Tag Archives: Saratoga

Rachel Alexandra Wins Woodward; Stakes Her Claim to Horse of the Year

Rachel Alexandra became the first three-year-old filly to win a grade I distance race against older males in New York since 1887 when she captured Saturday’s Woodward at Saratoga by a diminishing head, a victory that may have earned her Horse of the Year honors. 23 of 55 previous Woodward winners have gone on to be named Horse of the Year. 

“It’s the most emotional victory I’ve ever had,” trainer Steve Asmussen said, “I think everything has different stages and different times. It meant a great deal. You want her to be that horse, and she is.” 

Plans are for Rachel to be rested for the remainder of the year. 

“She needs, I think, four or five months off,” said Jess Jackson, majority owner of the super sophomore. “I’m leaning towards letting her take a long furlough. She needs a vacation. It’s my instinct that she needs it. I think we’re helping her more by keeping her fit and running her next year.”

Year of the Bird

Not since the bicentennial year of 1976 has a “bird” figured so prominently in American sports. In ’76, it was a 21-year-old rookie hurler for the Detroit Tigers that had fans abuzz. Following a complete game two-hitter in his debut against Cleveland, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych went on to win 19 times and lead the American League in ERA before being named AL Rookie of the Year and finishing second in the Cy Young Award voting that winter. 

In 2009, it is Birdstone that has been the talk of the sporting world. As a racehorse, Birdstone is best known for putting an inglorious end to Smarty Jones’ run at the 2004 Triple Crown, consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. But it as a sire that Birdstone has really made a mark. Not only is he the proud papa of Mine That Bird, who won this year’s Run for the Roses as the second-longest shot in Derby history at 50-1, but he also fathered Summer Bird, winner of the Belmont Stakes, who, on Saturday, added the Travers to his growing resume. 

On a sloppy Saratoga track that has been dubbed “The Graveyard of Champions,” Summer Bird drew away to a surprisingly easy 3 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes. Hold Me Back, winner of the Lexington Stakes earlier this year, rallied from last to be second, while favorite Quality Road finished third.