Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra sharp in final tuneup before taking on boys in Haskell

Rachel Alexandra has final tuneup before Haskell

OCEANPORT, N.J. — Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra went through a final workout at Saratoga Race Course before taking on the boys in Sunday’s Haskell Invitational at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park.

Rachel Alexandra has won seven straight races, all with Calvin Borel aboard, including a 19¼-length victory in the Mother Goose at Belmont last month.

The 3-year-old filly breezed a half mile in 49.26 seconds, the sixth fastest of 23 workouts Monday. The filly owned by Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick will be vanned to Monmouth Thursday or Friday.

“She seems to be doing extremely well,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “We want everything to go well, and we expect it to. We have a tall task for her this week. We want to show the respect that we think it deserves. We’re excited about the opportunity.”

The 1 1-8-mile Haskell will also feature Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird, who had his final tuneup Sunday at Monmouth. The 3-year-old colt covered five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.80.

Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness when she defeated Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. The only filly to win the Haskell is Serena’s Song in 1995.

“We want her to stay in a nice rhythm,” Asmussen said. “We want her on her feet. We want her to be responsive to (Borel) and in his hands so he can do what he thinks is appropriate with her come race time.”

A field of seven is expected, with the draw Thursday. Others set for the Grade 1 race are Papa Clem, Munnings, Atomic Rain, Duke of Mischief and Bunker Hill.