Rachel drills six furlongs at Saratoga

Rachel Alexandra, who was relocated to Saratoga after winning the Mother Goose in stakes-record time June 27, worked for the third consecutive Monday over the Oklahoma training track, going six furlongs in 1:13.88 under regular exercise rider Dominic Terry at 6 a.m.

It was the fastest of six workouts at the distance by 0.45 second, and termed "breezing."

The bay 3-year-old filly went in fractions of 13.20 seconds, 25.40, 37.40, and 49.60, and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27.40.

It was the second consecutive bullet work for Rachel Alexandra, who breezed an easy half-mile on July 6, followed by a best-of-23 move at five furlongs last week that was witnessed by trainer Steve Asmussen.

"She looked like her usual self; she was impressive and got over the ground well," assistant trainer Scott Blasi said of Monday's work. "We wanted a nice, smooth three-quarters and a long gallop; Dominic did a great job with her."

Rachel Alexandra, who wired the Preakness in between victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose by record-setting margins, is being readied for another start against males in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, where she is expected to face Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird; Munnings, who will be stretching out from seven-furlong wins in the Woody Stephens and Tom Fool; and Atomic Rain, who won the recent Long Branch.

Perfect from six starts this year, Rachel Alexandra has won Grade 1 or Grade 2 stakes at five different tracks leading up to the 1 1/8-mile Haskell on Aug. 2. Her final workout for that objective is expected to take place next Monday.

"She does things so easily," said Blasi. "She's a special horse, and it's obvious when you see her coming down the lane. She has settled in here perfectly; she has put on weight and she is a picture of health. We're right on target for the Haskell."

Kensei, like Rachel Alexandra owned in large part by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables, also worked six furlongs on the training track Monday, getting the distance in 1:14.47. It was the 3-year-old colt's second workout since winning the July 4 Dwyer Stakes with a career-best Beyer Figure of 105.

A likely next start for Kensei is the $500,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on Aug. 1.