BALTIMORE (Reuters) - The trainer of Preakness champion Rachel Alexandra hinted on Sunday that the filly would be headed for the Belmont Stakes in three weeks.
Steve Asmussen spoke to the media just hours after Rachel Alexandra became the first filly in 85 years to win the middle leg of U.S. thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown series.
"The reason she ran in the Preakness is because she was doing extremely well," he said at Pimlico Race Course.
"If you're doing extremely well, what are you waiting for? I think if they're doing well, you ought to run them.
Rachel Alexandra followed up her 20 1/4-length victory in the May 1 Kentucky Oaks with a one-length triumph over Kentucky Derby champion Mine That Bird in the Preakness.
The victory in Saturday's 13-horse affair marked Asmussen's second trip to the Preakness winner's circle in three years.
"I've spent a lifetime trying to get into this position," said Asmussen, the trainer of 2007 winner Curlin. "The overwhelming feeling is pride."
Asmussen said Rachel Alexandra, who left Pimlico at six a.m. for her home base at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., would head back to the track on Wednesday. He said she would probably have her first post-Preakness work a week from Monday.
Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and Harold T. McCormick purchased Rachel Alexandra 10 days before the Preakness and brought Asmussen on board to be her trainer.
Asmussen conceded he is still learning about Rachel Alexandra, the fifth filly to win the Preakness and first since Nellie Morse in 1924.
"This time, we have something to measure it to, as far as how she feels and how she's acting," he said. "It's our first comparison, so to speak.
"We're not going to tell her how she's feeling. She'll tell us how she's feeling."
Mine That Bird trainer Chip Woolley is already preparing his gelding for the June 6 Belmont in Elmont, New York. The son of Birdstone won the Derby two weeks ago as a 50-1 longshot but his strong Preakness showing proved he is not a one-race wonder.
"My horse will be much more suited to the Belmont -- big wide track, big wide sweeping turns," he said. "It should play a little better to my horse.
"We're excited about going. As long as he's good the next couple days, like he looks this morning, that will be the plan."
(Writing by Steve Ginsburg; Editing by John Mehaffey)
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