A week after stretching her legs in her first work over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga Springs, Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra was out again this morning.
This time, with trainer Steve Asmussen in town to watch, Rachel went five furlongs in 1:01.38, tops among a dozen horses at the distance.
NYRA clockers caught her in splits of :12 3/5, :25 and :37 1/5, and she galloped out six-eighths in 1:14 4/5.
“She was unbelievably light on her feet today and she felt great about doing it. It was about as easy as she could do it. It was exactly what I was hoping to see," Asmussen said. "She’s tremendous; a beautiful animal. She’s doing great."
This was the first time Asmussen had seen Rachel work here since she arrived in Saratoga on June 28, following her victory in the Grade 1 Mother Goose at Belmont Park. Her next start remains undecided.
Several options are being considered, including the Grade 2 $1 million Delaware Handicap for females 3 and up going 1¼ miles at Delaware Park. The race is Sunday; entries are being drawn tomorrow.
“I think [a decision] to eliminate the Delaware Handicap will have to be made today or tomorrow from a timing standpoint,” Asmussen said.
Other possibilities are the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (3yof, 1 1/4 mi) July 25 at Belmont and the Grade 1 $1 million Haskell Invitational (3yo, 1 1/8 mi) Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park. The Haskell would mean facing males again; she beat the boys including Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness.
“It’s a timing thing more than anything,” Asmussen said. “Her being a 3-year-old filly that has success outside of her division just gives [us] that many more options. I think the only thing that we can state is the obvious – that’s her and she looks good.”