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Filly Bests the Boys at Preakness Stakes

J.L. Orchard

Two weeks ago the owner of the stalwart racing filly, Rachel Alexandra, said, "Girls should race against girls."

 But since her outstanding victory in the Kentucky Oaks, Rachel Alexandra has moved in with trainer Steve Asmussen under the ownership of Jess Jackson, who believes, "Champions should race against champions."

Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird's owner, Mark Allen, stated prior to the Preakness Stakes that, "I usually don't believe in the fillies racing against the boys, but she might be the exception."

Jess Jackson hopes to breed Rachel Alexandra, upon retirement, to his 2007-2008 Horse of the Year, Curlin. He expects the result to be a super horse. Many believe he already has that horse.

Calvin Borel rode Rachel Alexandra to victory in the Kentucky Oaks, as well as Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby. With both horses entered in the Preakness Stakes, Borel held firm to his belief that Rachel Alexandra is the best horse he's ridden. He wanted to ride her in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

With Borel on Rachel Alexandra, jockey Mike Smith moved onto Mine That Bird, and although he didn't run as the favorite in the Preakness Stakes, Mine That Bird did make an outstanding statement. There was a delay in the starting gate when Big Drama bucked his rider. But Mine That Bird, directly next to Big Drama in the number two gate, kept his cool. Rachel Alexandra led the pack the entire race with Mine That Bird taking up the rear, and in those final moments of the race Mike Smith almost didn't find a gap to get forward through.

It was an edge of your seat race as Mine That Bird weaved his way along the outside, stealing places like he had in the Derby. Everybody knew the line was close and Rachel Alexandra was lengths ahead of Mine That Bird but he kept closing in. In size comparison, these two horses are like Seabiscuit and War Admiral all over again, except Mine That Bird is like the Biscuit and Rachel Alexandra is War Admiral. Borel most likely had a few concerns when he saw Mine That Bird ragging up from the outside, after all, he's ridden Mine That Bird, he knows how that this gelding can charge.

In the end Rachel Alexandra's nose touched the line first at 1:55, giving Borel, but no horse, the second jewel of the Triple Crown. So the filly bested the boys this round, but is she better? If the finish had been a few strides later, or if the pack had sieved a little for the Derby winner, Mine That Bird would have won. At the least he proved that he is "for real." But since 1924, it's good to see a girl win the Preakness again.