2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra faced 6 other fillies and mares on Saturday in the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park. An announced crowd of 12,859 was on hand, artificially inflated by "spinners" there for the Rachel Alexandra T-shirt giveaway, under sunny skies and temperatures in the high 90's with high humidity. Rachel Alexandra was sent off as the 1-10 favorite in this 1 1/8 mile main track feature, off her win at Churchill Downs in the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2), over 8-1 Queen Martha, an allowance winner last out, and 12-1 Stage Trick, third in the Obeah Stakes (G3) at Delaware.
Queen Martha was to the lead by jockey Joe Bravo and she set easy fractions of 23.93, 47.92, and 1:12.30, saving ground the whole way. Rachel Alexandra sat just a length behind and to her outside, while Stage Trick stalked the front pair in third. On the far turn Rachel Alexandra eased on past Queen Martha, taking over the lead at the 1/4 pole. Through the stretch, Rachel Alexandra pulled away to win by 3 lengths at the line, completing the 1 1/8 mile trip in 1:49.78 over the fast track. It was a long 7 3/4 lengths back to late-running Ask the Moon third.
