TurfPublicists: RACHEL TO RACE AT SARATOGA IN AUGUST 29 PERSONAL ENSIGN

Friday, July 30, 2010

Contact: Jenny Kellner

RACHEL TO RACE AT SARATOGA IN AUGUST 29 PERSONAL ENSIGN

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra will return to the scene of one of her most scintillating triumphs when she makes her next start in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday, August 29, owner Jess Jackson said Friday.

Having capped her championship season last year at Saratoga with an electrifying win over older males in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes, the 4-year-old Rachel Alexandra will be facing fillies and mares in the Personal Ensign, which will be her first Grade 1 start of 2010.

“Rachel feels very much at home among the great Saratoga fans,” said Jackson, who owns the filly with Harold McCormick, in a statement. “It’s an historic race, named after a great champion. The timing is right for Rachel. She’s been coming back into her stride and this will help her prepare for the rest of her campaign and the Breeders’ Cup later this year.”

In last year’s Woodward, the final race of her dual Eclipse Award-winning season, Rachel turned back a late charge from Macho Again and became the first filly ever to win the Woodward to the cheers of 31,171 fans, many sporting “Rachel” buttons that were given away by The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in honor of the occasion.

“We’re delighted that Mr. Jackson has decided to race Rachel Alexandra in the Personal Ensign on August 29,” NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said. “Her historic victory in the Woodward last year was one of the highlights of the Saratoga meet, and we expect her appearance at the Spa this year to be just as compelling. With Travers Day on August 28, that weekend is lining up to be one of the best in this racetrack’s storied history.”

Undefeated in eight starts in 2009 including victories over the boys in the Preakness and Haskell, Rachel began her 2010 season with a pair of second-place finishes before returning to the winner’s circle in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 12, and followed that with a win in the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 24.

“The whole team is excited to have Rachel back at Saratoga preparing for this Grade 1 race. We all love the track and the fans at Saratoga, perhaps none more then Rachel herself,” said trainer Steve Asmussen.

Rachel, whose summer home has been Stall 1 in Asmussen’s barn at Saratoga for the past two years, will have her first breeze for the Personal Ensign on Monday, said assistant trainer Scott Blasi.

“She loves the atmosphere up here,” said Blasi. “With Curlin having been there in 2007 and 2008, we’ve had the Horse of the Year run from that stall the past three years, so it must be a good view.”

Fans of Rachel Alexandra can follow the 4-year-old filly as she readies for the Personal Ensign on her own website, “Rachel’s Sandbox,” a multimedia site which gives fans an interactive experience and allows them to keep up with the latest news and information.

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