Saratoga Springs, NY (My Sportsbook) - Leading thoroughbred racehorse Rachel Alexandra will make her next start in the Woodward Stakes versus older males at Saratoga on Saturday, September 5. Co-owner Jess Jackson made the announcement Monday morning.
"Rachel Alexandra's workouts have been excellent," said Jackson. "Hal McCormick, my family and I, like other fans of horseracing, want to see her tested. If she goes up against older male horses, we'll be better able to get a measure of her greatness."
The Woodward is a 1 1/8 mile race for horses three-years-old and up conducted on Saratoga's main dirt track. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has increased the purse of the event by $250,000 to $750,000.
"Raising the Woodward purse will help attract a top field to what will be a historic race," said NYRA Vice President and Director of Racing P.J. Campo. "In addition, we felt that to have a filly like Rachel Alexandra seeking to become the first ever female to win the Woodward warranted an increase in purse."
Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen sent out two-time Horse of the Year Curlin to win the 2008 running of the Woodward.
"Jess's sportsmanship about what they can do is quite obvious," Asmussen noted, "instead of just talk, there's just so much, no filly has won the Woodward, for everything else that she's done I think that it's the showcase or the platform that she's worthy of."
Several races were being considered for the filly, including the $1 million Travers versus three-year-old colts and geldings on August 29, the $400,000 Personal Ensign against fillies and mares on August 30, and the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day at Philadelphia Park.
'Rachel' is perfect in all seven starts this year and has earned just under $2.3 million. Among her wins in 2009 are the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes. She won the Oaks and Mother Goose by a combined 40- lengths.
Her last start came against three-year-old males in the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. On a sloppy track, she clobbered her opposition by six-lengths with Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird second.
'Rachel' has career winnings of nearly $2.5 million with 10 wins in 13 starts.
