Rachel Alexandra wins at Churchill Downs
There were times this season when Rachel Alexandra has looked like yesterday’s horse, but the reigning Horse of the Year reminded us just why she won that accolade at Churchill Downs.
Defeats in her first two races of the season had cast doubts about whether the filly could recapture the form that took her through an unbeaten eight-race streak last season, but she returned to her imperious best with an emphatic victory in the Grade Two Fleur De Lis Handicap.
The four-runner field may have lacked the strength in depth to really test Steve Asmussen’s filly but the trainer seemed relieved when Calvin Borel brought Rachel Alexandra home by 10½ lengths.
Garret Gomez sent Jessica Is Back into the lead from the gates, while Borel was happy to track in second, switching his filly to the outside position just before the first turn, with Distinctive Dixie in third. Borel eased Rachel Alexandra upside the leader on the swing into the back stretch and Borel then committed halfway through the final bend as Robby Albarado attempted to bring Distinctive Dixie into the game.
But the game that Borel intended playing was follow the leader and there was only going to be one of those as Rachel Alexandra turned on the power leaving the course commentator to announce that “the queen of Churchill Downs, Rachel, is back”, with Distinctive Dixie beating Jessica Is Back for second place.
Rachel Alexandra is definitely back and Asmussen told the Daily Racing Form: “She's a tremendous horse; I'm very proud of her.”
This victory puts Rachel Alexandra back in the mix for a possible meeting with the other queen of American racing, Zenyatta, who attempts to take her unbeaten career to 17 victories later today in the Grade One Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park.
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