Superstar Mating: Rachel Bred to Curlin

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Two horses crowned as Horse of the Year were bred Feb. 21 when female superstar Rachel Alexandra was mated with the stallion Curlin  . The mating took place at 9 a.m. (EST) at William S. Farish's Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky.

Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year, was raced by Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and Harold T. McCormick. Stonestreet also campaigned Curlin, Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008 who stands at Lane’s End.

“It was just a very routine visit,” said Farish. “She accepted him and he her. We are very excited to have her and, of course, Zenyatta, who could be bred within the next week.”

Zenyatta, the reigning Horse of the Year boarded at Lane’s End, is booked to Bernardini  , who stands at Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley.

“The privilege of owning these horses is like lightning striking twice,” Banke said in a statement. “Rachel Alexandra and Curlin are true champions; both horses embody that intangible equine ideal that separate mere horse from legend. Both Jess and I are so pleased that these powerful bloodlines will pass to future generations.”

“We have been anticipating this introduction for some time now,” Jackson said. “Imagine what possibilities those two super horses might produce.

“Rachel Alexandra’s 2009 campaign was one for the ages--one that racing fans will remember throughout time,” Jackson said of the filly’s career. “Curlin showed the heart of a champion in every race.  He did everything we asked of him and more -- taking on ever-more difficult challenges. He won going away, he won coming from behind, he won in the heat and the rain.”