NEW YORK — Sheer intimidation may have kept most of Rachel Alexandra’s competition away, and a couple of late scratches made the Mother Goose Stakes a three-horse race.
The Preakness winner romped to a 19 1/4-length victory Saturday, making a dazzling move on the far turn at Belmont Park and pulling away from Malibu Prayer and Flashing to finish the 1 1/8-mile race in a stakes- record 1:46.33.
“Believe me, she’s not normal,” jockey Calvin Borel said. “She’s unbelievable.”
Rachel Alexandra hardly looked like she broke a sweat, strutting through the winner’s circle just as she had the paddock. The filly was the overwhelming 1-9 favorite, and did absolutely nothing to dispute it, paying $2.10 to win.
She has captured seven straight races dating to last year, including her rousing victory against Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird at Pimlico. Malibu Prayer finished second and Flashing was third, although there was no place or show wagering because of the short field.
“I felt she could win by 10 lengths,” co-owner Jess Jackson said. “She’s something special, one for the ages.”
Jackson hasn’t said where he’ll run Rachel Alexandra next. He has mentioned as candidates the Delaware Handicap on July 19, the Haskell Invitational on Aug. 2 and the Travers on Aug. 29 — all races against the boys.
She also could run against fillies in the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 25 at Belmont.
Zenyatta still perfect
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Zenyatta improved her record to 11-0, coming from off the pace to win the $300,000 Vanity Handicap by 2 1/2 lengths at Hollywood Park.
The Associated Press
