On Monday morning, August 9, 2010, shortly before 6:00 am, Rachel Alexandra worked six furlongs in 1:12.96 over a fast track at the Oklahoma training track near Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga, New York. With jockey Shaun Bridgmohan aboard she set fractional times of 12.79 for the first furlong, 25.46 for the quarter, 37.98 for 3 furlongs, 49.77 for the half mile, then galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.04 and went a mile in 1:40.35, according to the drf clocker.
New York Racing Association clockers disagreed slightly and caught Rachel Alexandra''s finishing time at 1:12.95 with 38.02 for her first three furlongs and 50.53 for a half-mile, galloping out seven furlongs in 1:26.00.
“I’m pleased with how well she came out of the Monmouth race, how she trained that week, the work last week, it’s just a progression,” Asmussen said. “She’s done really well up here. I’m expecting two more moves before the Personal Ensign. Hopefully the weather will cooperate as much as it has to this point. It’s time to pick it up. We’re trying to get this to climax in November.”
Asmussen plans to keep Rachel Alexandra on the training track leading up to the Personal Ensign. Last summer, he worked her on the main track because of inclement weather and to give her a glimpse of her surroundings prior to her Saratoga debut in the Woodward Stakes (G1), where she beat older males in what turned out to be her final start of the year.
“I feel very comfortable about it, with her being here and having the success she did here last year,” he said. “Right now, you try to get your work schedule where it is and hope that Mother Nature and weather allows you to do that.
“I remember last year before the Woodward, trying to decide which racetrack we were going to work on because of all the rain and the condition of one track as opposed to the other. Hopefully, it’ll be a little easier than that this time.”
This is her second workout since her last race and will be in preparation for the 1 1/4 mile, $300,000, Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes run in less than 3 weeks at Saratoga, at 5:56 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday August 29, 2010. The race will be covered on television by TVG and HRTV.
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Last week they worked her 5 furlongs, they had worked her only four the first week back after her other races this year and today they worked her 6....NYRA.com has an article on her workout and they also have a video of her workout today(with comments from SA....it's also posted on youtube - only the work - no comments)as well. She looks great and was running faster the further she went. I can hardly wait for the PE....Good Luck Rachel.
ReplyDeleteSorry, youtube also has the comments...
ReplyDeleteShe looked tremendous in that workout. She came home fast in :23.1 and was under restraint. That's more like the Rachel of 2009 - I believe she will romp in the PE. If she does romp, I believe she will go in the JCGC and not the Beldame. That would cerainly put Z's connections to shame for never running their talented mare in the premier 10f CA races - Big Cap, Pacific Classic, Hollywood Gold Cup.
ReplyDeleteYes she did...and the 23.1 is a hair over 11.5 seconds a furlong.......says alot. I think you're right, if she does well in the PE she should run in the JCGC. Someone with NYRA must like Rachel to video and post her works. Who ever it is THANK YOU.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, fellow Rachel maniacs! I was at Saratoga this past Sunday and actually met a Zenyatta fan. She was from California and claimed to personally know the Mosses! We had a cordial, brief conversation and I asked her about their future plans for Big Z.
ReplyDeleteShe said that they are not going to run her anywhere outide of CA, and that they are aiming her for the Breeder's Cup, not the Ladies Breeder's Cup. That would surely clinch her for 2010 HOY if she wins.
I also got to pet Funny Cide (just a pat on his rump as he was being led by) which was very cool. His owners had him there for a brief exhibit for his fans.
And did you all hear about Lisa's Booby Trap? Another female with a huge heart, like our Rachel.
Waiting anxiously for the PE and have my tickets already--they were selling out.
Thanks RachelAlex. Great report. I have this feeling that Rachel is going to turn in a huge performance in the PE. Something in the range of a 111 Beyer. If so she wins by a few.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much RachelAlex for the update. If you get pictures at the PE,can you send them to the website? That would be great. Did you look at youtube...NYRA has posted videos of Rachel for her 8/2 and 8/9 works at the training track. Have a wonderfulk time at the PE.
ReplyDeleteI will try my best to get some pictures to post on the site if I can figure out to do that (post to the site, that is). I also picked up one of the NYRA's giveaway Rachel hats on Sunday--now I have four Rachel hats!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I are going to try to see her in the paddock just prior to the race, so hopefully will get some pics there as well. We're strictly amateur photogs with a digital camera so I can't promise that they will be that great, but will try my best.
A picture in the winner's circle is what I'm aiming for!!!!
Pixie, does Rachel have a shot at the 2:02.07 record for the Personal Ensign?
ReplyDeletemvlach: She MAY have a shot at the Stakes Record, but it depends on many factors. Summer Bird (who Rachel trounced by 6 lengths in the Haskell) performed 2:02.83 at Saratoga in the 1-1/4 mile Travers last year. She needs to do slightly better than Summer Bird in finishing time, which is plausible, but there is more to it than just that. She needs a strong early pace, to keep up the speed of the race. In fact, Life At Ten is a horse that always breaks to the lead, so it might be good for a stakes record, but LAT does not have super quick finishing times. There needs to be a horse who is a rabbit in the beginning to keep up the pace, as well as good closers to keep Rachel running near the end. ie: IMO, she will only break records IF THE PACE IS RELATIVELY QUICK THROUGHOUT. And that will largely depend on the running style of the competition.
ReplyDeletebtw, Summer Bird won the Travers (the exact same day last year 8/29/2009) at Saratoga in the slop in 2:02.83. If Rachel gets a fast track, and Life At Ten runs her heart out in torrid fractions, then Rachel will have a chance to beat the Stakes record. Rachel is Rachel, she easily has the talent to do it ... under the right conditions.
ReplyDeleteI love it that LAT will go to the lead. Rachel will stalk and then pounce on the turn and then win by a few. And yes I have great respect for LAT but Rachel is Rachel.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Miss Rachel see you at Saratoga..I'll be the old lady ringing the cow bell and yelling her lungs out for you with all of your thousands of fans!!
ReplyDelete