Rachel Alexandra to try to be 1st filly to win Woodward Stakes

Newsday

She’s dominated 3-year-old fillies and beaten 3-year-old males in the Preakness and the Haskell. Rachel Alexandra’s next challenge will come against older males Sept. 5 in the Grade I Woodward Stakes at Saratoga, N.Y.

Trainer Steve Asmussen made the announcement shortly after the superstar filly worked 6 furlongs in 1:11.64 on a muddy main track Monday morning at Saratoga. No female has won the 11‚Ñ8-mile Woodward, not even Hall of Famer Lady’s Secret, who was second in 1986, when she was voted Horse of the Year. The New York Racing Association announced it had raised the Woodward’s purse from $500,000 to $750,000.

“Rachel Alexandra’s workouts have been excellent,” majority owner Jess Jackson said. “Like other fans of horse racing, we want to see her tested. If she goes up against older male horses, we’ll be better able to get a measure of her greatness.”

Asmussen also said Kensei will run Saturday in the $1-million Travers Stakes after the Jim Dandy winner worked 4 furlongs in 50 seconds. Barbara Banke, who owns the 3-year-old colt, is married to Jackson. “Given how well Kensei was doing, I thought he deserved a chance in the Travers,” Asmussen said. “It would be a race that would mark his career.”

The assignments for both horses were expected. Having defeated the winners of the Kentucky Derby (Mine That Bird) and the Belmont Stakes (Summer Bird), Rachel Alexandra has nothing left to prove against the boys of her own generation. Kensei is 2-for-2 at Saratoga, and a Travers victory would greatly enhance his stallion prospects. Mine That Bird and Summer Bird also are expected for the Travers, along with likely favorite Quality Road, Warrior’s Reward, Hold Me Back, Our Edge and Charitable Man.

Rachel Alexandra will try to extend an eight-race winning streak that began Nov. 29, 2008. Possible Woodward opponents include Asiatic Boy, Cool Coal Man, Tizway, Whitney winner Bullsbay, It’s a Bird and Macho Again.

Jackson purchased Rachel Alexandra shortly after her 20 1‚Ñ4-length runaway May 1 in the Kentucky Oaks. Since then, he has chosen her races with an eye toward establishing her as one of the greatest fillies in history. Among the all-time greats who won the Woodward are Kelso, Forego, Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Spectacular Bid.

“Legacy,” Asmussen said when asked about going for the Woodward. “... No filly has won it, and for everything else that she’s done, I think it’s the showcase and the platform that she’s worthy of.”