Opposing trainers know filly is a formidable foe

BALTIMORE --- Larry Jones knows something about running a filly against the boys in a Triple Crown race, and he's not looking forward to the threat posed by Rachel Alexandra.

The trainer saddled Eight Belles, who was trained briefly in Aiken by Legacy Stable's Ron Stevens, to a gallant second-place finish in last year's Kentucky Derby before she broke her front ankles past the finish line and had to be destroyed on the track.

Now Jones is preparing to send this year's beaten Derby favorite Friesan Fire into Saturday's Preakness Stakes against stellar filly Rachel Alexandra, who has won five consecutive races by a combined 431/2 lengths.

"Anytime the horse is as fast as her, you wish you didn't have to run against them," Jones said Tuesday. "I've chased her twice with fillies. If I've got any shot of beating her, it's going to have to be with a boy. I ain't got a filly that can try her."

Perhaps because she's beaten her fellow females so soundly, Rachel Alex-andra is gearing up to test herself against new rivals.

Coming off a 201/4-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks, Rachel Alexandra is expected to be among at least 13 horses entered today for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness. That's when the filly's owner, Jess Jackson, has to pony up a $100,000 supplemental fee because she wasn't nominated to the Triple Crown races.

"She may never know there's any colts in here. She just may go in the front and think there's a bunch of girls chasing her around there," Jones said.

Pimlico oddsmaker Frank Carulli has already said he would make Rachel Alexandra the morning-line favorite. No filly has won the Preakness since Nellie Morse in 1924.

Gary Stute, who trains Papa Clem, isn't thrilled by the prospect of taking on Rachel Alexandra.

"Personally, it's a little disappointing, but for racing I think it's great," he said. "I figure it should bring 20-30,000 extra fans here on Saturday. And when the husbands are watching the race at home, the wives will be watching, too. Racing is in kind of a downward spiral right now, and this can only help it in the long run."

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was sanguine about Rachel Alexandra. He saddled Excellent Meeting, the last filly to run in the Preakness in 1999. She was pulled up in the race.

"There is going to be a lot of excitement with that filly in there," Baffert said. "She's an incredible athlete. She's going to be forwardly placed, so she'll be out of the way. She's got a beautiful fluid stride and a great turn of foot. She's dangerous."

The imposing presence of Rachel Alexandra steals much of the spotlight from Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who hasn't scared away the competition as he tries to back up his 50-1 upset by winning the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Among his other challengers will be Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, who lost by 63/4 lengths; third-place finisher Musket Man; fourth-place Papa Clem; and 10th-place General Quarters.

Mine That Bird left Louisville on Tuesday bound for Baltimore the same humble way he traveled to the Derby from New Mexico -- in a trailer hitched to trainer Bennie Woolley Jr.'s pickup truck.

The trip was expected to take 10 hours, with Woolley driving despite a broken right leg. His only planned stops were for the restroom and food.

"When we stop to eat, I'll open the top of the window and let him look out and take things in," Woolley said. "He's a good shipper. Nothing bothers him."