LOUISVILLE, KY - Let the second guessing begin!!
In one of the most lopsided renewals in its 135 history, Rachel Alexandra demolished six other amazingly overmatched three-year-old fillies to win the G1 Kentucky Oaks by 20 ¼ lengths under Calvin Borel, immediately invoking images as to what might have been if she had awaited Saturday’s $2 million G1 Kentucky Derby and a run against the boys.
As expected, West Coast invader Gabby’s Golden Gal was sent directly to the lead by jockey Victor Espinoza and set moderate early fractions of :23 3/5 and :47 2/5 while being shadowed by Rachel Alexandra the entire length of the backstretch.
Approaching the turn, Borel decided it was time to go and raced past the front runner like she was tied to the quarter pole. Like she did in her previous three starts, Rachel Alexandra began to open up but this time Borel really let her strut her stuff, going the last three furlongs in :37 seconds while in a common gallop, stopping the clock in a sharp 1:48 4/5 over a drying out course that was upgraded to fast just before the race.
Stone Legacy, one of three sent to post in the Oaks by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas managed to get second over Flying Spur who raced wide throughout before getting up to be third. Justwhistledixie, second choice on the morning line, was scratched about 90 minutes before the Oaks due to a foot abscess.
Though it hasn’t been said, one would have to think that part of the reason any Derby talk that pertained to Rachel Alexandra was shot down immediately due to the events that surrounded Eight Belles and last years’ Run for the Roses.
You might recall that Eight Belles ran a mighty second to daylight winner Big brown before breaking down after the wire and having to be euthanized on the track after the race. Her trainer Larry Jones and jockey Gabriel Saez both came under unwarranted scrutiny by fans, media and animal rights activists alike, including PETA.
Trained by Hal Wiggins, who fought the urge to even nominate this spectacular filly to the Triple Crown series, Rachel Alexandra has now won seven of ten lifetime starts, including her last five. She paid $2.60 to win while topping off a juicy $45.20 exacta and $151.60 trifecta.
The Oaks was Borel’s second stakes win of the day as he deftly guided Miss Isella up the rail past the favorite One Caroline to win the G2 Louisville Distaff, paying $19.40 and capping off a $35.40 exacta. Morning line favorite, Eclipse champion Zenyatta was scheduled to make her seasonal debut in the race but was scratched due to track condition.
In other stakes action, Chamberlain Bridge rallied from off the pace under Garrett Gomez to win the G3 Aegon Turf Sprint over Cannonball and Smart Enough for trainer Bret Calhoun. Second choice Laragh, under Edgar Prado, defeated 2-1 favorite Magical Affair in wire to wire fashion in the Edgewood. Bullsbay ran down Cool Coal Man to win the G3 Alysheba, paying $8.40 for trainer Graham Motion under Jeremy Rose.
