Record Setting

By The Editors

Even geared down, Rachel Alexandra can’t help impressing. In winning the G1 Mother Goose Stakes by 19 1/4 lengths and in a final time of 1:46.33, the filly set two new records: Her winning margin was the largest since the 13 1/2 length romp scored by Ruffian in the 1975 Mother Goose, and her time broke the stakes record of 1:46.40 set by Lakeway in the 1994 renewal.

Rachel Alexandra was also responsible for creating a rare minus win pool of $18,698 ($597,576 of the $726,260 wagered to win on the race was wagered on the filly, who paid $2.10). Reports Jerry Bossert in the New York Daily News,

Patrick Mahony, senior vice president of pari-mutuel operations at the New York Racing Association, could only recall one other minus win pool, when Honest Pleasure won the 1976 Florida Derby.

As if there were any doubt Rachel Alexandra is developing into a champion for the ages, she’s putting herself in excellent company by every measure.