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Rachel Alexandra Preakness Run Is On - 05-12-09
May 12 - While the past week has been full of speculation as to whether talented Kentucky Oaks winner, Rachel Alexandra, would start in Saturday's $1 million Preakness Stakes (Gr 1) at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland, her connections have confirmed that the three-year-old filly will line up at the gate.
In a complete break from tradition, top jockey Calvin Borel has chosen to ride her in the race, despite winning the Kentucky Derby in fine style on 50-1 long shot Mine That Bird over a week ago. The jockey's choice is seen as breaking from tradition, as usually Derby winners retain their rides in the Preakness Stakes.
Borel faced a tough choice of whether to ride Rachel Alexandra, a filly he has won on five straight times, including the Kentucky Oaks a couple of weeks ago, or follow tradition by riding the Derby winner in the Preakness, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown of races, the Belmont Stakes in June being the third and final.
When rumors first started circulating that Rachel Alexandra's new owner, Jess Jackson, and trainer, Steve Asmussen, were considering entering the quick filly in this year's Preakness, it sent shockwaves through the horseracing industry as Rachel Alexandra is perceived - and rightly so - to be such an enormous threat.
In fact, some owners reportedly threatened to pull their runners from the big race if she ran, while others banded together to try to prevent her from running in the race using the rule book. Unlike the Kentucky Derby, in the Preakness Stakes supplemental entries do not supersede the entry of an original nominee.
As a result, a few owners reportedly considered entering secondary horses (who were amongst the original nominees) to prevent Rachel Alexandra from securing a coveted berth in the 14-horse field. However, when all was said and done, none of the owners followed through with their plans, allowing Rachel Alexandra to enter.
One of the owners was Mark Allen, who owns Mine That Bird. 'My decision to enter Indy Express in the Preakness was strictly business, but after talking with my dad (Bill Allen) and Doc Blach, I have decided to withdraw Indy Express. They advised me to do what's right, because arrogance and greed isn't right.'
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