Rachel Alexandra (USA)
January 29, 2006 – Living
Medaglia d'Oro (USA) x Lotta Kim (USA), by Roar (USA)
Family 1-o
January 29, 2006 – Living
Medaglia d'Oro (USA) x Lotta Kim (USA), by Roar (USA)
Family 1-o
As the 2009 American racing season wound to a close, the question on everyone's mind was which of two magnificent Amazons would wear the laurels as Horse of the Year. Fans of the brilliant 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra could point to a 20-plus length tour de force in the Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1), a victory over Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1), a six-length trouncing of Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Summer Bird in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1), and a hard-fought win over older males in the Woodward Stakes (USA-G1). Those supporting the undefeated mare Zenyatta countered by citing her unprecedented victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) as well as her domination of her own division. In the end, Rachel Alexandra won out in Eclipse Award voting with 130 votes against 99 for Zenyatta. Devotees of both mares still argue as to whether justice was truly served, but there is no doubt that Rachel Alexandra's season was one of the most remarkable turned in by a 3-year-old filly in many years. Unfortunately, her 4-year-old season was anticlimactic, and she retired without the showdown with Zenyatta that fans had been craving. She produced only two foals before being pensioned from broodmare duty.
Race record
19 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 0 thirds, US$3,506,730
2008:
2009:
2010:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2008, 8 pounds below champion Stardom Bound.
Rated at 127 pounds on the 2009 World Thoroughbred Rankings, 9 pounds below highweighted Sea the Stars (the European Horse of the Year) and 3 pounds below the brilliant miler Goldikova, who was topweighted among fillies and mares. Her rating was also 1 pound below that of Zenyatta.but was tops for 3-year-old fillies worldwide.
Rated at 120 pounds on the 2010 World Thoroughbred Rankings, 16 pounds below highweighted Harbinger (who earned his rating with a win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, ENG-G1) and 5 pounds below the topweighted mares, Zenyatta and Goldikova.
As an individual
A dark bay mare, Rachel Alexandra stands 16.2 hands. While a big, robust mare, she has a feminine head. She had a long, light racing stride and typically preferred to cruise on or near the lead. She was at her best over 8 to 9 furlongs. She has been described as extremely sensible and professional in disposition. She enjoys peppermints as treats.
As a producer
Rachel Alexandra began her broodmare career by being mated to her fellow American Horse of the Year Curlin in 2011. The resulting colt, Jess's Dream (named in honor of the late Jess Jackson, who owned both Rachel Alexandra and Curlin), won at first asking in a 9-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga on August 24, 2015. He completed the trip in 1:49.06, winning by a length, and was designated as a "Rising Star" by Thoroughbred Daily News. Unfortunately, he never ran again. He entered stud in 2017 at Ocala Stud in Florida. In October 2023, he was gelded and began retraining as a stable pony.
Rachel Alexandra also produced a 2013 filly by Bernardini but was injured during the foaling and required surgery at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital to repair damage to her colon; her foal was placed on a nurse mare. Named Rachel's Valentina, the filly became her dam's first winner by winning a maiden special weight at Saratoga on August 2, 2015. The first-time starter completed six furlongs in 1:10.39 and won by two lengths, earning "Rising Star" status from Thoroughbred Daily News. In her next start, the Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) on September 4, Rachel's Valentina showed that her maiden performance was no fluke with a professional-looking victory. She followed up by running second to Songbird in the 14 hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1) and was second to Weep No More in the 2016 Central Bank Ashland Oaks (USA-G1). Rachel's Valentina failed to win or place in two further starts and was retired in July 2016.
Rachel Alexandra was not bred after 2012 and has been permanently pensioned from breeding.
Connections
Rachel Alexandra was bred in Kentucky by Dolphus C. Morrison. She raced in the colors of L & M Partners (Dolphus Morrison and Michael Lauffer) through her victory in the Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1). She was then sold to Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick for a reported US$10 million. Prior to the sale, she was trained by Hal Wiggins; she was trained afterward by Steve Asmussen. She was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks and Preakness scores, by her regular pilot, Calvin Borel. She resides at Stonestreet Farm, where the staff holds occasional “Meet Rachel” days to allow fans to visit her.
Pedigree notes
Rachel Alexandra is inbred 4x4 to Northern Dancer and 5x5 to Sir Gaylord. She is a full sister to Samantha Nicole, dam of stakes winner Fairchild (by Speightstown). Their dam Lotta Kim is a Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner and is a half sister to Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Lotta Rhythm (by Rhythm) and stakes winner High Blues (by High Yield). Another half sister to Lotta Kim, No Blues Today (by Prospect Bay), is the dam of Canadian stakes winner Big Blue Caboose (by Silver Train).
Lotta Kim is out of Kim's Blues (by Cure the Blues), whose half sister Run Early Run Fast (by Cherokee Run) is the dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Stamp Queen (by Soto). The next dam in the female line, Early Decision (by Lord Gaylord) won a restricted stakes and is a half sister to multiple Puerto Rican stakes winner Music Express and restricted stakes winner Missy's Music, both by Travelling Music.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credits
Top: Photograph by Jessica Morgan taken during workouts for the Kentucky Oaks. Used by permission.
Bottom: Photograph by Jessica Morgan, taken at Stonestreet Farm in 2015. Used by permission.
Race record
19 starts, 13 wins, 5 seconds, 0 thirds, US$3,506,730
2008:
- Won Golden Rod Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Pocahontas Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Debutante Stakes (USA-G3, 6FD, Churchill Downs)
2009:
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Woodward Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Fantasy Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Oaklawn)
- Won Fair Grounds Oaks (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Martha Washington Stakes (USA, 8FD, Oaklawn)
2010:
- Won Fleur de Lis Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Lady's Secret Stakes (USA, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Personal Ensign Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd La Troienne Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd New Orleans Ladies Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2016)
- Fair Grounds Hall of Fame (inducted in 2011)
- Eclipse Award, American Horse of the Year (2009)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2009). Rachel Alexandra was a unanimous selection for the award, winning all 232 votes cast.
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile fillies of 2008, 8 pounds below champion Stardom Bound.
Rated at 127 pounds on the 2009 World Thoroughbred Rankings, 9 pounds below highweighted Sea the Stars (the European Horse of the Year) and 3 pounds below the brilliant miler Goldikova, who was topweighted among fillies and mares. Her rating was also 1 pound below that of Zenyatta.but was tops for 3-year-old fillies worldwide.
Rated at 120 pounds on the 2010 World Thoroughbred Rankings, 16 pounds below highweighted Harbinger (who earned his rating with a win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, ENG-G1) and 5 pounds below the topweighted mares, Zenyatta and Goldikova.
As an individual
A dark bay mare, Rachel Alexandra stands 16.2 hands. While a big, robust mare, she has a feminine head. She had a long, light racing stride and typically preferred to cruise on or near the lead. She was at her best over 8 to 9 furlongs. She has been described as extremely sensible and professional in disposition. She enjoys peppermints as treats.
As a producer
Rachel Alexandra began her broodmare career by being mated to her fellow American Horse of the Year Curlin in 2011. The resulting colt, Jess's Dream (named in honor of the late Jess Jackson, who owned both Rachel Alexandra and Curlin), won at first asking in a 9-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga on August 24, 2015. He completed the trip in 1:49.06, winning by a length, and was designated as a "Rising Star" by Thoroughbred Daily News. Unfortunately, he never ran again. He entered stud in 2017 at Ocala Stud in Florida. In October 2023, he was gelded and began retraining as a stable pony.
Rachel Alexandra also produced a 2013 filly by Bernardini but was injured during the foaling and required surgery at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital to repair damage to her colon; her foal was placed on a nurse mare. Named Rachel's Valentina, the filly became her dam's first winner by winning a maiden special weight at Saratoga on August 2, 2015. The first-time starter completed six furlongs in 1:10.39 and won by two lengths, earning "Rising Star" status from Thoroughbred Daily News. In her next start, the Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) on September 4, Rachel's Valentina showed that her maiden performance was no fluke with a professional-looking victory. She followed up by running second to Songbird in the 14 hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1) and was second to Weep No More in the 2016 Central Bank Ashland Oaks (USA-G1). Rachel's Valentina failed to win or place in two further starts and was retired in July 2016.
Rachel Alexandra was not bred after 2012 and has been permanently pensioned from breeding.
Connections
Rachel Alexandra was bred in Kentucky by Dolphus C. Morrison. She raced in the colors of L & M Partners (Dolphus Morrison and Michael Lauffer) through her victory in the Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1). She was then sold to Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick for a reported US$10 million. Prior to the sale, she was trained by Hal Wiggins; she was trained afterward by Steve Asmussen. She was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks and Preakness scores, by her regular pilot, Calvin Borel. She resides at Stonestreet Farm, where the staff holds occasional “Meet Rachel” days to allow fans to visit her.
Pedigree notes
Rachel Alexandra is inbred 4x4 to Northern Dancer and 5x5 to Sir Gaylord. She is a full sister to Samantha Nicole, dam of stakes winner Fairchild (by Speightstown). Their dam Lotta Kim is a Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner and is a half sister to Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Lotta Rhythm (by Rhythm) and stakes winner High Blues (by High Yield). Another half sister to Lotta Kim, No Blues Today (by Prospect Bay), is the dam of Canadian stakes winner Big Blue Caboose (by Silver Train).
Lotta Kim is out of Kim's Blues (by Cure the Blues), whose half sister Run Early Run Fast (by Cherokee Run) is the dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Stamp Queen (by Soto). The next dam in the female line, Early Decision (by Lord Gaylord) won a restricted stakes and is a half sister to multiple Puerto Rican stakes winner Music Express and restricted stakes winner Missy's Music, both by Travelling Music.
Books and media
- “Rachel Alexandra” is the eleventh chapter in Horse Racing Divas: From Azeri to Zenyatta, Twelve Fillies and Mares Who Achieved Horse Racing's Highest Honor. The book was written by the staff and correspondents of The Blood-Horse and was released in 2011.
- Six Weeks in Saratoga: How Three-Year-Old Filly Rachel Alexandra Beat the Boys and Became Horse of the Year was written by Brendan O'Meara. The first edition of the book was published by the State University of New York Press on July 1, 2011.
- Alexandra the Great: The Story of the Record-Breaking Filly Who Ruled the Racetrack was written by Deb Aronson. Targeted at junior readers, the book was released by the Chicago Review Press in 2017.
- Footage of Rachel Alexandra's Kentucky Oaks win can be accessed in Christina Moore's article of April 29, 2018, at America's Best Racing, "Six Unforgettable Editions of the Kentucky Oaks" (https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2018-six-unforgettable-editions-the-kentucky-oaks).
Fun facts
- Rachel Alexandra was named for her breeder's granddaughter. She is known to her fans as “Alexandra the Great” or simply “Rachel.”
- Breeder Dolphus Morrison was originally unimpressed by Rachel Alexandra and planned to sell her as a weanling but withdrew her from the 2006 Keeneland November mixed sale due to a minor physical issue.
- Rachel Alexandra's winning margin of 20¼ lengths is the longest in the history of the Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1).
- Rachel Alexandra was the first horse to win the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) from the 13 post position.
- Rachel Alexandra is the first 3-year-old filly to earn an Eclipse Award as American Horse of the Year since the Eclipse Awards were instituted in 1971. She was also a unanimous choice as American champion 3-year-old filly.
- Rachel Alexandra was the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes since Nellie Morse in 1924 and the fifth to do so in the race's history, following Flocarline (1903), Whimsical (1906), Rhine Maiden (1915), and Nellie Morse. (Swiss Skydiver has since joined the list of Preakness-winning fillies, winning in 2020.) She was the first filly or mare to have won the Woodward Stakes (USA-G1) and the second to win the Haskell Invitational Stakes (USA-G1), following Serena's Song.
- Rachel Alexandra's colt Jess's Dream is the first foal produced from a mating between winners of the Preakness. (Curlin won the race in 2007). Her second foal, Rachel's Valentina, was also sired by a Preakness winner, Bernardini having won the race in 2006.
- Following Rachel Alexandra's retirement in September 2010, the Fair Grounds race track renamed its Silverbulletday Stakes in her honor. Currently a Grade 2 event for 3-year-old fillies, the Rachel Alexandra Stakes is contested on dirt at 8.5 furlongs as of 2020.
- Although fans wanted to see Rachel Alexandra race in the 2009 Breeders' Cup in a possible showdown with champion older female Zenyatta, Jess Jackson refused to consider sending his star filly west in part because of the synthetic surface still in use at Santa Anita at that time. Jackson felt that his two-time Horse of the Year Curlin had been defeated in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) because of that same surface and did not want to race Rachel Alexandra on it.
- Oaklawn Park owner Charles Cella offered to boost the purse of the 2019 Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1) to US$5 million if both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta competed. The owners of both mares indicated willingness to point for the race, leading to about six weeks of lively anticipation and debate about racing fans, but the intended showdown never came off due to Rachel Alexandra's failing to come up to form as expected.
Photo credits
Top: Photograph by Jessica Morgan taken during workouts for the Kentucky Oaks. Used by permission.
Bottom: Photograph by Jessica Morgan, taken at Stonestreet Farm in 2015. Used by permission.
Last updated: October 27, 2022