Rachel Arrives for Lady's Secret

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra was back in Oceanport, N.J., setting foot in the Monmouth Park barn area around 9:00 a.m. after shipping to the Shore from Saratoga. The champion filly will headline this Saturday’s card at Monmouth Park when she heads postward in the $400,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes.

“She shipped just fine, everything’s great,” said Steve Asmussen’s assistant trainer Scott Blasi, who arrived with the champion this morning. “She’ll gallop up to the race and school in the paddock on Friday afternoon.”

Last season, Rachel Alexandra bested the boys in the Haskell Invitational, reporting home a six-length winner. She then beat older male rivals in the Woodward at Saratoga en route to her Horse of the Year title.

This season, Rachel finished second in her first two outings before a powerful 10 ½ length victory in the Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs last out on June 12.

Entries for the Lady’s Secret Stakes will be drawn on Wednesday in the Monmouth Park Racing Office. A field of five or six are likely to go postward in the mile and an eighth Lady’s Secret.

Select reserved seats are still available for Saturday’s races and can be purchased by calling 732-571-5563 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. All paid admissions will receive a commemorative Rachel Alexandra t-shirt, while supply lasts.