Filly makes move toward Preakness

Rachel Alexandra looks ready to challenge the boys in the Preakness.

And after a day of jostling among owners of other Preakness hopefuls, it appears she’ll get the chance.

Owner Jess Jackson declared the Kentucky Oaks winner primed for the second jewel of the Triple Crown following an easy four-furlong workout Sunday at Churchill Downs.

Rachel Alexandra covered the half a mile in 48.40 seconds under exercise rider Dominic Terry, a work trainer Steve Asmussen called “beautiful.”

It was all the evidence Jackson needed to send the 3-year-old filly he purchased last week for an undisclosed sum to Pimlico for the 1 3/16 th-mile race.

The process of getting the horse into a Triple Crown race, however, has grown complicated.

The Preakness is limited to 14 starters, with preference given to horses pre-nominated to the Triple Crown.

While Jackson is willing to pay the $100,000 supplemental fee required to make Rachel Alexandra eligible for the race, she could get bumped if 14 horses already nominated to the series are entered.

“Since it’s Mother’s Day, I wish I could announce to all mothers everywhere that this incredible filly is entered to take on the boys,” Jackson said in a statement. “But Triple Crown rules may prevent us from sending her to Pimlico.”

For a few hours Sunday, it appeared Rachel Alexandra would be all prepped with nowhere to run.

The probable Preakness field swelled to 15 late Sunday, including 14 pre-nominated horses and Rachel Alexandra.

One of the entries was Indy Express, owned by Kentucky Derby winner Mark Allen, who told the Thoroughbred Times on Sunday he was entering Indy Express in the race solely to take away a starting spot from Rachel Alexandra.

Allen said his motives are professional, not personal.

Jockey Calvin Borel, who guided 50-1 longshot Mine That Bird to a 6 3/4 -length win in the Kentucky Derby, has agreed to ride Rachel Alexandra for the rest of the year. Borel was aboard when Rachel Alexandra won the Oaks by a record 20 1/4 lengths May 1.

“I just want my rider back,” Allen told the publication.

Mine That Bird trainer Bennie Woolley Jr. told the Associated Press late Sunday that Allen had changed his mind.

Pioneerof the Nile, Musket Man and Papa Clem automatically make the Preakness field because they earned purse money in the Derby.

Pimlico oddsmaker Frank Carulli said he would make Rachel Alexandra the morning-line favorite if she enters. Nellie Morse in 1924 was the last filly to win the Preakness.

Genuine Risk in 1980 and Winning Colors in 1988, who went to Baltimore as Kentucky Derby winners, went off as the betting favorites in the Preakness but didn’t win.

The most recent filly to go against the boys was Excellent Meeting in 1999. She finished last after being pulled up by jockey Kent Desormeaux.