Rachel Heading To Winners Circle

Rachel Before Mother Goose

Rachel Alexandra Coming Back After Mother Goose Win

Jess Jackson

It was a super day at Belmont Park for the 13,000 plus came out to see Champion Filly and Preakness Stakes Winner Rachel Alexandra put on a dazzling display of speed and class as she easily defeated two other fillies in the Mother Goose Stakes (GI). She relaxed behind a sizzling pace set by Flashing and Malibu Prayer. She tracked them throughout fast fractions, and took over on her own coming around the bend. She easily kicked clear with mild urging from Calvin Borel and began to accelerate, running away from both of them for an ultra decisive 19 1/4 length win. She also established a new stakes record for the mile and one eighth distance in a sizzling 1:46.33 that was previously held by Lakeway (1:46.58) and also broke the Mother Goose Stakes record for margin of victory which was 13 1/2 lengths set by the all-time great and legend Ruffian. And the best is yet to come from this one. She really is a super talented Thoroughbred and it was a pleasure to watch her roll like that.

Rachel’s Wild, Bumpy Ride

Why is it that everyone has to question the wisdom of running Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes?  She is a champion thoroughbred, and that’s what they do—they run in championship races.

The Kentucky Oaks was nothing more than a public workout.  Her new connections would know if she was a spent horse, and they would not run her if they felt she could not handle it.  She is ready to rumble.

Ahmed Zayat made some comments—some positive, and some, well I feel were not needed, or warranted.

Bringing up the Eight Belles tragedy from last year was not needed in any way, shape, or form.  “Does our sport need another Eight Belles?”,  Ahmed Zayat asked.  He goes on, “We all know what happened to Ruffian“.  Why even go there a few days before the Preakness Stakes?

Every time a filly runs against the colts an impending disaster looms?  No.  It does not.  It’s almost fear mongering.

I don’t like it.  I have no issues with them entering as many horses as they want to keep her out.  They nominated their horses to the Triple Crown, so be it.  It’s a business.  They want to win, and they know she is talented, and a huge threat to win.  That’s the reason they attempted to do it.

Just leave Eight Belles and Ruffian out of it.  No place for that type of stuff.