Rachel withdrawn from sale as a weanling - November 2006

When Rachel Alexandra was a foal, Morrison visited her (at Dr Dede McGehee Heaven Trees Farm in Lexington Kentucky) and was not impressed at all by her appearance. To him, she looked bony and scruffy-looking. It was his usual procedure to keep the first foal out of his broodmares and race them (and hopefully win some races) so that the broodmare could have a good broodmare resume and increase sale value on future foals. But with Rachel, who was the "ugly duckling", he decided to make an exception and sell her...get rid of her as soon as possible. He entered Rachel Alexandra in the 2006 Keeneland November sale as a weanling. When x-rays revealed a minor defect, Morrison took her out of the sale because he felt he could not get what he wanted for her. He felt like she was worth at least $125,000, but that no one would pay that amount.

Keeneland 2006, Storm Cat colt sold for $8.2 million

A Star is Born - January 29, 2006

Rachel Alexandra at 1 month old

Rachel Alexandra was born on January 29, 2006 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. She was the firtborn of Lotta Kim, and so far, the only surviving progeny. Lotta Kim was bred to Empire Maker and had second foal in 2007, but that colt succumbed to Wobblers disease. Then she was bred to Any Given Saturday, had a third foal in 2008, but Lotta Kim developed a viral infection and that foal was prematurely born and also died. In 2009, Morrison decided to give Lotta Kim a rest from breeding and to recouperate from the infection, but he plans to breed her in 2010 back to Medaglia d'Oro for a full-blooded sibling to Rachel Alexandra.

So yes, Rachel Alexandra was born. She is named after Morrison's oldest granddaughter Rachel Alexandra Doisy, who is now 14, but who was only 10 at the time Rachel (the horse) was born.

Before the Beginning

                            Medaglia d'Oro is Rachel's sire                    

Lotta Kim is Rachel's dam

Lotta Kim won the (Gr 2) Tiffany Lass

A match made in "Horse Heaven"

Rachel Alexandra's breeder Dolphus Morrison had a mare named Lotta Kim. Morrison believed that Lotta Kim had a (physically) larger than usual heart size (from her sire Roar) and would genetically be a great broodmare. Lotta Kim was a moderately successful race horse. She placed second in the (Gr II) Golden Rod, and even won the (Gr II) Tiffany Lass, with a career record of (4)2-2-0, and career earnings of $146,485. But her career was cut short when a stray horse running by scared her and she reared up and fell on the slippery asphalt and gashed her hip, requiring 278 stitches and according to Morrison "lots of expense". When Lotta Kim recouperated, Morrison sent Lotta Kim to Medaglia d'Oro in his first year at stud for a stud fee of $35,000. Why Medaglia d'Oro? Well, to put it simply, Morrison wanted something relatively cheap, but also something her felt was underestimated by others. He was impressed with Medaglia d'Oro physically as well as his racing record and was convinced "[Medaglia d'Oro] had a great airway".