Havre de Grace is running in this year's Woodward. I think it would be fun to look at the last time a filly ran in the Woodward, and made history by doing it. It's hard to believe that this upcoming Labor Day will be 2 years to the day that the 2009 Woodward was run. Many great champions had won the Woodward before then. With the likes of Kelso, Forego, Holy Bull, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Cigar and Curlin. That doesn't include several high profile stallions. Up until 2009, all of the winners of the Woodward where male. It looked like it would remain a boys club too, until Jess Jackson who had won the Woodward the year before with Curlin made an announcement.
That announcement would lead to the start of what would be a highley debatable Horse of the Year discussion. However, that's not for here nor there. The announcement was that his two time boy beating filly Rachel Alexandra would entered unchartered ground for her. Facing Older Males at the track that is known for it's upsets, earning the nickname "The Graveyard of Favorites".
She would be facing Bullsbay and Macho Again, who had finished 1-2 in the Whitney to deny Commentator a three peat to the race. It's a Bird who had crossed the wire first in that years Oaklawn Handicap, only to be DQ'ed thanks to a postive drug test, UAE Triple Crown winner Asiatic Boy where two other participents. Stablemates Cool Coal Man and 08 Belmont winner Da' Tara where expected to pressure Rachel on the front, and last but not least Pass the Point who gave Curlin all he could handle the year before.
However, none of those horses had the record Rachel did. Under her previous trainer Hal Wiggins, Rachel won the Martha Washington, Fair Grounds Oaks and Fantasy before winning the Kentucky Oaks by the largest margin and just off the stakes record. After being sold and transfered to Steve Asmussen, she won the Preakness (with Derby winner Mine That Bird in second), Mother Goose, and Haskell (with Belmont winner Summer Bird in second). With Champion 3yo Filly honors already locked up and really nothing to prove against that age group, the race for Horse of the Year was set.
It didn't disapoint, as expected Rachel was gunned to lead by her regular jockey Calvin Borel (who gave up the mount on Mine That Bird to ride her, a mount he did get back for the Belmont, Goodwood, and BCC). Da' Tara followed her pressing her all the way, as they turned for home the horses who where up early faded... except Rachel. She was then tackled by Bullsbay, but put him away quickly and with one last charge, Macho Again who was ridden by Robby Alberado, the regular rider of her future boyfriend made their way to get way to the wire first. It wasn't enough as Rachel was able to hold on to defeat the boys for the third and what would be final time in her career.
Dispite Zenyatta winning the Breeders' Cup Classic, Rachel Alexandra had done enough in the year to win Horse of the Year. Of course a subpar year for Rachel standards ment that Zenyatta was the top dog for the Older Females and got her well deserved Horse of the Year honors in 2010. Rachel is now in foal to Curlin, and is expecting a colt in February. Don't be suprised if that little guy is the early favorite to claim the Triple Crown when he is three.
While Grace will be trying her best against the boys this Sat, she can look to the trailblazer that is Rachel Alexandra.
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