from the Daily Gazette:

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Less than a week away from her next scheduled start against the boys in Sunday's $1 million Haskell, filly Rachel Alexandra turned in her final work this morning on the Oklahoma training track.

Several reporters and photographers joined trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Calvin Borel to watch Rachel zip through a half-mile breeze in :49.26 under regular exercise rider Dominic Terry. NYRA clockers also caught the first quarter-mile in :25.01, and a five-furlong gallop out in 1:02.78.

"She looked awesome this morning," said Borel, who will be spending the summer riding at Saratoga for the second time in three years. "When she's got her ears flapping like that, she's comfortable and happy. She's ready."

Today was the fourth work over the Oklahoma since Rachel arrived in Saratoga on June 28 following her victory in the Grade 1 Mother Goose. She went four furlongs in :50.67 on July 6, five furlongs in 1:01.38 on July 13, and six furlongs in 1:13.88 on July 20.

"She's a professional. She knows what she's doing," Asmussen said. "We had a nice blow with her last week. As far as this week, she's just staying in a rhythm, keeping the energy in her."

Asmussen said Rachel will ship to Monmouth Park for Sunday's Haskell on Friday morning, and return to Saratoga either Sunday night or early Monday morning. She has already beaten the boys once this year with her history-making Preakness victory.

"She seems to be doing extremely well," Asmussen said. "You get excited when it's the week of running her. You want everything to go well, and you expect it to. She's a tremendous filly."

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