Rachel Alexandra became the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes since 1924, holding off a late charge by Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird to capture the middle jewel of the United States Triple Crown by a length yesterday.
A rangy bay who is as big as most of the horses she beat, Rachel Alexandra shot to the front and took a sizeable lead before Mine That Bird tested her in the straight. The 9-5 favourite beat him by a length in her first race against the boys.
Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird in the Derby, validated his switch to Rachel Alexandra by guiding her to a sixth straight victory.
Shot at Triple Crown
Now Borel may get a shot at a personal Triple Crown, if Rachel Alexandra goes on to the Belmont Stakes in three weeks. The 11/2-mile (2,400-metre) race is the most gruelling of the three.
"I'm not worried about nothing," he said. "It's going to take a racehorse to beat her."
Musket Man finished third, as he did in the Derby, followed by Flying Private and Big Drama.
The only filly in the 13-horse race, Rachel Alexandra covered the 1 3-16th miles (1,900m) in 1:55.08.
The winner earned US$660,000 from the purse of US$1.1 million.
Papa Clem was sixth, followed by Terrain, Luv Gov, General Quarters, Friesan Fire, Pioneer of the Nile, Tone It Down and Take the Points.
The last filly to win the Preakness was Nellie Morse in 1924. Rachel Alexandra became the second filly to go off as the wagering favourite and win. Whimsical at 8-5 odds was the first, in 1906.
The ending was far different from the last time a filly challenged the boys. Eight Belles finished a gallant second in last year's Kentucky Derby, then broke both front legs while galloping past the finish line and was destroyed on the track.
This time, it was all cheers. No tears.
Rachel Alexandra, marked by two white spots on her head, wasn't even supposed to be in the Preakness. Her original owners, who named the filly after a 13-year-old granddaughter, didn't nominate her to the Triple Crown races, believing fillies should run only against their own gender.
After her stunning victory by 20 1/4 lengths in the Kentucky Oaks, the day before the Derby, Rachel Alexandra was sold to Jess Jackson, founder of Kendall-Jackson winery, and Harold McCormick.