ($2.5 million) of the purse. The other splits would be: second, 20 percent ($1 million); third, 10 percent ($500,000); fourth, 6 percent ($300,000); fifth, 4 percent ($200,000); with all remaining starters receiving 2 percent ($100,000) each.  Cella predicted a significant field, not a small group of two or three challengers.


“We've made it very attractive,” he said. “The last-place finisher gets $100,000. That's not chicken feed.

“We've done an expansion at Oaklawn, so the track did not have money for this race,” Cella explains, but he has put up about $4.5 million personal dollars of his own money to make this race happen. He hope to get some of it back from TV and other sponsors.


Mattress Mack

On August 11, 2009, Houston, TX area furniture store owner Jim McIngvale (aka "Mattress Mack") of "Gallery Furniture" offered $2 million if Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta would run a match race in Sam Houston Race Park (SHRP). The winner would receive $1.2 and the other would get $800,000. He proposed October 3, 2009 for the race. Both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta's connections rejected this idea of a match race. Jim McIngvale was not deterred, he continually offered to sponsor a race in which Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta would compete. The Gallery Furniture sponsored race originally scheduled for December 5, 2009, then because of lack of interest from the horses' connections was moved to January 30, 2010, and then was moved to March 27, 2010 in continual hopes of luring Rachel and Zenyatta to compete there. If they were to do so, Jim McIngvale would offer $2 million purse. Because of continual hesitation on the side of the owners, they told Rachel and Zenyatta's connections that this date was also negotiable.

Breeders' Cup

In September 2009, Breeders' Cup officials, in an unprecedented move, offered to increase the $5 million purse for the Breeders Cup Classic to $6 million if both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta ran in the (Grade 1)race scheduled for November 7, 2009 at the Santa Anita Race Track. However, Jess Jackson has long before insisted that Rachel Alexandra would not run on synthetics and would not be running in that year's Breeders Cup.

Because of the synthetic surface, many other horses also declined entry to the Breeders Cup that year including (the European sensation) Sea the Stars, Macho Again, Jackson Bend, Indian Blessing, Fabulous Strike, and Hot Dixie Chick.

Hall of Fame trainer Wayne Lukas, who tops the Breeders' Cup in winners and purses won, said, "Artificial surfaces are just too unpredictable. You'll see some real reversals of form." Said Lukas, who will pass on the event for only the second time in its history, "It's not a good race track. It makes good horses average and average horses good."

TVG and BetFair

In August of 2009, TVG and parent company BetFair offered to increase the purse of the 1-1/8 mile (Grade 1) Beldame from $400,000 to $1 million if both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta would run at Belmont on October 3, 2009. Zenyatta was nominated to the race, but Rachel Alexandra was already set to race at the Woodward in September. After the exhausting win in the Woodward, Rachel's connections decided she deserved a long rest.

Eclipse Award for 2009 Horse of the Year

The January 18, 2010 announcement for the 2009 Eclipse Horse of the Year was said to be the most highly anticipated Horse of the Year announcement ever. Rachel Alexandra won with 130 votes beating out Zenyatta who had 99 votes. In one of the most controversial Eclipse Horse of the Year votings, two voters abstained from voting, and one ballot was voided because the voter tried to split his vote. All three voting blocs had Rachel Alexandra in their majority: The National Turf Writers Association (71 votes to 51), the Daily Racing Form (31 votes to 23), and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (28 votes to 25). Rachel Alexandra was the only 3 year old filly ever to receive the Eclipse Horse of the Year Award since the Eclipse Awards began in 1971. She was one of only five, 3-year old fillies (Busher, Twilight Tear, Regret, Beldame) to ever win an American Horse of the Year title.

“Zenyatta’s never lost, she’s perfect,” her owner Jerry Moss later said. “Nobody’s beaten her on the racetrack, so they beat her by proxy as far as I’m concerned.... Someday we’ll meet, and we’ll decide at that time who’s the best."



Rachel Alexandra also won the 2009 Eclipse Award for Champion Three-Year-Old Filly which she won unanimously with all 232 votes.

Video: Eclipse Award - Horse of the Year Announcement
Video: Rachel Alexandra's 2009 Winning Margins = 64 1/2 lengths
Video: Rachel Alexandra is 2009 Horse of the Year

Rachel Alexandra's Achievements for 2009

In 2009 Rachel Alexandra ...


1) Broke 2 stakes records for time (Martha Washington and Mother Goose)
2) Broke 2 stakes records for winning margin (Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose)
3) Came within 1 second of breaking 2 Track Records (Mother Goose and Haskell)
4) Came within 1 second of breaking 2 stakes records (Kentucky Oaks and Haskell)
5) Had the Highest Beyer Speed Figure of any horse in North America (116 at Haskell)
6) Raced and won in 8 races, on 7 different tracks, in 6 different states
7) Raced and won against males 3 times.
8) Was the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness
9) Was the only horse ever to win from the 13th post in the Preakness
10) Was one of only 2 fillies ever to win the Haskell
11) Was the only filly ever to win the Woodward
12) Was the only filly to win a Grade 1 route race on dirt in NY since 1887
13) Won her races in 2009 by a total combined winning margin of 64 1/2 and a head.
14) Was the only 3-year-old filly ever to win the Eclipse Horse of the Year since it began in 1971


Video Rachel Alexandra's achievements for 2009

The Graded Stakes Winning Horses Rachel beat in 2009

The horse that Rachel beat in 2009 were many, and were top horses of their day. Many either were already established stakes winners or won major stakes after racing with Rachel Alexandra.

In 2009 Rachel beat the following GRADED STAKES winners:
(H = Handicap, D = Derby, S = Stakes)

Bullsbay: winner of Whitney H, Alysheba H
Macho Again: winner of Stephen Foster H, New Orleans H, Jim Dandy S
Da'Tara: winner of Belmont S 2008
Asiatic Boy: the 2007 United Arab Emirates Triple Crown winner
It's a Bird: winner of Oaklawn H, Lone Star H,
Summer Bird: winner of the Belmont S 2009, the Travers S, the Jockey Club Gold Cup S.
Duke of Mischeif: winner of Iowa Derby
Mine That Bird: winner of the Kentucky D
Munnings: winner of Tom Fool, Woody Stephens
Musket Man: winner of Illinois D, Tampa Bay D, Super S
Pioneer of the Nile: winner of CashCall Futurity, Robert B Lewis, San Felipe, Santa Anita D
Papa Clem: winner of the Arkansas D, San Fernando S,
Friesan Fire: winner of Lecomte, Risen Star, Louisiana D,
Big Drama: winner of Delta Jackpot,
Take the Points: winner of the Secretariat S, Jamaica S
General Quarters: winner of Sam F Davis, Blue Grass,
Flashing: winner of Test S, Gazelle H,
Malibu Prayer: winner of Cat Chat S, Chilukki S,
Gabbys Golden Gal: winner of Acorn S, Sunland Park Oaks, Santa Monica H
Be Fair: winner of Lake George,
Four Gifts: winner of Delta Princess, Eight Belles,
Peach Brew: winner of Arlington Oaks,
Sara Louise: winner of Pocahontas, Top Flight H, Victory Ride S,
War Echo: winner of Silverbulletday S, Daily Racing Form Distaff S,
Just Jenda: winner of Honey Bee, Monmouth Oaks,

Woodward Stakes 2009

Casting Away Nervous Doubts
There could have been many doubts about Rachel Alexandra being able to pull off a win at the Woodward, from before the race and all the way throughout the race. First of all, she had been laying down in her stall for unusually large periods of time for the weeks preceding the race. Jess Jackson reports that his filly "seemed like a very tired horse" after an exhausting 11 races in the preceding 12 months. Then, on the day of the race, whether she was not feeling well or was spooked by the crowd, shocked everyone by bucking off jockey Calvin Borel just 6 minutes before post time. At the beginning of the race, she ran a blistering 22.85 seconds in the opening quarter, worrying her trainer that she would burn out and tire too quickly. In the final 16th, the situation was tense as the late charging Macho Again seemed to have the momentum necessary to overtake her. And of course there is always the Saratoga Race Course jinx of being the "Graveyard of Favorites" (Man O' War suffered his only defeat in 21 starts, Secretariat lost to Onion, Gallant Fox was beaten by a 100-1 longshot)

The Race
On September 5, 2009, as the 3-10 favorite, Rachel Alexandra won the (Gr 1) $750,000 (bumped up from $500,000) 1-1/8 mile Woodward Stakes, under sunny skies and temperatures in the 70's, at Saratoga Race Course, in Saratoga, New York  in front of a crowd of 31,171. Carrying 118 pounds compared to the 126 for the seven males, Rachel set a blistering pace in the first quarter, clocking in at 22.85 seconds. The competition took turns chasing her: first it was Da'Tara (the 2008 Belmont winner), then it was Past the Point, then it was Bullsbay (winner Whitney H and Alysheba H), and finally Macho Again (winner of Stephen Foster H, New Orleans H, Jim Dandy S). The late charging Macho again threatened Rachel in the final furlong, and jockey Calvin Borel had to crack her with the whip more than 20 times at the stretch. Her finishing time was 1:48.29, winning by a head over Macho Again, beating accomplished 4-, 5-, and 6-year old males, and making her the only filly that ever won that 56 year old race.

In the end, the finish behind her was almost an exact inverse of the way the horses were at the half-mile.... showing how hot the pace was and how destructive it was to the other horses that raced near the lead. Here are their placings at the half mile:
1st Rachel Alexandra
8th Macho Again
6th Bullsbay
7th Asiatic Boy
5th It's a Bird
3rd Past the Point
4th Cool Coal Man
2nd Da' Tara

"It might have taken a couple of years off my life," said trainer Steve Asmussen, "but it was worth it."

Immediately after Rachel Alexandra's win, veteran race caller Tom Durkin proclaimed, "She is INDEED Rachel Alexandra THE GREAT!!!  ...  Rachel Alexandra RAISES THE RAFTERS here at the Spa!". Then, Durkin was obligated to recite the scratches and changes for the routine events that followed.
Sensing the emotionally exhausted spirit of the crowd he then said, "If your heart can take it," he informed the crowd, "we've got two more races."

Video Rachel unseats jockey before post time
Video 2009 Woodward
Video Pedal to the Mettle
Video Rachel Wins the Woodward - (music)


Better than Ruffian?

Hall of fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas proclaimed,“I have to give the nod to Rachel Alexandra over Ruffian. Of the two, she’s the one who stepped up and won the type of races that matter most in this sport, classic races and races against the best males around. Ruffian was a brilliant, brilliant filly, but that’s something she never did.”

Dave Johnson, the veteran announcer who called 10 of Ruffian’s 11 races, concurs saying, “Ruffian and Rachel Alexandra are the two best fillies I have ever seen in person or on film or video,” Johnson said. “They are clearly the two best and whoever is No. 3 doesn’t even come close. The Haskell is what tipped me in favor of Rachel Alexandra over Ruffian. I know how great Ruffian was, but Rachel Alexandra’s win in the Haskell was that impressive.”

Or Not

Andrew Beyer the famous handicapper has been making speed ratings since the 1970s. His "Beyer Speed Figures" take into account different factors: final time, distance, and track condition. Beyer’s speed ratings are considered one of the best methods for evaluating horses from different eras, and he believes Ruffian was faster than Rachel Alexandra.

“The numbers I did then used a different scale from the numbers I do now, but Ruffian ran a race as a 2-year-old that put her in a separate class from anybody else,” Beyer said. “I believe you could say that as a 2-year-old she ran a number that is equal to a 120 or greater on our current scale. As a 3-year-old, she was winning so easily and cruising around the racetrack, so some of those numbers aren’t as impressive. In terms of just raw ability, I still regard Ruffian as in a class by herself, in a class we will never see again.”

Haskell Invitational 2009

Rachel wins the Haskell by 6 lengths on a sloppy track

The forecast for rain kept the crowd, which had been expected to approach the track record of 53,638 down to 37,090. It was the first Haskell since 1999 in which the crowd was not over 40,000. Then, sure enough, just before the 4th race, heavy rain turned the Monmouth main track into a sea of slop and the turf track unusable. There were two spills in two consecutive races that resulted in injuries to jockeys, but at no time did the connections of Rachel Alexandra consider scratching her from the race.

The boy in the paddock held a sign saying: "Yeah, I run like a girl. Try to keep up."

On August 2, 2009, in front of a wet crowd of 37,090 as the 1-2 favorite in a seven horse field, Rachel Alexandra ran the 1-1/8 mile (bumped up from $1 mil purse of) $1.25 million (Grade 1) Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, Oceanport, New Jersey. Toting 117-lbs, Rachel Alexandra broke a step slow and then took up a stalking position outside of Munnings and even with Summer bird. Around the far turn, Rachel Alexandra accelerated past these two colts by the quarter pole and was 4 lengths in the lead by the top of the stretch then as her lead turned into 6 lengths, Borel eased her in the final 16th. She won by 6 lengths in a time of 1:47.21 on a listed sloppy track which was just 0.21 seconds off the stakes record and 0.41 seconds off the track record. This impressive speed on a very sloppy track gave her a phenomenal Beyer Speed Figure rating of 116. This is the highest Beyer Speed Figure of any horse in North America in 2009. In the 42 runnings of the Haskell fillies have won just twice: Serena's Song in 1995 and now Rachel Alexandra.

The final results:
1- Rachel Alexandra
2- Summer Bird
3- Munnings
4- Papa Clem
5- Duke of Mischief
6- Atomic Rain
7- Bunker Hill

When asked if it was as easy as it looked, Borel replied, "Yes it was. She is unbelievable"

After the race, Borel handed over a half-dozen pairs of goggles he had just worn for Jackson’s charity to auction off in its effort to fight breast cancer. According to one report, not a single one had a speck of dirt or splatter of mud.

The high speed on the wet track earned her Beyer Speed of 116

Video: Haskell Invitational 2009

Video: Clobbering the Colts

Mother Goose Stakes 2009

Rachel winning the Mother Goose by 19-1/4 lengths

On June 27, 2009, in front of a crowd of 13,352 and as the 1-9 favorite in a three horse field, Rachel Alexandra won the 1-1/8 mile $300,000 (Grade 1) 53rd year of the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park, in Elmont, New York. With Calvin Borel as jockey and facing only two other rivals, she broke clearly from the 3rd post and ran 4 lengths off the pace, a place where she doesn't usually run, and then split horses on the turn for home to take the lead. 

"When I asked her to run," Borel said, "I knew it was over."

Borel was just a passenger as he glanced back at the rapidly diminishing horses behind him. She won the race by 19 1/4 lengths with a time of 1:46:33 on a track listed as fast. Rachel Alexandra broke two stakes records: the record for winning margin and the record for finishing time. The prior record for winning margin was 13-1/2 lengths set by Ruffian in 1975, 34 years ago. She also came within 1 second of almost breaking Secretariat's (you heard me -- SECRETARIAT) track record of 1:45 2/5 set in 1973. This is her fastest 1-1/8 mile race she has run so far. She earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 111, three points higher than the figures she earned winning the Kentucky Oaks and Preakness.
Video: Mother Goose Stakes 2009
Video: Wins with Eeeeeeease!

"Believe me, she's not normal. I'm telling you, she's unbelievable," jockey Calvin Borel said of Rachel Alexandra. "She is, I don't know, like a Secretariat or a Seattle Slew."

Rachel Alexandra's victory created a rare minus win pool. Of the $726,260 wagered, $598,576 was bet on Rachel Alexandra, who returned $2.10, resulting in a $18,698 minus pool that has to be paid by the tracks and anyplace else that took wagers on the race.

Jess Jackson pledged to give a percentage of the filly’s future winnings to the breast cancer non-profit organisation Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Race for the Cure foundation, and made the first contribution of $10,000. And Rachel Alexandra will continue to contribute to the foundation as her career unfolds. Women were admitted free, and pink rubber Rachel Alexandra bracelets were given out to the first 10,000 through the turnstiles in support of the decision.

The Preakness 2009

The Jockey

Calvin Borel started to cry when he found out Rachel Alexandra had been sold. Usually, when a horse is sold, he is transfered to his new trainer and his new trainer has specific jockeys in mind to ride them. In this case, the trainer was Steve Asmussen, so the logical future jockey would be Curlin's jockey Robby Albarado. Calvin Borel couldn't bear the thought of losing the mount of the best horse he'd ever ridden. He had just receieved the check (an enormous amount) for his cut in winning the Kentucky Derby, so it seemed a strange picture to hold that amount of money in his hand and be crying like a baby. But to Calvin, the opportunity to keep riding Rachel was more important than any sum of money in the world.

However, Borel was relieved of his misery soon enough. Jess Jackson chose to keep Calvin Borel as Rachel's jockey explaining, "It came down to the fact that he knows and loves this horse, that he knows how to get the most from her and he knows how to win. They were an amazing team at the Kentucky Oaks. We think this is a perfect match of rider and horse.'' Since being paired with Borel last fall, Rachel Alexandra has won five consecutive races by a combined margin of 43-1/2 lengths, broken 2 stakes records for time, one stakes record for largest winning margin.

How good is Rachel Alexandra? Enough for Calvin Borel to do something unprecedented in the 134 years of the Preakness by opting to ride her instead of the Kentucky Derby winner, Mine that Bird.

The Sinister Plot

With Rachel Alexandra wanting to enter the Preakness, the connections of Mine That Bird would lose on two accounts: first their jockey, and second, potentially the triple crown because of how good Rachel was. Mark Allen, the owner of Mine that Bird spoke with a few other Preakness horse owners about the possibility of entering additional horses in the race in an attempt to thwart Rachel Alexandra from being able to run in the race. He wanted to consult his father. But his father Bill Allen was in prison for his involvement in bribing Alaska Republican Senator Ted Stevens, and also there in part because of a plea bargain he made to secure immunity from prosecution for his son Mark Allen (who delivered bribes for him). The result of this consultation?
“His advice to me was just to do what‘s right because arrogance and greed isn‘t right," said the younger Allen. So he listened to his father and did not proceed with trying to block Rachel from entering.
Article: Mark Allen's Plot

Rachel Alexandra was entered and immediately became the Preakness favorite.

Video: Commercial - Rachel Alexandra Vs Mine That Bird
Video: Pre-Preakness news - 1
Video: Pre-Preakness news - 2
Video: Pre-Preakness news - 3

The Race

On May 16, 2009, as the 2-1 favorite, Rachel Alexandra won the 134th running of the $1.1 million 1-3/16 mile (Grade 1) Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Taking on a field of 12 colts, Rachel was carrying 121 lbs as opposed to the 126 lbs carried by the colts. On a warm (80 degrees) and humid day, on a dry and powdery track, Rachel Alexandra broke from the farthest outside 13th gate and quickly raced into the lead shortly after the first turn. She maintatined the lead thereafter and warded off a late closing Mine That Bird to win the Preakness by 1 length. She became the first filly in 85 years, since Nellie Morse in 1924, to win the Preakness and the only horse (male or female) ever to win it from the 13th gate. She was also the first Kentucky Oaks winner to both contest and win this race.
Video: The Preakness 2009
Video: Battle of the Sexes (Music)
Video: Preakness Analysis

Rachel Alexandra joins a small and elite group of fillies that have won the Preakness: Flocarline in 1903; Whimsical in 1906; Rhine Maiden in 1915; and Nellie Morse in 1924.

Video: Post-Preakness news - 1

Video: Post-Preakness news - 2

Video: Post-Preakness news - 3

Video: Post-Preakness news - 4

Proceeds for Cancer Research

A part of the winning purse from the Preakness went to support cancer research. Owner Jess Jackson's mother, and two aunts, died from cancer complications, and his wife is a survivor of cancer. In honor of Jackson's commitment to supporting research, Rachel wears a pink ribbon as an accessory to her tack.

Rachel changes owners and the "Battle of the Sexes" begins

Dolphus Morrison: "Fillies should run with fillies"
With Rachel's successes, the public was urging Rachel to run in the Kentucky Derby. The co-owners Dolphus Morrison and Michael Lauffer and trainer Hal Wiggins briefly discussed this possibility and decided against it. Fillies don't usually take on colts in Grade 1 races because the boys are usually bigger, faster and stronger. The Kentucky Derby can be rough and potentially very scary for a young filly with a large crowd of 20 horses all clamoring for position around her. Rachel Alexandra is just as big as the colts, but still could be roughed up or intimidated by the colts. Additionally, fillies come in heat every 20 days during spring and summer and that could make the colts more aggressive. All that to consider, Rachel Alexandra’s owners decided against running her in the Derby.

Publicly, Morrison stated, "The Triple Crown is the showcase of the future stallions of our industry. Colts should run against colts, and fillies should run against fillies."

Prior owner Dolphus Morrison

Rachel is purchased by Jess Jackson and Harold McCormack
After her phenomenal performance at the Kentucky Oaks, 79 year old billionaire Jess Jackson (of Kendall-Jackson Winery and the owner of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin) dove into very aggressive and urgent negotiations to purchase the filly. Morrison remained firm on his price and on May 6, 2009 it was announced that Rachel Alexandra was sold. The official purchase (some speculate over $10 million dollars) was made by Stonestreet Stables & Harold T. McCormick, with Jess Jackson holding controlling interest. Rachel Alexandra was transferred to the barn of trainer Steve Assmussen.

"She is fast, strong and durable -- the trait we should be breeding into all future generations of racehorses," Jackson said, adding that he plans to breed her to Curlin after she retires from racing.

New owner Jess Jackson

Jess Jackson : "Why not let the best horse win regardless of gender?"
It seemed that the reason why Jess Jackson was so urgent about purchasing Rachel Alexandra was that he intended to enter her in the Preakness Stakes two weeks after the Kentucky Oaks. Regardless, Jackson made it clear that he would have no qualms about running her with colts.

"If she continues to be in perfect condition, our intention will be to run her in the Preakness ... I think the fans deserve to see the best horses compete regardless of sex," co-owner Jess Jackson said, "This isn't about male or female, it's about the best athletes." However, he was not going to run her in the Preakness if it is discovered that she is not ready for it. Jackson emphasized his desire to take a long-term view of Rachel Alexandra's health. "This is not a gimmick," he said of his purchase,"If we go to race against the boys, it's because we intend to win."

Going a bit further with this: If Jackson had owned Rachel earlier, would Rachel have been the first filly to win the Triple Crown? No.
“I would have kept her out of the Derby,” Jackson said of the 20-horse race. “That’s a cowboy charge to the first turn.”

Jackson is known to be a man who is willing to think outside the box for the good of the sport. Owner of another champion horse "Curlin", Jackson allowed Curlin to race past the usual 3 year old campaign into the 4th year, helping him become one of the few 2-time winners of the Horse of the Year and the higest grossing race horse in history ($10.5 million). It is more monetarily profitable to retire a horse after 3 years old and make the bigger money in the breeders shed, but making more money is inconsequential to the billionaire. He has repeatedly said that horse racing fans ought to be able to see champions run as long they are able. Jackson shipped Curlin to Dubai to win the prestigious (and richest) race The Dubai World Cup. Jackson was brave enough to try Curlin on grass, and he even tried Curlin on synthetics.

In addition to the regular entrance fee to the Preakness, Jackson paid the $100,000 supplemental fee (because she was not nominated to any of the triple Crown races by her previous owner.) She would be trying to achieve a feat unmatched since Nellie Morse was the last of four fillies to win the Preakness in 1924. In the 134 years of the race, only 10 fillies have tried since then, the last being Excellent Meeting in 1999. She was pulled up by the jockey as a precaution and didn't finish the race.

Jackson Speaks his Mind, that's just his personality

HE ESTABLISHED WINERY ASSOCIATIONS TO PROTECT SMALLER WINEMAKERS
Concerned that bigger wineries were bullying smaller family owned operations, Jackson co-founded the Family Winemakers of California.

HE CHANGED SALES MARKET LAWS
Jackson entered horse racing six years ago and invested more than $250 million in thoroughbred breeding. After he suspected horse racing bloodstock agents had cheated him out of $3.2 million by accepting kickbacks from sellers during the first two years he was building his stable, Jackson filed a lawsuit to recover the money. Jackson settled out of court with the defendants in 2007 for $4.6 million.

Jackson then championed a 2006 law in Kentucky, the center of the U.S. breeding and sales market, to punish bloodstock agents who fail to disclose whether they represent both sides in a deal. Florida followed with similar regulations.

HIS OUTSPOKEN PERSONALITY RUBBED SOME THE WRONG WAY
“Some of the owners and breeders didn’t appreciate his direct approach,” Dan Metzger, head of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, said,  “He probably did rankle some feathers along the way. Jess was very outspoken and critical of some of their practices.”

“Jess did push hard and sometimes Jess was confrontational and some pushed back,” Waldrop (chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association) said. “Jess has been out of the picture for a while. He’s been quiet. He’s made peace with the industry.”

The Kentucky Oaks 2009

Before the race

Rachel Alexandra is all (racing) heart. In her final two workout before the Oaks, she wowed morning clockers (looking at their watches in disbelief) with her last two training sessions before the Oaks on April 16 and 27. In her gallop the morning before the race, her exercise rider struggled to keep her from breaking into a full-speed run and had to wrestle with her to finally bring her to a stop.
"I am a little concerned she's gone too fast in her works," said Wiggins. "But Calvin keeps reassuring me that she's doing it real easy."

The Race

On May 1, 2009, a 1-5 favorite, Rachel Alexandra won the (Gr 1) $500,000, 1-1/8 mile Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky. On a windy, humid, overcast afternoon, in front of a crowd of 104,867, the fourth-largest in Oaks history, she ran away from the field at the stretch with Borel riding motionless, and won by a whopping 20-1/4 lengths breaking the stakes record for winning margin. Her finishing time was 1:48.87 over a fast track, just missing the stakes record by 0.23 second set by Bird Town in 2003, and earning her a Beyer Speed figure of 108.

Video BEFORE the race
Video The Kentucky Oaks 2009
Video AFTER the race - 1
Video AFTER the race - 2

Video Demolishing the Field

The Fantasy Stakes 2009

On April 5, 2009, Rachel Alexandra won the $250,000, 1-1/16 mile (Gr II) Fantasy at Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas, in a finishing time of 1:43.35, winning by 8 ¾ lengths. Rachel Alexandra's presence in the Fantasy kept the number of entries way below normal, so there were only 4 other fillies in this race. As the 1-10 favorite, Rachel veered in at the start but quickly corrected and took the lead, drawing away from the field on the final turn without being asked and finally running away from the field. Jockey Calvin Borel sat chilly as can be with an occasional swivel of his head looking back at the competition. Her efforts on the highly windy race on a fast track earned her a Beyer speed rating of 101.
Video: (Gr II) 2009 Fantasy

The Fair Grounds Oaks 2009

On March 14, 2009, Rachel Alexandra won the $400,000, 1-1/16 mile (Gr II) Fair Grounds Oaks at Fair Grounds, New Orleans, Louisiana. Borel took Rachel to the lead throughout the entire race (in her first race in the slop) and then celebrating his win early with 40 yards to go, he geared her down in the final sixteenth winning by 1 ¼ lengths. Wiggins explained that they wanted to get her in the lead early because she has never had mud in her face.
Video: (Gr II) Fair Grounds Oaks 2009
Video: Borel's interview Post Race

The victory came on the 50th wedding anniversary for Dolphus and Ellen Morrison, who bred and co-own the filly with Mike Lauffer.

After this race, as in the prior race, there was pressure on Morrison from the public to run Rachel Alexandra in the Triple Crown races.

The Martha Washington 2009

On February 15, 2009, Rachel opened her 3-year old campaign by winning the 8 furlongs (1 mile) $50,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She took the stalking position for most of the race and then romped by 8 lengths breaking the stakes record for time at 1:36.40, shaving off more than 2 seconds from the previous stakes record of 1:38.80 set by Devil House in 2007!

Her owner did not know what to expect because she was off of racing for 2 1/2 months since her last start. After this win, Dolphus Morrison received numerous calls and offers to purchase Rachel Alexandra, all of which he declined.

Video

The Martha Washington 2009

Rachel Changes Jockeys: from Brian Hernandez Jr to Calvin Borel

Brian Hernandez Jr

Rachel showed great promise in training, but on the track only won 2 out of 5 starts with Brian Hernandez Jr as her jockey. One particular day Hernandez Jr was not available to work Rachel on the track, and Calvin Borel happened to be around and free, so Wiggins asked Borel to work her. Borel had very strong work ethics. He would get up early in the morning to work horses and then ride horses in races in the afternoons. While Borel rode Rachel, Wiggins noticed how good Borel was with her and he considered a change in jockeys. He asked Borel to ride Rachel in the Golden Rod.

Calvin Borel

On November 29, 2008, Borel not only rode Rachel Alexandra in a romp by 4 ¾ lengths in the 1-1/16 mile, $162,900  (Gr II) Golden Rod but also set a new Stakes record for time of 1:43.08. The previous record was 1:43.82 set in 2001 by Belterra. Rachel beat out her nemesis Sara Louise (who bested her in the prior race, the Pocahontas).
Video (Gr II) Golden Rod

Calvin Borel riding Rachel Alexandra in the Golden Rod

The Golden Rod was the beginning of Rachel Alexandra's winning streak. With Borel on the mount, she has not lost a race.

Video: Calvin Borel hand-rides Rachel Alexandra

After the Golden Rod, Rachel Takes a time off

International Equine considered buying Rachel Alexandra but decided against buying her after X-rays showed a tiny chip in the filly’s left ankle. Instead, Morrison and Lauffer had Dr. Larry Bramlage remove the chip, and Wiggins gave Rachel Alexandra two months off.

“I may have lost her without that chip,” Wiggins said.

2-Year Old Campaign with Brian Hernandez Jr.

Rachel Alexandra with original jockey Brian Hernandez Jr

On May 22, 2008, Rachel raced her first race coming in 6th at Churchill Downs. She broke well but then was taken back near the middle of the pack. (This is in direct contrast to her preferred running style she has developed today as a front runner or a stalker.) By the time she got to the top of the stretch, there was a wall of horses in her way and she just didn't seem to be able to gain enough speed in enough time to pull herself through any of of them.
Video: Maiden Special Weight - Her First Race

On June 13, 2008, she finally broke her maiden in a 5 furlong race. Also at Churchill Downs, this time her jockey Hernandez Jr put her in front. In the stretch drive she was in sort of a match race with Best Lass out about 8 lengths in front of the pack. She won at 12-1 odds and was considered an "upset" (little do they know!). I doubt she will ever be 12-1 again!
Video: Maiden Special Weight - Her Second Race

Two weeks later on June 28th, she raced the (Gr III) Debutante and was placed by her jockey in the middle of the pack. At the top of the stretch, she was caught 5 wide and gained on the leader but did not have enough distance left in the race to pass the leader Garden District who won it. The Debutante was only 6 furlongs long. I believe that if the race had been a longer distance, OR if Rachel had been positioned in the lead by the top of the stretch, Rachel would have won. I don't think the jockey realized that this horse is not the type that tires out near the end of the race and she doesn't need to be held back.
Video: (Gr III) Debutante

                      She came in second in the Debutante                        

On October 13, 2008, Rachel Alexandra ran and won the only race she's ever run on synthetic surface at Keenland. It was a 6 furlong allowance race. She ran 4 wide the whole trip in a stalking position and opened up in the final furlong to win it.
Video: Keenland Allowance Race

On November 1, 2008, as the 2-1 favorite, Rachel ran the (Gr III) Pocahontas and came in 2nd. She broke well into a perfect stalking position, but again, for who knows what reason was taken back to the middle of the pack and became bottled up at the head of the stretch and was loaded for bear but with no hole to run through. She could not make up the time when she was finally free to let loose, and lost to Sara Louise.
Video (Gr III) Pocahontas

Sara Louise is the last horse to beat Rachel, in the 2008 Pocahontas

It appears that many if not all her losses could be attributed to jockey error in the sense that he was not attuned to her running style. In several races, she broke the starting gate very well and was in an excellent stalking position, but Hernandez Jr took her back to the middle of the pack, from where she either (1) got bottled up, or (2) did not have time at the top of the stretch to make up the lost distance. He did not realize that Rachel would be more successful running in the lead or in the stalking position so she can accelerate at the stretch without hindrance. He also did not realize that she has enough stamina to have energy remaining to run in the lead (from the beginning of the race) all the way through the whole race without tiring.

Video
Rachel Alexandra - First 3 races

Video
Rachel Alexandra - 2 year old campaign (2nd half)

Rachel's opposite temperament from her dam

   Rachel with (assistant trainer) Scott Blasi

 

According to her original trainer Hal Wiggins who knows both horses, Lotta Kim (Rachel's dam) had an ornery temperament in the sense that she was stubborn and it became a project whenever you wanted to do anything with her. She wasn't mean per se, but she was just unwilling to cooperate at times and a bit high strung. Her firstborn Rachel Alexandra's personality however turned out to be the polar opposite. Rachel Alexandra has a white-rimmed left eye, a physical trait that some say connotes intimidating volatility. Cigar had it, and Rachel Alexandra has it. Yet, Rachel is remarkably easygoing, agreeable, not easily spooked, easy to lead and control. Calvin Borel said you could put a bomb under her and she wouldn't budge (hyperbole, of course). She is very calm and nothing gets her excited, except of course, the starting gate!

Rachel gets broken in at Diamond D Ranch

Dolphus Morrison, the original owner of Rachel Alexandra

In August of 2007, Morrison sent Rachel Alexandra to Diamond D Ranch in Lone Oak, Texas, to Jimmy "Scooter" Dodwell who was to break her in. Morrison had intended to try selling Rachel again at the Florida sale.

Rachel Alexandra stood out from the moment she arrived at Diamond D Ranch in Lone Oak, Texas, to be begin her initial training stages in August 2007. And it wasn't just because of the yearling filly's strapping size, her big stride, or the unique blaze that runs down her face.


"Her mother was tough to break, and when Rachel showed up she had that shark eye, that big white eye on her, and I said, 'Oh my goodness, this is going to be fun,' " said Jimmy Dodwell, who manages Diamond D Ranch. A white eye is often associated with meanness, but Jimmy Dodwell said Rachel Alexandra proved to be nothing of the sort. Instead, she was a model student, and would be the first Grade 1 winner to come out of the ranch.

The Diamond D Ranch break about 100 yearlings each season and have given early training to 124 stakes winners. But the best horse to come through Diamond D in close to 30 years of operation was Rachel Alexandra, who was into being a racehorse from the start, Jimmy Dodwell said.

"Rachel was always good, she did everything perfect," he said. "She took to it like a fish to water.

"We broke her in the fall and turned her out 60 days in the pasture. The pasture was close to the track, and while the other horses would be grazing, a lot of times I would see her up at the fence, watching the horses up at the track. She was different."

Dodwell said that when Rachel Alexandra resumed training and progressed to working, her talent became evident.

"It was the way she did it, it was effortless," he said. "That's the way she is now."

In November, Morrison called Dodwell to inquire about her readiness to enter that sale. Dodwell was very hesitant to answer. Rachel was one of the best young horses he had ever seen. She had a lot of speed, a long stride, and seemed like she could run forever. Dodwell stuck his neck out and advised Morrison that he might want to keep this one. Rachel Alexandra finished her early training sessions at Diamond D in May 2008 and was shipped to trainer Hal Wiggins at Churchill Downs.

Ed Dodwell said it was particularly special to have had a horse like Rachel Alexandra

Jimmy "Scooter" Dodwell and Rachel Alexandra (April 2009)