Rachel Alexandra draws the far outside post, installed as the 8/5 ml favorite
DiscreetCat
Moderator
from the Baltimore Sun:
Rachel Alexandra, the only filly among the field of 13, was made the clear favorite Wednesday for the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.
The prized filly was made a 8-5 favorite despite never having run against male competition and being in a competitive field that includes the top four Kentucky Derby finishers -- winner Mine That Bird, Pioneerof the Nile, Musket Man and Papa Clem. Rachel Alexandra will start in the 13th post position.
Pioneerof the Nile was a 5-1 second choice and Mine That Bird and Friesan Fire were 6-1 third choices.
Rachel Alexandra is the first filly since 1988 to be made the pre-race favorite. Winning Colors finished third that year.
Because of the entry of Rachel Alexandra, whose owners have a long-standing commitment from jockey Calvin Borel, Mine That Bird will be without his regular rider. Instead, veteran Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith, who won the Preakness in 1993 on Prairie Bayou, will be aboard the Kentucky Derby winner.
Officials also said the $100,000 fee paid by Rachel Alexandra's owner Jess Jackson will be added to the Preakness purse, which will now total $1.1 million.
The last filly to race in the Preakness was Excellent Meeting in 1999. Four fillies have won the Preakness, the last being Nellie Morse in 1924.
Rachel Alexandra, the only filly among the field of 13, was made the clear favorite Wednesday for the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.
The prized filly was made a 8-5 favorite despite never having run against male competition and being in a competitive field that includes the top four Kentucky Derby finishers -- winner Mine That Bird, Pioneerof the Nile, Musket Man and Papa Clem. Rachel Alexandra will start in the 13th post position.
Pioneerof the Nile was a 5-1 second choice and Mine That Bird and Friesan Fire were 6-1 third choices.
Rachel Alexandra is the first filly since 1988 to be made the pre-race favorite. Winning Colors finished third that year.
Because of the entry of Rachel Alexandra, whose owners have a long-standing commitment from jockey Calvin Borel, Mine That Bird will be without his regular rider. Instead, veteran Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith, who won the Preakness in 1993 on Prairie Bayou, will be aboard the Kentucky Derby winner.
Officials also said the $100,000 fee paid by Rachel Alexandra's owner Jess Jackson will be added to the Preakness purse, which will now total $1.1 million.
The last filly to race in the Preakness was Excellent Meeting in 1999. Four fillies have won the Preakness, the last being Nellie Morse in 1924.
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