Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra will run in the 1-mile Grade 1 Mother Goose for three year-old fillies on June 27 at Belmont Park, according to co-owner Jess Jackson. The decision was announced yesterday, two days after the filly breezed six furlongs in 1:12 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:24.80 under exercise rider Dominic Terry at Churchill Downs
It will be the first race for Rachel Alexandra since she challenged the boys in the Preakness and hung on to beat Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird by a length for her sixth victory in a row. The filly was entered in the Preakness after her stunning 20 1/4 -length winning performance in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill.
Concerned that the filly was overextended and in need of rest, Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen decided to skip the Belmont Stakes and opted to give her a well-earned rest. Monday morning’s workout put their concerns to rest after watching the filly’s spirited gallop.
” ‘Rachel’ is rested, healthy and ready to run,” Jackson said. “She turned in a very strong six-furlong work.”