Horse Betting World

A Queen on the Jersey Shore

By Joey Adams
Write a race; flash the cash and they will come. That has been the strategy at Monmouth Park this summer, and it will pay dividends on Saturday when Rachel Alexandra makes an appearance in the Lady’s Secret Stakes. This race was originally scheduled to be part of the undercard of racing on Haskell Day next Saturday; it was originally scheduled to be run at a distance of 1 1/16 miles; and it was originally scheduled to have a purse of $150,000. Other than keeping the name, this stakes race has taken on a life of its own – moving one week forward on the calendar, increasing in distance to 1 1/8 miles, and getting a substantial purse increase to $400,000. All of this was done to attract Rachel Alexandra, and it worked.

Few are expecting this race to be anything more than a paid workout for the reigning Horse of the Year. Six rivals were assembled to fill the starting gate, but on paper each and every one is clearly overmatched and outclassed. The only possible concern is that Rachel comes out too fresh and gets involved in a prolonged speed duel against five other fillies that all appear to need the lead to win. Rachel has shown that she doesn’t need the lead to win, so look for Calvin Borel to sit chilly early while the others run themselves into the ground. One previous start over this track came against the boys in the Haskell-G1 last summer, and the result was a dominant win that produced the highest Beyer Speed Figure (116) of her career. You certainly have to watch anytime one of the biggest names in thoroughbred racing takes the stage, but at 1/9 morning-line odds this certainly isn’t a race where you get rich at the betting windows.

Here is a glimpse at the Lady’s Secret field:

1-STAGE TRICK … won from off the pace last year but in recent races she’s gone right to the front, and will probably employ that strategy again today with the inside post. Switches riders for the fifth consecutive race, but she is getting top local jock Elvis Trujillo. Backed-up career-best Beyer Speed Figures of 89 – not close to what the favorite is capable of.

2-QUEEN MARTHA … favored in a local allowance on turf in late May (her US debut), but had to settle for second after setting the early pace. She was well clear of the third-place finisher who came right back to win. Continues to work very fast in the morning, indicating she will be looking for the lead again today. Not only facing the toughest test of her career but also running over dirt for the first time. Online Horse Racing

3-ASK THE MOON … another mare who wants to get involved early, she has lost her last three starts while facing minor stakes company, and she loses her regular rider Joe Bravo to Queen Martha. Her last three winning efforts have come over wet tracks and her top Beyer Speed Figure of the last two years is an 84.

4-HARK … she has lost six consecutive races since winning a turf race at Indiana Downs 13 months ago, and she has hit the board only once during that span. Her top Beyer Speed Figure in the last two years is a 79, lowest in the field. The only possible angle is that she is not committed to getting the early lead. Jockey Carlos Marquez would be wise to take back early, let the rest of them battle up front and then try to pick up the pieces. Horse Racing Betting

5-RACHEL ALEXANDRA … reigning Horse of the Year who has won 12 of 17 career starts and earned more than $3.2 million. She romped in her only start over this track and she’s never been beaten at the distance. Her lowest Beyer Speed Figure over the last 16 months is a 100, and that is higher than any of her rivals have ever run!

6-FABULOUS BABE … a confirmed frontrunner and she is stretching out following a pair of sprints. It’s very tough to imagine her rating off the pace today. She won three straight races earlier this year at Oaklawn Park but has failed to win her last two starts as the betting favorite – while facing claiming company.

7-YES SHE’S A LADY … no surprise that Todd Pletcher has a starter in a race for $400,000 but this filly isn’t more than third-string for Team Pletcher. She has lost five straight races dating back to May 2009 and she hasn’t been seen since early March when she was a beaten favorite in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. The early leader in her last six starts over the main track, she figures to have plenty of company up front. Horse Betting

When Rachel Alexandra lost two races earlier this year, she was beaten by graded stakes quality fillies. There is nothing close to resembling that type of opposition today. She should win this race in a romp, and heaven forbid she fail to get the job done, this would have to be considered one of the biggest upsets in recent memory.