Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra bounced back in resounding fashion on Saturday, winning the G2 Fleur de Lis H. at Churchill Downs in the manner to which she has become accustomed – by ten and a half lengths.
Unbeaten last season in eight starts, the Medaglia d'Oro filly’s Kentucky Oaks romp followed by her triumph over Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness and subsequent victories in the G1 Haskell Invitational and G1 Woodward Stakes led to her being named Eclipse Horse of the Year over a worthy rival, Zenyatta, by Street Cry.
Fans of America’s two leading distaffers have a weekend to relish as Zenyatta resumes today (Sunday) at Hollywood Park in a bid to win her third G1 Vanity H. in a row and stretch her extraordinary unbeaten record to 17. Rachel Alexandra has also had 17 starts, winning 12 and finishing runner-up in four of those outings.
Bred by Dolphus C Morrison, Rachel Alexandra is out of Lotta Kim, by Roar, and is one of five G1 winners for Medaglia d’Oro, whose eldest runners are four-year-olds.
