Rachel Alexandra, a 3-year-old filly from the first crop of Medaglia d'Oro, ran her win streak to four and stamped herself as the favorite in next month's Kentucky Oaks with an eye-catching 8 3/4-length tour de force in the $250,000 Fantasy S. (G2) April 5 at Oaklawn Park.
Under regular rider Calvin Borel, Rachel Alexandra displayed her routine brilliance, bounding out on the lead against four overmatched rivals and turning the Fantasy into a one-horse race turning for home. Under no encouragement from Borel, Rachel Alexandra pulled away and put on a show in the stretch to the roar of the Hot Springs crowd, crossing the wire in a picturesque ending to the 1 1/16-mile race. The final time was 1:43.35 over a fast local main track.
Trained by Hal Wiggins for L and M Partners LLC, Rachel Alexandra moved her career record to six wins from nine starts - winning her last four starts in impressive fashion and remaining unbeaten and untested at three - with earnings of $621,440. A winner of the Golden Rod (G2) last November in her final start at two, she has won the Martha Washington S., Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and Fantasy now at three.