Curlin used Saratoga Race Course, specifically the Oklahoma training track, as his summer base the past two years. In 2007, it was to train; last year, he won the Grade 1 Woodward. On both occasions, he was voted Horse of the Year.
The plans figure to be identical for Rachel Alexandra, who has the same connections in co-owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen. Jackson said on a national conference call this afternoon that he expected to bring a large part of his Stonestreet Stable horses to the Spa, known for its tradition, history and lucrative purses.
On Saturday, Preakness and Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra returns to action in the Grade 1 Mother Goose against fellow 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park. Only three or four are expected to challenge.
The bigger challenge will be in deciding where to go next. Jackson mentioned several options, including the Grade 1 Alabama against females and the $1 million Travers against males at Saratoga.
"You have to read the horse and see what her condition is before you can set a full calendar for her," Jackson said. "I'd love to run her in the Travers. I'd love to run her in the Alabama. We just want to make sure she's in top shape and ready to go when we run her.
"We have to look at them all and see which is best suited for her in her condition at that time. I think she recovers quickly, so we'll see. Many of them are too tight together to be able to run in all of them. We can't predict her health all the way through the year, but if she stays healthy we'd like to try and pick a spot where she can compete against the boys again and, if she stays really healthy, have her possibly run again as a 4-year-old."
One spot Jackson ruled out is the Breeders' Cup, which will be run for the second straight year on the artificial Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita in California. It returns to conventional dirt in 2010 at Churchill Downs.
"I'm not inclined to go to the Breeders' Cup," Jackson said. "I have a very strong dislike for the plastic, and I don't believe she should be exposed to that."
Jockey Calvin Borel, who has won six straight races with Rachel, all in graded stakes, will be back aboard on Saturday. Unlike the Belmont Stakes, where he ran third with Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, Borel expects to ride at least one other race prior to the Mother Goose.
Borel also stopped short of guaranteeing a victory like he did with Mine That Bird during Belmont week.
"I have a lot of confidence in the filly. I think she's the best horse I've ever been on in my life," Borel said. "I don't go back on my word too many times. She's looked so good training out here at Churchill. She's doing so good. We've got nothing to prove."
