History:

Rachel Alexandra (foaled January 29, 2006 in Kentucky) is a currently active American Thoroughbred filly racehorse and the 2009 Horse of the Year winner. She came to fame on May 16, 2009 when she became the first filly in 85 years (since Nellie Morse in 1924) to win the Preakness Stakes. She has won races in six states (KY, LA, AR, MD, NY, and NJ.), on 8 different tracks, against fillies and top colts and older horses, achieving a long string of consecutive wins including many Grade 1 stakes races. She has broken or come close to the stakes and/or track records in many of her races, as well as broken records for largest winning margins.

Rachel Alexandra is a bay filly with a distinctive upside-down-exclamation-point-shaped white blaze on her nose. She is considered quite tall for a filly and stands an estimated 16 hands at the withers. Her preferred style of running is generally that of a front runner (running on the lead) or a stalker (running close to the lead) however, she can also come off of the pace (Mother Goose Stakes).

Rachel Alexandra was bred and originally owned by Dolphus Morrison who named her after his granddaughter. Before she became successful as a racehorse, Dolphus Morrison sold part interest in her to Michael Lauffer. Her initial trainer was Hal Wiggins, Morrison's regular trainer, who trained her up until the Kentucky Oaks 2009. After her Kentucky Oaks victory, Rachel Alexandra was sold for an undisclosed amount (rumored to be in excess of $10 million) to Stonestreet Stables & Harold T. McCormick, with billionaire Jess Jackson of Kendall Jackson Winery holding controlling interest. Her current trainer is Steve Asmussen, and her regular jockey is Calvin Borel.

With trainer Steve Asmussen watching frontside at about 6:30 a.m., before daylight broke, Rachel Alexandra went the distance in 1:00.20 over a fast track. Because of the darkness, no splits were available, although the Churchill clockers caught her galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.

"It was an ideal work for her," said Asmussen.

Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, departed Churchill in late November and spent the winter at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where she raced once, finishing second to Zardana as a 1-20 favorite in the New Orleans Ladies on March 13. That unexpected defeat persuaded Asmussen and Jess Jackson, the 4-year-old filly's majority owner, to decline to run her back against Zenyatta on Friday in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park.

After the New Orleans Ladies, Rachel Alexandra worked twice at the Fair Grounds, including last Monday, March 29, before leaving for Churchill, where she has been stabled since March 30 under the care of assistant Scott Blasi.

"It looks like she's been real happy since she's been here," said Asmussen. "Dominic said she feels super and that she's getting over the track great."

Asmussen, who arrived in Louisville on Sunday evening after spending the Easter holiday with his wife and three sons at their home near Dallas, said he and Jackson are not committed to running Rachel Alexandra in the La Troienne Stakes on the April 30 Kentucky Oaks undercard. Reports have been widespread that she will run in that Grade 2, $400,000 race at 1 1/16 miles.





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