Rachel Faces Four in Fleur de Lis

[two gun sid]

Calvin Borel will remain aboard Rachel Alexandra when the reigning Horse of the Year shoots for her first win of the season in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) June 12 at Churchill Downs. She will face just four rivals in the nine-furlong event.

Majority owner Jess Jackson nominated Rachel Alexandra to four races June 12—the Fleur de Lis, the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park, the Obeah Stakes (gr. III) at Delaware Park, and the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), which is later on the Churchill card.

The field for the Ogden Phipps includes Unrivaled Belle, who defeated Rachel Alexndra last out, while the Stephen Foster drew a stellar field of 11 older males, including Blame, Battle Plan, and Macho Again, who lost to Rachel Alexandra by a head in the 2009 Woodward Stakes (gr. I), which was her last victory.

Ultimately, Jackson chose the easier path for his filly. In a brief press release issued June 9 through a public relations person, Jackson said: “As long as she continues to progress, we intend to race her with the expectation that she will obtain her fitness level of last year. Our ultimate goal and hope is to enter the Breeders’ Cup in November.”

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/57430/rachel-faces-four-in-fleur-de-lis