Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra was among the horses working at Churchill Downs on the morning of June 15 as horses trained under lights for the first time in the track’s 135-year history.
With exercise rider Dominic Terry aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen, the Medaglia d'Oro filly breezed six furlongs in 1:12 over a fast main track. She clicked off fractions of :12 2/5, :24 2/5, :36 2/5, :48 2/5, 1:00 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:24 4/5.
Churchill has installed temporary lights for three special dates of night racing billed as "Downs After Dark" -- Friday, June 19; Friday, June 26; and Thursday, July 2. Each of the three nightime racing programs will include 11 live races that begin at 6 p.m. ET.
Trainer Steve Asmussen has not said when the filly will make her next start.
