Can Rachel Alexandra Vie for Horse of the Year?
Filly First to Hold Off Boys in Woodward – Haskell – Preakness
Sep 17, 2009
They roared for her at Pimlico when she added to Thoroughbred female lore, winning the Preakness Stakes easily over the boys. She beamed against the males of the Haskell Invitational Stakes and added to a growing list of Horse of the Year believers.
And at Saratoga, in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes(G1) September 5, her surreal head-to-head finish at the wire with Stephen Foster and Whitney winner Macho Again caused an appreciative eruption like none before it at the age-old track.
Rachel Tackles All Things Unusual
A striking facial splotch of black on white, massive competitive spirit, and uncommon risk-taking ownership comprise the remarkable and unusual career of Rachel Alexandra, 2009 Thoroughbred filly supreme.
What might be Rachel's last appearance of the season on the track was the taking of the 1-1/8 miles Woodward, traditionally a race of colts and older horses. But stepping out against her supposedly stronger gender is exactly what Rachel majored in this year.
The Saratoga track itself is the grand dam of New York and American Thoroughbred racing. Rachel A. added historically to that mystique and fame, becoming the first ever female to win the Woodward, in the past a time-honored stop on the trail to greatness for many of racing's male counterparts.
Woodward Victors Also Won HOY
Eventual Horses of the Year Curlin, Spectacular Bid, Mineshaft, Ghostzapper, Skip Away, and Cigar and Alysheba, Forego, Holy Bull, and Triple Crown champions Affirmed and Seattle Slew all stopped over at Saratoga to grab Woodward victories.
The Woodward was first graded in 1973. Its winner was Secretariat conqueror Prove Out. In 2005, it was graded 1.
Might Rachel Alexandra Be Horse of the Year?
Females voted Horse of the Year enjoyed rarified air. There have been just four female HOYs. But Rachel Alexandra, at age three, has truly earned the title Alexandra the Great, and may be in for more high honors.
Female HOYs include:
- Twilight Tear -- 1944
- Busher -- 1945
- All Along -- 1983
- Lady's Secret -- 1986 (a Secretariat daughter)
Rachel's Woodward Against the Boys
The Woodward was Rachel's ninth stakes victory overall, eight of them having been corralled this year. Her sire, Medaglia d'Oro, raced four seasons, winning such famed races as the Travers and Jim Dandy stakes and the Whitney Handicap, and has produced eleven total stakes winners.
Rachel captured her ninth consecutive win (over seven different tracks) in her most challenging run to date.
Seven older males, including UAE Triple Crown champion Asiatic Boy and 2008 Belmont Stakes victor Da' Tara, a male line descendant of 1937 Triple Crown champion War Admiral, pushed Alexandra the Great to the limit and found no chink in her armor.
The brilliant filly raced hard early, going the first quarter in a blitzing :22.85, then displayed prick-earned true grit galloping to the wire, holding off the determined run of Macho Again by a head. The fact that Rachel was favored (3-10) in this talented field of experienced males speaks volume about her demonstrated ability against the boys.
Other boys in the race included Past the Point, a heads-up foe to Curlin in the 2008 Woodward; Albert the Great Stakes romper Cool Coal Man; Whitney challenger Bullsbay; and Storm Bird descendant It's a Bird.
Rachel's Risk-Taking Owner
Jess Jackson, who also campaigned two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, purchased his winning filly along with friend Harold T. McCormick in May, immediately following Rachel's demolition of the Kentucky Oaks field. Alexandra the Great won that "competition" with twenty lengths to spare.
Come Preakness Stakes time, Jackson had great faith in the power of the female. He supplemented Rachel to enter the second jewel of the Triple Crown, and there Rachel proved more than worthy against the opposite gender. She blasted past the boys, including Kentucky Derby champion Mine That Bird, breezing through with more than four lengths between them at the finish.
Rachel's Haskell Invitational Win
In August, the powerful, quiet filly beat the Derby champ's brother, Belmont Stakes victor Summer Bird, in Monmouth's $1.25 Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at 1-1/8 miles with six spare lengths in her saddle bag.
Also beaten in that race was Triple Crown race contender Papa Clem.
Rachel's Accolades
Cajun veteran jockey Calvin Borel, well known as one of Thoroughbred racing's best students, has piloted Rachel from the beginning of her career. He displays no hesitation in calling Rachel Alexandra the best he's ever ridden.
It appears that Rachel, with the unparalleled Woodward win, would have votes lined up for HOY. Some are referring to her in the same breath when they speak of Ruffian and Gallorette.
