On Monday morning, May 24, 2010, at about 6:30am, Rachel Alexandra worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 over a fast track at Churchill Downs in Louisville Kentucky. With jockey Shaun Bridgmohan aboard she set fractional times of 12.20 for the first furlong, :24.20 for the quarter mile, then :36.20 for 3 furlongs, :48.40 for the half mile, then galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.80 and went seven furlongs in 1:26.60, according to the Churchill Downs clocker.
“She looked great and galloped out super,” her trainer Asmussen said. “She’s doing well. It was just very nice. It was nice and smooth, covered ground well and was out very strong.”
This workout was considerably faster than last week's workout where she tied for last place among 13 horses working the same distance (Ranking 12/13 along with the other last place finisher). She was a different horse today, however, and ran her last furlong in 12 seconds flat, and not only that, but "galloping out" the 6th furlong, she still clocked a hair over 12 seconds too! Today, she ranked 2nd of 14 horses who ran at that distance and she seemed very eager to run. Now this is the Rachel we know!
Two June 12 races at 1 1/8 miles conveniently located at Churchill are among the most logical options for her next race. Those are the Grade 1, $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap, open to both genders, and the Grade 2, $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap, restricted to fillies and mares. There is also a very small possibility she may be shipped to Belmont, New York for the Grade 1, $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap, restricted to fillies and mares. However, I seriously doubt her connections would want to ship her when there are two perfectly good races right where she is at Churchill. These races are only 3 weeks away and nominations are beginning to pile up, so we will have keep our eyes and ears open!
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thank you!pixie !
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of so much details !!!
all the best!!:isabelle from france!
Where they run Rachel next will say a lot about where they think she is at. If she runs in the Stephen Foster against males, they're saying "She's back to form." If not, the process may be longer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with mvlach. I really hope she is getting back to her old form. Only the best for Rachel and of course you Pixie. Thank you again for all the information on "our" girl. :)
ReplyDeleteI like to hear that! Thanks for the update! I hope they keep taking it easy.... I would really like to see her in top form and rested for the Classic (if that is where they are headed)
ReplyDeletePexie,
ReplyDeleteWas anything posted on how Rachel is changing her leads? Changing her lead so late cost her the last race. I know that they have changed workout riders, and figured they are trying to correct it.
What would cause a horse to stop changing leads, something that she was previously done? Could that be a unknown medical problem? I don't know much about horses racing, but with my own horses, when they would stop doing something they normally would have done, I wouldn't rule out something physical. Just curious.
ReplyDeleteDear Pixie: Thanks for the continued updates. What would I do without this site?? I hope and pray for the best for our dear girl, I am so fond of her. Shame on those "fans" who have deserted her because she lost her first two races this year. And shame on the "gloaters" who delight in her (temporary) relapse. GO RACHEL!!
ReplyDeleteJackson paid millions for Rachel. I can't imagine that they have not had her checked for possible injury and still be running her or even keeping her in training. They changed excerise rides and may think that it was the problem. I think it's a combination of rushing her training and the new bit. I noticed that earlier this year when she was being rushed in training that the excerise rider was asking her to change her leads late.......that too could have been part of the rushed training. I don't believe she like the new bit. "If it's not broke don't fix it"....they need to go back to the old bit. Looks like she's not relaxing with the equipment change. For those who have "junped off the Rachel bandwagon", they were never a true fan. It's not her fault she hasn't won the last two races...........both with 3 digit byers speed...most racehoses never reach that level.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone see the race today? Rachel won and was hand ridden all the way in 1.48/87. They ran the Steven Foster in 1.49/37 and the horses were hard ridden all the way. Also did anyone notice that they went back to the old bit.....improved speed and time. I hope they use the old bit to race in from now on.
ReplyDelete