Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra zipped six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.40 at Churchill Downs April 19 as the 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro continues to prepare for a return to competition.
According to Churchill Downs, the filly trained by Steve Asmussen for Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stable and Harold McCormick posted fractions of :12.40, :24.40, :36.40, :48, and :59.40 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:24.1 under exercise rider Dominic Terry. The final time for the workout was the fastest of seven working this distance.
"She worked crazy good," said Asmussen, according to Churchill Downs vice president of communications John Asher. "She’s had three works here since she’s been here, and they have been extremely ‘Rachelesque.’ I’m happy to see her putting in work like she did last year."
Asmussen said there is still no decision on the race that will mark Rachel Alexandra’s return to competition. In her lone 2010 start, the filly finished second to Zardana in the New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds and prompted her connections to cancel an expected showdown with superstar and undefeated mare Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park.