Star filly Rachel Alexandra is finished racing for the year, co-owner Jess Jackson announced Oct. 9.
Jackson, who said Rachel Alexandra would not run in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) on Nov. 7 at Santa Anita because he did not want to run his horses on a synthetic surface, indicated the 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro would return to racing in 2010.
Rachel Alexandra completed her year with a perfect 8-for-8 record, including wins against males in the Preakness (gr. I), Haskell Invitational (gr. I), and the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) against older horses. The bay filly is a leading contender for Horse of the Year. She will spend the rest of the year at Churchill Downs.
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“We have seen an amazing 2009 campaign from Rachel Alexandra our three-year old filly,” Jackson said in a release. “She not only beat the fillies by 20 lengths in the Kentucky Oaks and 19 lengths in the Mother Goose Stakes, she beat the boys in the Preakness and the Haskell, and older males in the Woodward.
“She beat the winners of the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont. Rachel raced on eight different tracks. She prevailed in all eight of her races in 09--five of them grade I contests. Hers was a campaign for the ages beyond what any filly has ever accomplished and she is only three years old. Our family and racing fans will always remember and enjoy her historic 2009 campaign.
“Today, I am formally announcing our decision to conclude Rachel's 2009 campaign and allow her to mature naturally. She has moved to Churchill Downs for a well-deserved rest. We are all looking forward to an exciting 2010 season.
"In the interim, I want to sincerely thank the fans, the track officials, and the media for all their heartfelt support of this wonderful filly.”