Rachel Alexandra to have afternoon workout

Fair Grounds will open its racetrack on Tuesday afternoon to allow a workout by the 2009 Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra, according to the track's general manager, Eric Halstrom.

Rachel Alexandra had been scheduled for a major six-furlong drill early Tuesday morning, but heavy rain hit Fair Grounds late Monday afternoon, and with wet weather possible through the evening, Fair Grounds will make special arrangements to ensure Rachel breezes over a suitable racing surface.

"We're going to open training regularly, but she's going to work about 3 o'clock," Halstrom said.

Fair Grounds chose to cancel its last two races Monday afternoon because of hard rain. That was the second time the track lost part of a card because of wet conditions, but Halstrom said the surface hadn't washed out the same way as it had on Dec. 12, Louisiana Champions Day.

"This was not like the Champions Day episode," said Halstrom. "We should be all right for tomorrow."

Rachel Alexandra is on a tight schedule for the first part of her 2010 racing campaign. She is scheduled to make her first start of the year on March 13 in the New Orleans Ladies, and then go on to race in the Apple Blossom Invitational on April 9 at Oaklawn Park in an expected showdown with two-time champion Zenyatta.