Rachel Alexandra is a big favorite at Monmouth

Associated Press

Sure looks and sounds like Rachel Alexandra is back in top form.

All the reigning Horse of the Year has to do now is prove it today with a big victory against six seemingly overmatched rivals in the $400,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park.

“She’s really doing well. She was full of energy,” assistant trainer Scott Blasi said after the 4-year-old filly galloped around the track Wednesday. After a Friday morning gallop, Blasi simply said “she’s a dream.”

Rachel Alexandra has been training at Saratoga Race Course, but arrived at the Jersey Shore track Tuesday nearly a year after her win against males in the Haskell Invitational en route to an 8-0 record in 2009.

Trainer Steve Asmussen is following the “same routine” used last summer leading up to Rachel’s 6-length Haskell victory over Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird.

On Monday, Rachel worked four furlongs in 49.60 seconds, and Asmussen said after three workouts at the Spa “things have gone as smoothly as we were hoping for.

“She looked great on the track, just appeared to be nice, loose and happy, and I thought she moved very well. She had a lot of energy and looked confident.”

While the Lady’s Secret is far from a glamour race, it nonetheless is a huge test for Rachel Alexandra, and will dictate the filly’s future schedule.

After two disappointing second-place finishes to open the year, Rachel returned to the winner’s circle with a 101/2-length romp in the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs last month.

An impressive win in the ungraded Lady’s Secret could set her up for either the 11/4-mile Personal Ensign against fillies and mares Aug. 29 or the Woodward Stakes against leading older male Quality Road on Sept. 4, both at Saratoga. Rachel became the first filly to win the Woodward last year.