Rachel Alexandra Blows by Boys at Preakness

Filly Rachel Alexandra held off Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird to win the 134th Preakness Stakes today and become the first female horse to win the race since 1924. Calvin Borel, who rode Mine that Bird to victory 2 weeks ago at Churchill Downs, had the filly in first from early on in the race and held on down the stretch. Borel also rode Rachel Alexandra to a record victory in the Kentucky Oaks on the day before the Kentucky Derby.

The only filly in the 13-horse race, Rachel Alexandra went off as the 9-5 favorite and became the first horse to win from the No. 13 post at Pimlico. She moved to the front and took a big lead before Mine That Bird tested her in the stretch. Musket Man finished third, as he did in the Derby, followed by Flying Private and Big Drama. Rachel Alexandra covered the 1 3-16th miles in 1:55.08. (More Preakness Stakes stories.)