Rachel Alexandra loses again, beaten by 20-1 long shot Persistently

Rachel Alexandra upset in Personal Ensign

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Rachel Alexandra just isn’t the same horse she was a year ago.

The reigning Horse of the Year was run down in the final strides by 21-1 long shot Persistently in the $300,000 Personal Ensign at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday, the star filly’s third loss in five races this year.

With Rachel Alexandra trying to hang onto the lead in the stretch under jockey Calvin Borel, Persistently kept gaining with every stride, took the lead three jumps from the wire and won by a length.

The stunning finish silenced the large crowd that turned out to see Rachel’s return to the Spa after last year’s electrifying victory in the Woodward Stakes.

But it wasn’t to be. Rachel Alexandra, the 2-5 favorite, and Life At Ten, seeking her seventh straight victory, hooked up in a duel for most the 1¼ miles, with Rachel on the lead and Life At Ten within a half length on the outside.

When the field turned for home, Rachel pulled clear of Life At Ten, but Persistently, under Alan Garcia, unleashed a powerful closing run to pull off the upset.

“I’m very disappointed that she lost,” Rachel’s trainer Steve Asmussen said. “But I am always happy with Rachel. It hurts to lose and you’re disappointed for it, but if that’s the case, just think about how happy she’s made you and all the things she has done for us.”

The big question now will be about Rachel’s racing future. After an ambitious 8-0 campaign last year that included victories over boys in the Preakness, the Haskell Invitational and the Woodward, the 4-year-old filly has two wins and three runner-up finishes this year against less than stellar competition.

Yes, it was Rachel’s first race at 1¼ miles and her first Grade 1 of the year, but unlike last year, when her speed seemed to be enough, the same cannot be said for 2010.

Asmussen remains optimistic, though.

“If she isn’t exactly where she was last year, hopefully she can get back there,” Asmussen said. “I don’t want to give up on getting back to where we were. I don’t.”

It seemed only fitting that if Rachel was going get beat it would be by a horse wearing the Phipps Stables silks and trained by Shug McGaughey, who also campaigned the unbeaten filly the raced is named for.

“We’re just tickled to death to win the race, particularly with it being the Personal Ensign,” McGaughey said. “My hat’s off to Rachel Alexandra. She runs her heart out every time. She made a beautiful presence in the paddock today. We were just lucky enough to pick up the pieces.”

Rachel’s entrance through the crowd drew applause from the fans, who then lined up six deep around the paddock to get a glimpse and snap photos of the star filly.

Life At Ten was third, followed by Miss Singhsix and Classofsixtythree.

Persistently returned $45, $8.10 and $3.60, while Rachel Alexandra returned $2.30 and $2.10 and Life At Ten, the 9-5 second choice, paid $2.10.