and company. They talk the talk and they walk the walk. Rachel's going against older males in the Woodward. I've been slow to warm to her but if she shows up and does the do then she deserves all the accolades and praise due.

http://drf.com/news/article/106635.html

Rachel Alexandra will run in Woodward
By David Grening
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Superstar filly Rachel Alexandra will attempt to add another chapter to her already history-making 3-year-old campaign when she takes on older males in the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga on Sept.5, her connections announced Monday morning.

Meanwhile, her stablemate, Kensei, will try to enter contention for 3-year-old male honors when he runs in Saturday's $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Kensei enters the Travers off of victories in the Dwyer and Jim Dandy.

Trainer Steve Asmussen announced the decision shortly after both horses put in workouts Monday over a muddy, sealed main track. Both Rachel Alexandra and Kensei are owned by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stable.

Kensei, who won the Dwyer and Jim Dandy, went four furlongs in 50 seconds at 5:30 a.m. before Rachel Alexandra went a flawless six furlongs in 1:11.84 shortly after 6 a.m.

"Off of discussions with Jess and how well Kensei is doing we felt that he deserved a chance in the Travers," said Asmussen, who made the announcement alongside Barbara Banke, Jackson's wife. "It could be a race that would mark his career. With that decision Rachel will be pointed towards the Woodward."

Rachel Alexandra has already defeated 3-year-old males twice this year in the Preakness and Haskell. This will be her first time meeting older males. No filly or mare of any age has won the Woodward.

"Legacy," Asmussen said. "Jess's sportsmanship about what they can do is quite obvious instead of just talking. No filly has won the Woodward. For everything else that she's done I think it's a showcase or a platform that she's worthy of."

An eight-horse field is now expected for the Travers, post positions for which will be drawn on Wednesday. The field, with riders, figures to include, Charitable Man (Ramon Dominguez); Hold Me Back (Julien Leparoux), Kensei (Edgar Prado), Mine That Bird (Mike Smith), Our Edge (Alan Garcia) Quality Road (John Velazquez), Summer Bird (Kent Desormeaux), and Warrior's Reward (Calvin Borel).

Rachel Alexandra's possible foes in the Woodward would be Asiatic Boy, Bullsbay, Cool Coal Man, Da' Tara, and It's a Bird.

In her workout, Rachel Alexandra just glided over the muddy sealed track going in fractions of 12.24 seconds, 24.39, 36.23, 47.86, and 59.60. She galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.58 and pulled up a mile in 1:41.89.

"I was talking to Barbara about it, you watch a lot of horses go and then you watch her go and it just simply looks better," Asmussen said.

Asmussen moved the works from the Oklahoma training track to the main track because he felt the main track was in better shape. Heavy rains after the races on Sunday left the Oklahoma training track saturated.

"Watching them walk back, watching how happy she was, is the best feeling I've had this week, he said. "Kensei went over the track good he was very playful coming back. That felt good."

If she wins the woodward and then the Beldame it doesnt matter what Zenyata does for HOY.

If she wins the Woodward, she IS horse of the year. Big gamble in my eyes to run a 3YO filly against older males. Zenyatta would have to win the BC Classic to garner serious consideration for HOY honors.

The Woodward will be easier then the Travers...

It's a good spot and she can do what no other filly has ever done. I have no issues with her running in the Woodward...

I agree that the Woodward rates to be an easier spot, but isn't it also very much about their other horse Kensai?

If Kensai wins the Travers ( whatever any of us thinks of his chances ) he is a made stallion with a genuine opportunity to establish himself for years to come. Isn't it in his best interests to be given at least that chance? Personally I think Rachel would have run in the Travers if they didn't have Kensai for the race.