Rachel Alexandra to face the “old men” at Woodward
Rachel Alexandra already has made history this season, but she can accomplish something no horse has done before after being entered in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes against older males on Sept. 5.
The filly has already defeated 3-year-old males twice this year in the Preakness Stakes and Haskell Invitiational. This will be her first time meeting older males. No filly or mare of any age has won the Woodward. She seems a lock to be named Horse of the Year regardless of what she does at Saratoga.
“Rachel Alexandra’s workouts have been excellent,” said Jess Jackson, her co-owner. “I, like other fans of horse racing, want to see her tested. If she goes up against older male horses, we’ll be better able to get a measure of her greatness.”
The New York Racing Association appreciated Rachel Alexandra’s entry enough that it increased the purse for the mile-and-an-eighth Woodward from $250,000 to $750,000.
“Raising the Woodward purse will help attract a top field to what will be a historic race,” said NYRA Vice President and Director of Racing P.J. Campo. “In addition, we felt that to have a filly like Rachel Alexandra seeking to become the first ever female to win the Woodward warranted an increase in purse.”
Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen sent out two-time Horse of the Year Curlin to win the 2008 running of the Woodward.
Rachel Alexandra’s victory in the Haskell on Aug. 2 was her eighth straight, seventh against graded-stakes competition. She is 10 for 13 lifetime and has earned more than $2.2 million in purses. Several races were being considered for the filly, including the $1 million Travers this Saturday, the $400,000 Personal Ensign on Sunday and the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day.
Rachel Alexandra’s possible foes in the Woodward would be Asiatic Boy, Bullsbay, Cool Coal Man, Da’ Tara, and It’s a Bird.
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