Rachel Alexandra wins Oaks by 20 1/4 lengths

. -- Dolphus Morrison is a racing purist: The Kentucky Derby is for the boys; the Kentucky Oaks is for the girls.

You won’t hear any of the Derby owners complaining.

Morrison’s spectacular filly Rachel Alexandra crushed the field by a record 20 1/4 lengths in the $500,000 Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs, perhaps stamping herself as the best 3-year-old horse in the world, boy or girl.

“If she stays sound, she’ll be the next Secretariat,” jockey Calvin Borel said.

She certainly put on a performance that was reminiscent of the legendary Triple Crown winner.

Rachel Alexandra eased past Gabby’s Golden Gal on the far turn, then poured it on as she entered the stretch, extending the lead as 100,000 spectators roared with every stride of her eye-popping victory in the filly version of the Kentucky Derby.

Borel blew a kiss and tapped her on the neck as they crossed the finish line for her fifth straight win, all by convincing margins.

“I’ve never been on a horse that good, to tell you the truth,” said Borel, who won the 2007 Kentucky Derby aboard Street Sense.

Stone Legacy was a distant second, with Flying Spur third.

Rachel Alexandra loped along behind Gabby’s Golden Gal down the backstretch before Borel nudged her to the outside as they entered the far turn. A couple of quick strides put her in front.

“I just let her cruise, let her do her thing,” Borel said.