Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra tops 7-horse field for Saturday’s Lady’s Secret Stakes

Rachel Alexandra tops field of 7 for Lady’s Secret

OCEANPORT, N.J. — Rachel Alexandra should be an overwhelming favorite when the reigning Horse of the Year takes on six rivals in Saturday’s $400,000 Lady Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The 4-year-old filly drew the No. 5 post, and will have regular rider Calvin Borel aboard.

“Rachel is doing really well,” Borel said recently. “I think she’s back on top of her game.”

Also entered Wednesday for the 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares are Stage Trick, Queen Martha, Ask the Moon, Hark, Fabulous Babe and Yes She’s a Lady.

Stage Trick and Ask the Moon are the only challengers coming off stakes races.

Track officials had attempted to set up a race that would include Rachel Alexandra against unbeaten Zenyatta for the first time, but settled for the 2009 Horse of the Year trained by Steve Asmussen.

The purse was increased by $250,000 to lure Rachel Alexandra and the date was moved from Aug. 1 to accommodate her training schedule.

Rachel Alexandra comes into the race off a 10½-length win in the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 12. The bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro finished second in her two other starts this year. Last year, she was 8-for-8, including a win against colts in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth.