Kentucky Oaks Winner Rachel Alexandra Doubtful For The Preakness Stakes 2009
Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra turned in a strong workout Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, but a full field of 14 Triple Crown-nominated horses could stymie plans to enter the standout filly in Saturday’s the Preakness Stakes 2009.
Pimlico officials had been expecting a field of 13 Preakness starters–including Rachel Alexandra–to be entered in the Preakness Stakes, but late Sunday afternoon it appeared that the filly who captured the Kentucky Oaks by more than 20 lengths might be excluded from the Preakness entries list by the prospect of 2 new Preakness contenders being entered.
Rachel Alexandra was not nominated to the Triple Crown, but she could be eligible to compete in the Preakness if her new owner, Stonestreet Stables, owned by Jess Jackson, pays a $100,000 supplemental entry fee and one of the 14 positions in the Preakness field is available.
Nominated horses have preference, however, and the probable Preakness horses suddenly swelled Sunday to 15, including 14 Triple Crown nominees and Rachel Alexandra.
Ahmed Zayat, the owner of the Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile said that he had been called by Mark Allen, the co-owner of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, and discussed entering other horses to exclude Rachel Alexandra. If Rachel Alexandra did make it into the Preakness field, Allen would be forced to find a replacement for Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel, who has made a year-long commitment to ride Stonestreet’s star filly. Jockey Mike Smith would likely get the assignment.
Zayat, who nominated 22 horses to the Triple Crown, said in the interview that he agreed to enter a second horse. Allen also told HRTV that he intends to enter Indy Express, a maiden owned by Fourteen Enterprises, in which he has an interest. Indy Express is winless in 9 career starts and has earnings of $12,618.
Late Sunday afternoon, Zayat told Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas that he intended to enter only Pioneerof the Nile.
At mid-day Sunday, Hall of Fame race horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas announced that he planned to enter a second colt, Marylou Whitney’s Luv Gov, who broke his maiden on the Kentucky Derby Day program, in addition to Flying Private, who finished last in the Kentucky Derby. Whitney owns Birdstone, the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.
Jackson purchased Rachel Alexandra early last week and transferred her from race horse trainer Hal Wiggins to Steve Asmussen’s stable. In her first work for Asmussen Sunday, she covered 4 furlongs in 48.40 seconds. Following the breeze, Jackson confirmed that he planned to enter Rachel Alexandra in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.
“Rachel Alexandra had an impressive workout today and she is ready to run in the Preakness,” Jackson said in a statement. “Since it’s Mother’s Day, I wish I could announce to all mothers everywhere that this incredible filly is entered to take on the boys, but Triple Crown rules may prevent us from sending her to Pimlico. I want the fans to know that we are prepared to enter here and I’m hopeful that her entry will be accepted. I know that we all want the thrill of seeing her race next weekend.”
The first four finishers in the Kentucky Derby (Mine That Bird, Pioneerof the Nile, Musket Man and Papa Clem) automatically make the Preakness field because they earned purse money in Louisville. The next three in the field, based on graded earnings are General Quarters, Friesan Fire and Big Drama. Terrain, Flying Private, Take the Points and Hull qualify in the next category (earnings in all non-restricted stakes). The final three spots are currently filled by Luv Gov, Tone It Down and Indy Express (total lifetime earnings). All 14 were pre-nominated to the Triple Crown prior to the Kentucky Derby.
Rachel Alexandra would rank fifth on the list and bump all the others down one notch.
Horse racing news edited from www.preakness.com
Tags: Big Drama, Flying Private, Friesan Fire, General Quarters, Hull, Indy Express, Luv Gov, Mine That Bird, Musket Man, Papa Clem, Pioneerof the Nile, Rachel Alexandra, Take the Points, Terrain, Tone It Down
"Kentucky Oaks Winner Rachel Alexandra Doubtful For The Preakness Stakes 2009" was posted on 11 May 2009 3:53 AM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Preakness Stakes, Race Tracks, Stakes Races, Triple Crown
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