Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbooks) - Monday was a work day for leading three- year-old filly Rachel Alexandra, while top sophomore gelding Mine That Bird was given an extra day off.
Rachel Alexandra, winner of the Preakness Stakes, put in a workout Monday morning at Saratoga. Training on the Oklahoma training track, the filly went a half-mile in 50.67-seconds. This was her first workout since her record setting win in the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park on June 27.
"She went in an easy half-mile to get her accustomed to her surroundings and the track," Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, said. "It was a maintenance breeze. We weren't out there to impress anyone today."
The filly devastated her opponents in the Mother Goose by 19 1/4-lengths and set a stakes record time of 1:46.33 for 1 1/8 miles, surpassing Lakeway's 1994 record of 1:46.58.
Owned by Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick, Rachel Alexandra's next start has not been finalized. She could start as soon as the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park on Saturday, July 25.
Other possibilities for fillys next start, include the $500,000 Jim Dandy for three-year-olds at Saratoga on August 1, and the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on August 2. Later races may include the $600,000 Alabama for three-year-old fillies on Saturday, August 22, the $1 million Travers for three-year-olds on Saturday, August 29 or the $400,000 Personal Ensign for fillies and mares on Sunday, August 30, all at Saratoga.
The filly remains atop the NTRA national poll. She received 10 first-place votes this week and 175 points. Second is five-year-old mare Zenyatta with six first-place votes and 167 points.
"It's a blessing to have her, it's great for everybody," Blasi said. "Nothing surprises me with horses like her. It's the anticipation and excitement she brings. When you see a kid up at 5:30 in the morning to come out and watch Rachel breeze, that sums it up."
A planned workout Monday for Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird was cancelled due to a wet track at Churchill Downs. The gelding, with exercise rider Rudy Gallegos in the saddle, did gallop once around the one-mile Louisville track that was listed as muddy. Jockey Jamie Theriot was expected to be on Mine That Bird for the workout.
"The track was a little wet on top today and had no reason to rush him," said trainer Chip Woolley, "so we just decided to wait until tomorrow to work him. We can work him back in six days next Monday and be back on our regular schedule."
The big news over the Fourth of July weekend was the engagement by the gelding's owners and trainer of Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith to ride in the West Virginia Derby on August 1 and the Travers.
"I am tickled that this is over with," Woolley said. "We've got a rider that we are comfortable with and that is more important than the three-race commitment. We can get through the first two at least."
Smith, who rode Mine That Bird to a runner-up finish behind Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, replaces Calvin Borel who could not commit to ride the gelding in the West Virginia Derby.
"Calvin's in a tough spot with three horses in the same category," Woolley said referring to Rachel Alexandra and Warrior's Reward, who Borel is committed to ride in the August 1 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. "It is a tough spot, but he is fortunate in that not many get that opportunity.
"Hopefully we'll have Calvin for a backup, you never know. With Rachel Alexandra, the Travers is one of the races they are talking about with her, so we wouldn't get him for that one. There is just too much drama mixed in."
Mine That Bird's owners, Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach, and Woolley have the three-year-old concluding 2009 with the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, November 7.
