Rachel works before hitting the road

Rachel Alexandra worked five furlongs in 1:03.20 on Monday morning at Fair Grounds, and was to board a horse van bound for Churchill Downs on Monday evening, trainer Steve Asmussen said.

"She just had had a slow five-eighths," said Asmussen. "We weren't wanting to do a lot with her shipping later today."

Rachel Alexandra trained all winter at Fair Grounds, and made her 4-year-old debut in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes on March 13, finishing second to Zardana. The day afterward, majority owner Jess Jackson decided not to have Rachel Alexandra ship from Fair Grounds to Oaklawn Park, as had been planned, and announced that Rachel Alexandra would not contest the Apple Blossom on April 9 at Oaklawn Park.

Monday's work was Rachel Alexandra's second since the New Orleans Ladies. On March 23, she worked a half-mile in 50.40 seconds.

Rachel Alexandra's connections have not announced plans for her next start. Caroline Shaw, a spokesperson for Jackson, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

The first race at Churchill Downs in the older-female route division is the $400,000 La Troienne at 1 1/16 miles on April 30.