NO PROBLEM FOR RACHEL ALEXANDRA IN LADY’S SECRET VICTORY

2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra pulled away late to outclass a lackluster field in the $400,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes on an oppressively hot and muggy day at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park.  It was Rachel’s second straight stakes win following a pair of narrow losses to start the 2010 season.  The performance was solid but unspectacular in a race that had been ‘made to order’ for one of the sport’s superstar mares.  To secure Rachel Alexandra’s participation Monmouth moved the race from its original date (August 1) and sweetened the original a purse of $150,000. The additional $250,000 was contingent on Rachel Alexandra competing in the race. The distance was also lengthened from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles.

Queen Martha set a brisk pace from the opening gate, but Rachel Alexandra’s jockey Calvin Borel put his mount in cruise control just behind the leaders.  At the final turn, Rachel took off and won the race by three lengths over Queen Martha.  Ask the Moon finished third 7 ¾ lengths behind the winner.  Rachel went off as a 1-10 post time favorite and paid $2.20 to win as she ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.78. The track took a huge amount of action in the show pool and of the $1,300,465 wagered to show, $1,234,515 was wagered on the winner. The card's total handle from all sources was $11,421,794, largest ever at Monmouth except for a Haskell day or the Breeders' Cup.

The live crowd was something of a disappointment as a number of horse racing fans stayed home due to the heat.  Temperatures on the Jersey Shore climbed to the mid 90’s and the accompanying high humidity made it feel like 100 degrees plus.  Despite the tough conditions, Rachel Alexandra was cool and calm throughout posting a Beyer Speed Figure of 105 in her winning effort.  It was her 11th straight race with a Beyer Figure of 100 or better.

Though most horse racing experts dismissed the victory as a ‘workmanlike’ performance against an uninspired field, Rachel Alexandra’s trainer Steve Asmussen was happy with the outcome:

"We're very pleased with her, how she ran today. It was an awfully warm day, and she kept her composure. She was very relaxed off the other mare. The first thing Calvin (Borel) said when he came off her was he loved how she came home today, and I think that will be the key to her future success."

With the eventual target the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Rachel’s next appearance will likely be the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on August 29.  That’s 5 weeks away, and would be five weeks before the big race at Churchill Downs and a good performance in the Personal Ensign would give Rachel’s handlers confidence to enter her for a shot at horse racing’s biggest payday.