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)
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