The Girl Is a Winner!

I have to admit I wondered if Rachel Alexandra could defeat older males - especially after she dumped regular jockey Calvin Borel in the post parade. But the girl is a winner through and through. The $750,000 Woodward stakes is run over the main track at Saratoga; the distance is 1 and 1/8 miles. Only one other three-year-old filly has attempted to run in the Woodward: Summer Guest, who finished a game third in 1972. This year Rachel A. led the entire way, even though Macho Again was closing the gap with every stride for the last 40 yards. Rachel A won by a head. Of course, she had a good excuse - Da'Tara is a speedster and challenged the girl to a speed duel at the beginning of the race. The first quarter mile was run in less than 23 seconds; the first half-mile in less than 46.5 seconds; and the three-quarters was timed at 1 minute, 10.54 seconds. The final time was a hair over 1 minute and 48 seconds. Calvin Borel admitted that he was worried about the advancing Macho Again during the final strides in the stretch, but Rachel Alexandra found the guts and heart to keep her head in front. She is the first 3-year-old-filly to win a "route race" (more than 3/4 mile) in New York state racing history since 1887. Kudos to Rachel A.'s trainers and owners and breeders! - And, across the pond, Sea the Stars won his fifth Grade I Stakes race with the Irish Champion Stakes. ...