Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to make her next start June 12, with four different races, including the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) against males, under consideration for the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro .
Jess Jackson, who races the top 4-year-old filly with Harold McCormick, issued a statement June 1 saying that Rachel Alexandra will start in either the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I, $600,000, Churchill Downs, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up), Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I, $250,000, Belmont Park, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds and up, fillies/mares), Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II, $200,000, Churchill Downs, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up, fillies/mares), and the Obeah Stakes (gr. III, $150,000, Delaware Park, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds and up, fillies/mares).
Jackson’s statement came one day after Rachel Alexandra impressed in a six furlong workout at Churchill Downs in which she zipped six furlongs in 1:11 1/5. Her internal fractions for three furlongs (:35 2/5) and five furlongs (:59 2/5) in the workout were faster than the recorded official workouts at Churchill Downs for those distances on May 31.
"Rachel Alexandra’s condition continues to improve," Jackson said in the statement. "Assuming she continues to progress, we are considering one of the following June 12 races for Rachel’s next preparation--the Stephen Foster, Fleur de Lis, Ogden Phipps, or the Obeah. Our ultimate goal has not changed in scheduling Rachel Alexandra’s campaign this year. We are getting her back to her fitness level of last year with the long-term hope to race her in the Breeders Cup (World Championships) this fall."
The June 12 race will be the first outing for Rachel Alexandra since the filly was upset by Unrivaled Belle in the $400,000 La Troienne (gr. II) on the April 30 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) undercard at Churchill Downs.