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Rachel has final Personal Ensign workout

Mon 23rd, August 2010

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sports Network) - Trainer Steve Asmussen sent 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra to the track Monday morning for her last workout before Sunday's $300,000 Personal Ensign Stakes. Saratoga's Personal Ensign will be Rachel's first career start at 1 1/4-miles.

Shaun Bridgmohan was in his familiar spot as the filly's rider for the workout. Rachel, owned by Stonestreet Stable and Harold McCormick, went over the muddy Oklahoma training surface in :48.89 for a half-mile. She galloped out five-furlongs in just over 1:13.

"She's very strong and very physical and likes to do quite a bit," Asmussen commented. "I think Shaun has done a great job with her, getting her away from the pole smoothly. And once she's into a rhythm I think it's been pretty good from there."

Asmussen had the champion filly gallop in the mud on Sunday at Saratoga. At the time the trainer did not know if the four-year-old would be able to train Monday morning due to the weather.

Last year at Saratoga Rachel defeated older male horses in the 1 1/8-mile Woodward Stakes. She won the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 24. This year she has won two of four starts, including her last two, for $498,376. In her career she has earned nearly $3.5 million with 13 wins in 18 starts.

Sunday morning, Delaware Handicap winner Life At Ten worked out for the Personal Ensign. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the five-year-old mare went five- furlongs in 1:02 4/5 on a sloppy track. She galloped out in 1:15 3/5 for six- furlongs.

"We were looking for a little more from Life At Ten because she is running 1 1/4-miles," said Pletcher. "She not only worked well, but galloped out extremely well. She's in very good form right now, and she's obviously on a winning streak. I think her races this year have been better than some have given her credit for, but I also think it's a very, very tall order to take on Rachel Alexandra."

The chestnut mare, owned by Candy DeBartolo, is undefeated this year in four starts. In addition to the Del 'Cap, Life At Ten has won Ogden Phipps, Sixty Sails and Rare Treat Stakes in 2010. She has won seven of 14 career starts for $909,267.