WORKOUT 4-12-2010

On Monday morning, April 12, 2010, at about 6:30am, Rachel Alexandra worked six furlongs in 1:12 over a fast track at Churchill Downs in Louisville Kentucky. She set fractional times of 12.80 for the first furlong, :25.40 for the quarter mile, then :37.20 for 3 furlongs, :48.40 for the half mile, then 1:00.20 for 5 furlongs, and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.20.

“I was very pleased with her work,” said Asmussen. “She looks happy and she cooled out great. It was a very strong move.” Asmussen said his team would be looking at how she recovers in determining her next race. “I’m very anxious to see her attitude off of the work,” said Asmussen. “How she acts, how she rests in her stall, and if she’s comfortable with everything we’re doing. From a work standpoint it was very impressive and fast, which she is.” “We’re trying to get her back in the rhythm that she had success with last year, because we were very unsuccessful in trying to alter that,” said Asmusen.

I suspect that last comment might possibly be referring to how Asmussen was trying to train Rachel to run off the pace even though she wanted to run in front. Trying to rate a horse that does not want to rate is taxing on both the horse and the rider. This proved true in the New Orleans Ladies.

Her work was the fastest of seven at that distance on the track. Steve Asmussen also said he plans to work her every Monday until further notice. This is the 4th workout since her last race.