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.
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