Earlier this week when it was announced that Rachel Alexandra had been sold to Jess Jackson and company it set the stage for a showdown between a girl and the boys but it didn’t seem right to us. There was the possibility that she would be separated from Calvin Borel. And her new owners were sure to be pointing her to the Preakness and all but assuring another year without a Triple Crown winner.
Rachel Alexandra wasn’t in the Kentucky Derby because her connections at the time, owners Michael Lauffer and Dolphus Morrison, do not believe fillies should run against colts in the Triple Crown. After all, the series has been the measuring stick for stud fees and the success of the offspring of America’s top stallions who win any of the three classic races.
Since then, Borel has reached an agreement with Jackson and company to ride her for the rest of the year and as expected she will be in the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.
Post positions were drawn yesterday and Rachel Alexandra will break from gate thirteen — the furthest from the rail — as the morning line favorite. With her speed and versatility she should have little problem stalking any of the males who decide to go but that’s an unlikely scenario.
A change of equipment for Big Drama means he won’t be so keen to go on but should be on the lead from the rail especially if the track is sloppy. And the addition of blinkers on Take the Points and the switch back to Edgar Prado puts him in contention early.
Rain is forecasted for Friday and Saturday in Baltimore and a sloppy track helped Mine That Bird close from last into fast early fractions to win the Kentucky Derby going away. The three runner-ups — Pioneer of the Nile, Musket Man, and Papa clem — finished within a quarter of a length of each other and were all leg weary in the end.
Rachel Alexandra is one of the fresh faces in Preakness 134. Calvin Borel has said he hasn’t even asked her to run yet, and that’s a scary thought.
If Mine That Bird is going to be the next Triple Crown winner he’ll have to catch Rachel Alexandra. And if the tracks off he just might do it.
