Rachel Alexandra likely Fantasy bound
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Rachel Alexandra likely Fantasy bound
RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro), heroine of Saturday's Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), has an excellent chance to be the fourth of the last five Fair Grounds Oaks winners to go on to win the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1. However, there is little chance that she will become Queen of the Kentucky Derby (G1).
"That (speculation) makes good talk," trainer Hal Wiggins said Sunday morning, "but it's pretty much all media hype. The Kentucky Oaks has been our goal from the beginning. It would be an honor to win a Kentucky Oaks and (Rachel Alexandra's) owners have been leaning that way all along. It's the height of a career for a three-year-old filly, and these owners are pretty sensible guys.
"My assistant called me this morning from the road and said Rachel is already halfway home to Hot Springs. He told me she cooled out well and ate up everything last night."
The talented bay filly improved her record to five wins from eight starts and doubled her bankroll with her Fair Grounds Oaks win to $471,440. Jockey Calvin Borel made sure Rachel Alexandra got all the credit she deserved coming down the lane at Fair Grounds, easing her up at the sixteenth pole and letting her gallop home.
"I got some calls about Calvin this morning; we told him next time to celebrate after they have crossed the wire," Wiggins laughed. "She ran so well, and came out of the race in good shape. She will walk five or six days, and then she will head back to the track, and will probably work one more time before her next race."
Wiggins, after the big win on Saturday, was taking a brief vacation to visit his grandchildren in Houston, Texas, but took the time to discuss upcoming plans for Rachel Alexandra.
"I think we will do one of two things with her now," Wiggins explained while driving through Lafayette, Louisiana. "We'll either not run her again until the Kentucky Oaks or we'll run her in the (April 5) Fantasy ([G2] at Oaklawn) in three weeks and then go on to Louisville. That would still give us (four) weeks before the Kentucky Oaks.
"The owners are leaning heavily to the Fantasy Stakes right now," he added. "The (April 11) Arkansas Derby (G2) is still being considered, but right now it looks like she will go to the Fantasy. It will give her four weeks between the Fantasy and the Oaks rather than three weeks, and we think she needs enough time in between races."
Rachel Alexandra is now undefeated in her sophomore campaign with two wins, having earned a dominating eight-length score in the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park prior to the Fair Grounds Oaks.
"She is definitely one of the best fillies I have ever trained," Wiggins said. "She handles everything so well, and does everything so easy. In the race yesterday we were a little concerned with the racetrack being sloppy, but she showed that it was no problem. Calvin sent her to the lead, and she relaxed so nicely, and it really worked out for her."
RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro), heroine of Saturday's Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), has an excellent chance to be the fourth of the last five Fair Grounds Oaks winners to go on to win the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 1. However, there is little chance that she will become Queen of the Kentucky Derby (G1).
"That (speculation) makes good talk," trainer Hal Wiggins said Sunday morning, "but it's pretty much all media hype. The Kentucky Oaks has been our goal from the beginning. It would be an honor to win a Kentucky Oaks and (Rachel Alexandra's) owners have been leaning that way all along. It's the height of a career for a three-year-old filly, and these owners are pretty sensible guys.
"My assistant called me this morning from the road and said Rachel is already halfway home to Hot Springs. He told me she cooled out well and ate up everything last night."
The talented bay filly improved her record to five wins from eight starts and doubled her bankroll with her Fair Grounds Oaks win to $471,440. Jockey Calvin Borel made sure Rachel Alexandra got all the credit she deserved coming down the lane at Fair Grounds, easing her up at the sixteenth pole and letting her gallop home.
"I got some calls about Calvin this morning; we told him next time to celebrate after they have crossed the wire," Wiggins laughed. "She ran so well, and came out of the race in good shape. She will walk five or six days, and then she will head back to the track, and will probably work one more time before her next race."
Wiggins, after the big win on Saturday, was taking a brief vacation to visit his grandchildren in Houston, Texas, but took the time to discuss upcoming plans for Rachel Alexandra.
"I think we will do one of two things with her now," Wiggins explained while driving through Lafayette, Louisiana. "We'll either not run her again until the Kentucky Oaks or we'll run her in the (April 5) Fantasy ([G2] at Oaklawn) in three weeks and then go on to Louisville. That would still give us (four) weeks before the Kentucky Oaks.
"The owners are leaning heavily to the Fantasy Stakes right now," he added. "The (April 11) Arkansas Derby (G2) is still being considered, but right now it looks like she will go to the Fantasy. It will give her four weeks between the Fantasy and the Oaks rather than three weeks, and we think she needs enough time in between races."
Rachel Alexandra is now undefeated in her sophomore campaign with two wins, having earned a dominating eight-length score in the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park prior to the Fair Grounds Oaks.
"She is definitely one of the best fillies I have ever trained," Wiggins said. "She handles everything so well, and does everything so easy. In the race yesterday we were a little concerned with the racetrack being sloppy, but she showed that it was no problem. Calvin sent her to the lead, and she relaxed so nicely, and it really worked out for her."
Comments
risk her future in a 20-horse field of brutal, man,
macho colts. It’s not where she needs to be. If
we could win the Kentucky Oaks (G1), it would
be a wonderful thing.”
Dolphus Morrison, co-owner and breeder of
Rachel Alexandra, in the Louisville Courier-Journal,
when asked if his talented three-year-old filly
should be a late nominee to the Triple Crown