Rachel Alexandra loses to Unrivaled Belle in La Troienne

Horseracing Betting Lines

04/30/2010 - Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the second time in as many starts this year, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra has lost on the racetrack, this time to Unrivaled Belle in Friday's $400,000 La Troienne at Churchill Downs.

The champion filly has now finished second in both 2010 starts after going undefeated in eight races last year. Last month she lost at the Fair Grounds to Zardana in the New Orleans Ladies.

With regular jockey Calvin Borel aboard, Rachel Alexandra was first out of the gate in the 1 1/16-mile race. Quickly joining her along rail was Be Fair ridden by Terry Thompson.

These two fillies dueled for the lead around the first turn and up the backstretch. Unrivaled Belle was running in third with Zardana racing fourth in the six horse field.

As the field entered the far turn Rachel took a short lead with Unrivaled Belle gaining ground on the outside.

The two fillies were locked in a stretch duel all the way to the wire. Jockey Kent Desormeaux kept Unrivaled Belle right along side of the 1-5 favorite. Sent off at 9-1, Unrivaled Belle registered a head victory over the odds-on favorite.

Unrivaled Belle and Rachel Alexandra were followed by Morena, Distinctive Dixie, Zardana and Be Fair.

The time for the La Troienne was 1:42.97 on a fast track.

Unrivaled Belle is trained by Bill Mott for owners Gary Seidler and Peter Vegso. The filly adds $265,659 to her bankroll which now totals more than $500,000.

The winner of five of eight career starts, Unrivaled Belle was coming off a victory in the Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March. Last year she won a minor stakes at Belmont Park and was second to Flashing in Belmont's Gazelle.

Unrivaled Belle paid $20.80, $3.40 and $2.80. Rachel Alexandra returned $2.10 and $2.10, and Morena paid $4.80 to show.

Following the race trainer Steve Asmussen talked about Rachel's race and where she is headed.

"She isn't quite as fast as she was at one point last year," said Asmussen. "You don't run a horse to get beat. I don't think she was short, just not as fast as one point last year. She stayed very steady and galloped out to the wire. She's a tremendous filly.

"I hope this helps to get her where she was last year. She was not a short filly, but she's not quite as fast as she was last summer and we want to get to where she was last summer and this was a step in the right direction."

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FOOTBALL TRASH TALK

NFL Football Trash Talk

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