It’s an old cliché, but very true this time. A race like today's only comes around once in a lifetime. Today is a rare opportunity to see an amazing racehorse try to complete a feat that has only been attempted once before, a three year old filly going up against older seasoned male horses and winning in New York. The darling of the girls in 2009, Rachel Alexandra will try to make unique history at this historic track in a few hours. I’ve seen some pretty nice fillies race in my lifetime and some great ones, but Rachel Alexandra brings an element like no other distaff runner since Ruffian.
I only remember seeing Ruffian from films at the time she ran. Her story was a great one, but tragic. Her brilliance was unheard for her time and she dominated her sex much like Rachel Alexandra has. But, before that ill faded breakdown in a match race versus Foolish Pleasure in 1975, she only dominated her own sex. The great Lady’s Secret would defeat the “boys” in the Whitney Stakes here in 1986, but she was four year’s old at the time. Back in 1990, the late great Go For Wand won both the Test Stakes and Alabama Stakes only weeks apart as a three year old filly. But, today Rachel Alexandra attempts a feat that may be only done once in a lifetime.
The ramifications are wide spread here in today’s Woodward Stakes. Since the race’s inception in 1954; no filly or mare has won this race. Let alone that it’s a three year old filly trying to do this is amazing itself. Hall of Fame colts and geldings have won this race during its long history. But only one time during the great history of racing in New York , has a three year old filly defeated older male counterparts in a grade I race. That was in 1887 when Lady Primrose won the Manhattan Handicap. Few have tried, but those few aren’t in the same caliber of Rachel Alexandra.
Her rise to prominence started at Oaklawn Park in February and has ridden a seven race win streak in today’s event. Handling her lady foes quite easily in her spring prep races, her twenty plus length victory in the Kentucky Oaks stamped her as something special. It was on to face her three year old male counterparts in the Preakness Stakes and again she did not disappoint. For good measure, she crushed her own sex again in the Mother Goose Stakes and after that once again showed that she was the best three year old horse in training with a Haskell Stakes victory at Monmouth Park over Belmont Stakes winner & last Saturday’s Travers victor; Summer Bird.
Coming into today’s event, Rachel Alexandra gets a considerable weight break for facing older male horses. She’ll be giving eight pounds up to her six opponents. Only two of the “boys” she is facing have ever won a grade I race, she has four straight times. While this group of older males seems even on paper, there is no superstar that has accomplished what she has this year or any year.
The only two horses that look like they will be running on the front end with her are; D’Tara and Pass the Point. The later held on gamely last year in this race versus Curlin. Bullsbay had a career effort in the Whitney Stakes last time out and may “bounce” off that effort. Same goes for the other part of the Nick Zito entry; Cool Coal Man. He has shown in his past performances that when he faces grade stakes competition he’s not quite up to it. If anyone could defeat this superstar filly, it may be one of three remaining horses (Asiatic Boy, Macho Again or It’s a Bird). Asiatic Boy has finished second in both his North American starts. Scratched from the Whitney Stakes, he returns trying to regain his form previous to this year’s Dubai World Cup. Macho Again is a “grinder” and should be flying late to pick up the pieces. It’s a Bird was no factor downstate in the Suburban Handicap, but his trainer ships in for a reason. My selections for this race are; Rachel Alexandra with Asiatic Boy for second and Macho Again & It’s a Bird in the exotic and multi-race spots. We’ll have beautiful late summer weather this afternoon. So come out to the Spa and see history in the making. It’s very doubtful you’ll ever see a three year old filly like Rachel Alexandra again!
