Rachel Alexandra America’s Newest Champion

By Fanny Furlong

Americans love woman champions. Throughout history we have worshiped the bold, striking beauties
who have challenged men in and out of their respectful arenas, and have won! Rachel Alexandra is our
newest Champion. She is part Annie Duke outsmarting men at a poker table and going all in, she is part
Danica Patrick, putting the pedal to the metal, surging to lead against a track full of men with reckless abandon.

This is what she has done, she is the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes in 85 years! A horse so good that her regular rider, jockey Calvin Borel returned to her, leaving behind Mind That Bird, the Kentucky Derby Champion.

“Awesome,” said Trainer Bob Baffert whose own horse in the race, Pioneerof the Nile was left well behind.
“Rachel Alexandra is amazing. She took the heat and kept on going”. The 3-year-old went to post as the 9-5
favorite and didn’t disappoint. She took a slight stumble out of the gate, but recovered quickly to have the lead
at the first turn. A lead she would never relinquish. Holding off a charging Mine That Bird and Musket Man.

When Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks by twenty lengths, she was immediately sold. Owners Harold McCormick and Jess Jackson purchased her because they knew she was the best 3-year-old in the country.
They enter her in the Preakness Stakes to prove it.

“Champions deserved to run against Champions” said Jackson, “That’s why we did it”.

The Oaks and Preakness Champion is now undefeated in 6 starts, She can now be mentioned with the likes
of the great Filly Ruffian. The Belmont Stakes is up next, with the Breeder’s Cup coming in the fall. We will have
to see what direction she takes.Rachel Alexandra has arrived at just the right time in American History. The
People have a new girl, a new champion, to fall in love with now.