Scott Blasi has been close to Rachel Alexandra ever since Steve Asmussen took over training the filly in May 2009. As Asmussen’s main assistant, Blasi has traveled with the champion, supervised her exercise, and has watched her grow up the past 14 months. So when Blasi says Rachel Alexandra is better than ever, he knows what he’s talking about.
“I feel great about her,” Blasi said July 23 after Rachel finished some light exercise at Monmouth Park. “She’s doing great from a maturity standpoint. She’s a bigger, stronger horse than she was last year. She knows how to work, and she knows how to rest. She has a great personality. I’m just happy with her.”
Rachel Alexandra, who will meet six rivals July 24 in the $400,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes, had an easy morning, galloping once around the one-mile oval at 5:45 a.m. EDT. She was scheduled to have a little social activity in the afternoon by schooling in the paddock with the field for the third race. The 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro has been installed at 1-9 on the morning line.
"She's really doing well. She was full of energy," Blasi said. "She looked great on the track, just appeared to be nice, loose and happy, and I thought she moved very well. She had a lot of energy and looked confident.''
Rachel will be trying to keep her Monmouth record perfect. In her only other local appearance, she won last year’s Haskell Invitational (gr. I) in a six-length romp on her way to earning Horse of the Year 2009 honors.
The Lady’s Secret Stakes will be run as the 11th event on a 12-race program with probable post time listed at 5:57 p.m.
