Rachel Alexandra could take another step back to stardom against 6 rivals in Lady’s Secret

Rachel seems ready for next step back to stardom

Sure looks and sounds like Rachel Alexandra is back in top form.

All the reigning Horse of the Year has to do now is prove it Saturday with a big victory against six seemingly overmatched rivals in the $400,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park.

“She’s really doing well. She was full of energy,” assistant trainer Scott Blasi said after the 4-year-old filly galloped around the track Wednesday. After a Friday morning gallop, Blasi simply said “she’s a dream.”

Rachel Alexandra has been training at Saratoga Race Course, but arrived at the Jersey Shore track Tuesday nearly a year after her win against males in the Haskell Invitational en route to an 8-0 record in 2009.

Trainer Steve Asmussen is following the “same routine” used last summer leading up to Rachel’s six-length Haskell victory over Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird.

On Monday, Rachel worked four furlongs in 49.60 seconds, and Asmussen said after three workouts at the Spa “things have gone as smoothly as we were hoping for.

“She looked great on the track, just appeared to be nice, loose and happy, and I thought she moved very well. She had a lot of energy and looked confident.”

While the Lady’s Secret is far from a glamour race, it nonetheless is a huge test for Rachel Alexandra, and will dictate the filly’s future schedule.

After two disappointing second-place finishes to open the year, Rachel returned to the winner’s circle with a 10½-length romp in the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs last month.

An impressive win in the ungraded Lady’s Secret could set her up for either the 1 1/4-mile Personal Ensign against fillies and mares Aug. 29 or the Woodward Stakes against leading older male Quality Road on Sept. 4, both at Saratoga. Rachel became the first filly to win the Woodward last year.

A loss, and it’s anybody’s guess what the future holds for the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro co-owned by Jess Jackson.

“We have enough to worry about this week to not get too far ahead of ourselves,” Asmussen said.

Rachel should be the overwhelming favorite, perhaps 1-10, with only two of her rivals coming off stake races — Stage Trick and Ask the Moon.

Stage Trick finished third in the Grade 3 Obeah at Delaware Park and Ask the Moon was sixth in the ungraded Lighthouse at Monmouth.

Also entered are Fabulous Babe, Hark, Queen Martha and Yes She’s A Lady.

“I think we are running for second,” said trainer Patrick Biancone, who trains Queen Martha. “But second would be good.”

Rachel’s regular rider Calvin Borel will be aboard the filly, who will leave from the No. 5 post.

“After her last race, I think she’s back on the top of her game,” Borel said.

Monmouth Park general manager Bob Kulina had hoped to match Rachel Alexandra against unbeaten Zenyatta for the first time, but he was unable to pull off the race the industry would love to see.

To get Rachel Alexandra, the track changed the date (from Aug. 1) and distance (from 1 1/16 miles to Rachel’s best distance of 1 1/8 miles) and boosted the purse by $250,000.

Kulina is hoping for a crowd of about 15,000. The race comes a week before the $1 million Haskell, which will feature Kentucky Derby winner Super Save and Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky.

“I’m really not sure what to expect, especially with this being the first weekend of Saratoga,” Kulina said of Saturday’s race, “but we are hoping for a huge day.”

So is everyone connected with Rachel Alexandra.