Rachel Alexandra installed as 1-2 favorite in Woodward

Rachel Alexandra got a preview of her walk over for Saturday's Woodward (Photo courtesy of NYRA)

RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) will take the next step in her amazing

season when she squares off against seven rivals in Saturday's $750,000

Woodward

S. (G1), and the superb three-year-old filly has been installed as the

overwhelming 1-2 favorite on the morning line. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the

imposing dark bay will bring an eight-race winning streak into the 1 1/8-mile

event, and she'll break from post 3 with regular rider Calvin Borel.

Her connections opted to tackle older horses in the Woodward over the

previous weekend's Travers S. (G1) against three-year-olds.

"(Rachel Alexandra) was entered off of her talent, not her age. She's beaten

those horses (in the Travers) before," assistant trainer Scott Blasi explained.

"She's run against them twice. For all of us involved, this was kind of a new

frontier and the timing was good into this race and she's come into it very

well. It's important for her longevity to space her races out as best we can.

This fell into place. She just thrives in Saratoga."

Winner of the Preakness S. (G1) in mid-May, Rachel Alexandra exits an

impressive six-length victory over Summer Bird (Birdstone) in the August 2

Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park, and that rival returned to easily

capture the Travers by 3 1/2 lengths. Only one other three-year-old filly has

even contested the Woodward, and Rachel Alexandra will be the first to win if

successful.

Racing fans lined Saratoga's paddock as Rachel Alexandra schooled on Thursday (Photo courtesy of NYRA)

Gates open at 7 a.m. (EDT), and the first 25,000 fans will receive a Rachel

Alexandra button to commemorate the occasion, which is being celebrated

throughout the area with Rachel Alexandra banners lining downtown Saratoga

Springs, New York, and mayor Scott Johnson officially declaring Saturday to be

"Rachel Alexandra Day."

Standing in the way of the mighty filly are seven older, proven stakes

winners. Whitney H. (G1) hero BULLSBAY (Tiznow) is the 6-1 second choice on the

morning line, and MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno), who finished second in the Whitney

following a victory in the Stephen Foster H. (G1), comes next at 8-1.

"I have tremendous respect for Rachel Alexandra," said Graham Motion, who

trains the five-year-old Bullsbay. "After the Whitney, I said I wasn't going to

go (in the Woodward), but Bullsbay was doing so well I began pointing to the

race."

Stephen Foster and Suburban H. (G2) runner-up ASIATIC BOY (Arg) (Not For

Sale), who will return to the races for Kiaran McLaughlin after missing the

Whitney due to a virus, is listed as the 10-1 fourth choice.