Rachel saunters on a sweltering Louisville morning

Rachel Alexandra puts in her first work since the Fleur de Lis in sticky weather (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography)

Reigning Horse of the Year RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) returned to

serious training after her 10 1/2-length romp in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis H.

(G2) on June 12 with an easy half-mile work on a muggy Monday at Churchill

Downs.

The Steve Asmussen trainee breezed four furlongs over a fast track in :51

1/5. Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan was in the saddle as Rachel Alexandra covered the

distance in fractional splits of :12 2/5 and :25 1/5 and galloped out five

furlongs in 1:05 1/5.

"She went fine," Asmussen said. "It's a ridiculously hot morning, you know?

That's a big concern. It's time to get out and go north."

Asmussen had planned to ship Rachel Alexandra to Saratoga on July 5, the day

after the 42-day spring meet at Churchill Downs closes. But as an unusually warm

spring in the Louisville area turns the page to summer today, he is considering

moving travel plans up a few days for Rachel Alexandra and other members of his

Churchill Downs stable.

It was a humid 81 degrees when Rachel Alexandra breezed around 6:30 a.m.

(EDT) and conditions were so humid that camera lenses immediately fogged up when

lens caps were removed by photographers hoping to record the champion's work.

"I think we've got to get out of this weather," Asmussen said. "The flag's

stuck to the pole today."