Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to arrive at Belmont Park between 4 and 5 on Tuesday afternoon, leading up to her next start in Saturday's Grade 1 $300,000 Mother Goose.
Co-owned by Jess Jackson, Rachel Alexandra will be stabled in barn 58 of trainer Steve Asmussen. She is currently with Asmussen's string at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Belmont is offering free admission for women on Saturday, and will give away pink bracelets embossed with the filly’s name. The bracelets are free for the first 10,000 customers (paid for males, free for females) and will be handed out at both clubhouse and grandstand admission booths. They will be limited to one per customer, with no coupon required, while supplies last.
NYRA has chosen to give away pink bracelets to show support for the decision announced last week by Rachel Alexandra’s co-owners, Jess Jackson, founder of Kendall-Jackson Wines, and his wife Barbara Banke, to contribute a portion of the filly’s future winnings to the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure” for breast cancer.
“This exceptional fund is one more example of how generous people can help direct their money to charities that make a difference,” Allison Lankford, Director of Philanthropic Services, Blue Grass Community Foundation, said in a statement. “What a wonderful way for Barbara and Jess and their fabulous horse Rachel Alexandra to benefit so many.”
Her victories in the Preakness, against males, and fellow females in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, lifted Rachel Alexandra's career record for Rachel Alexandra to 8-2-0 in 11 races with earnings of $1,618,354.
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At Churchill Downs this morning, Rachel Alexandra worked a half-mile in :49.80 under exercise rider Dominic Terry. The 3-year-old daughter of Travers winner Medaglia d’Oro, who has won six consecutive races, covered the distance over a fast track in fractional times of :13, :25 and :37.40, galloping out five furlongs in 1:03.40.
“The filly went beautiful this morning,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “She looked very happy. (Assistant trainer) Scott (Blasi) and Dominic have done a great job keeping her happy.”
Blasi will accompany Rachel Alexandra from Kentucky to New York. She will bed down in stall 5, the same one used by 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year Curlin.
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Multiple graded stakes winner Justwhistledixie will skip the Mother Goose and point instead to the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 8.
The Test is seven furlongs; the Mother Goose 1 1/8 miles. Both are restricted to 3-year-old fillies.
“We just decided (the Mother Goose) is back a little quick for us," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Justwhistledixie was second in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont on June 6.
Don’t Forget Gil, Flashing and Malibu Prayer are the only other likely starters Mother Goose.
