Rachel Alexandra to race next at Monmouth

By: SPORTS NETWORK

 

 

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sports Network) - Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra will make her next start in the 1 1/8-mile Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 24. This would be her second lifetime start at the New Jersey track.

"We had a great experience at Monmouth Park," co-owner Jess Jackson said, "and we appreciate the overwhelming show of support the fans there have given us. It's the perfect place to start what we hope will be another championship run."

Last year at Monmouth Park the filly won the Haskell Invitational versus three-year-old males.

The purse for the Lady's Secret Stakes has been increased from $150,000 to $400,000 to attract the champion filly. However, should Rachel not start, the purse will revert to its original total.

In her last start this year she won the Fleur de Lis by 10 1/2-lengths on June 12. She came up short in her initial two starts of 2010. She was second to Zardana at the Fair Grounds in the New Orleans Ladies Classic and runner-up to Unrivaled Belle at Churchill Downs in the La Troienne.

Rachel, who has Calvin Borel as her jockey, has won 12 of 17 career starts for $3,216,730. This year she has won one of three races for $258,376.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, the four-year-old filly arrived at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday on a plane flight from Louisville.