Rachel to work under the lights

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The connections of Rachel Alexandra continue to give off signals that a race is in the near future for the star filly. Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to breeze again Monday morning at Churchill Downs, marking her fourth straight Monday work since she won the May 16 Preakness.

Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, said the filly probably would work before dawn, at about 5:30 a.m. Eastern, under the temporary lighting system that has been installed at Churchill. Training opens Monday and Tuesday at 5 a.m., one hour earlier than normal, for horsemen wanting to acclimate their horses to the lights, which will be used for the evening programs of June 19, June 26, and July 2.

"The filly's in the second set that we take to the track every morning, so I imagine we'll just go on and keep it that way," said Blasi.

Trainer Steve Asmussen is scheduled to be on hand for the work, Blasi added. Asmussen and Jess Jackson, majority owner in the filly, have been coy about when and where Rachel Alexandra will race next, although Jackson has mentioned the June 27 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park as a possibility.