The flowers are blooming at Steve Asmussen's Barn 58. Fresh straw is stacked next to her stall (No. 5), which has been cleaned out, dried out and prepped for the arrival of thoroughbred racing's leading lady.
Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to walk off a van at Belmont Park late Tuesday afternoon and settle into her new digs to wait for her New York debut in Saturday's $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes _ her first race since she beat the boys in the Preakness on May 16.
Oh boy!
Since becoming the first filly in 85 years to win the second jewel of the Triple Crown, Rachel has been hangin' at Churchill Downs, showing top trainer Asmussen what a top filly is all about. Yes, yes, we know she was held out of the Belmont Stakes, but that's cool: She's ready to run again and New York racing fans have a chance to see a star who could end up being the greatest filly ever - ever!
Six in a row. A Classic win against the fellas. And now it's the Mother Goose, the 1 1/8-mile Grade 1 won by the likes of Ruffian, Davona Dale, Mom's Command, Open Mind, Sky Beauty and Serena's Song.
And who knows what's next? The Shadwell Travers, perhaps, another go against the boys, one that will likely include Mine That Bird and Belmont winner Summer Bird and maybe even Florida Derby and woulda-been coulda-been Kentucky Derby favorite Quality Road.
Asmussen has been bowled over by Rachel's work habits since the Preakness. She has been training at Churchill Downs _ with a timeout for a ``Vogue'' magazine photo shoot. After a half mile work Monday at the Downs, Asmussen reported ``the filly went beautiful this morning. She looked very happy.''
There's a buzz in racing, and it'll be felt in New York. And she's running for a cause: breast cancer. Owner Jess Jackson _ co-founder of Kendall-Jackson Wines _ and his wife, Barbara Banke, said they will be contributing a portion of Rachel's future earnings to the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure” for breast cancer.
And The New York Racing Association, Inc. is kicking in, too, offering free admission for women and a pink bracelet giveaway to the first 10,000 fans. The bracelet will carry the filly's name in a sign of support for Jackson's announcement.
She's got a way, for sure.
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ReplyDeleteI love Rachel. This year's Preakness was one of the most exciting horse races I've ever watched. She is like poetry in motion to watch. GO RACHEL!!
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for my Bird in the Classic.
ReplyDeleteI hope that her connections change their minds and bring Rachel to California for the Breeders' Cup ... I would love to see her race in person!
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