Rachel Alexandra Pointed to Preakness With Regular Rider Borel in the Saddle

How good is champion filly Rachel Alexandra? Enough to make jockey Calvin Borel do something almost unthinkable. Borel who won both marquee races at Churchill Downs last week with victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby has committed to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness Stakes. That will leave the "Run for the Roses" champion Mine That Bird in need for a rider in the "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans".

“It came down to the facts that he knows and loves this horse, that he knows how to get the most from her and he knows how to win,’’ Jess Jackson told Bloodhorse.com a day after purchasing the filly for an undisclosed price. “They were an amazing team at the Kentucky Oaks—winning by over 20 lengths. We think this is a perfect match of rider and horse.’’

Jackson added:

"If she continues to be in perfect condition, our intention will be to run her in the Preakness."

The final decision will come next week whether or not she takes on the boys in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

If the three year old filly does indeed enter in the prestigious race she will be the first female entrant in over a decade. Rachel Alexandra will also be vying to become the first filly to win the race Nellie Morse won the race in in 1924. Rags to Riches proved that the girls can sometimes top the men after she won the Belmont Stakes in 2007 and Eight Belles, of course, finished second in the Kentucky Derby but that race was marred with tragedy after the filly took a bad step following the race and had to be put down with a shattered leg.