and a little scruffy" as a foal. Morrison rarely sells the first couple of foals out of his mares, but he almost made an exception with Rachel Alexandra, entering her in the 2006 Keeneland November Sale as a weanling. When X-rays revealed a "minor development problem" – he scratched her, convinced she wouldn't bring the $125,000 he thought she was worth. In August 2007, Morrison sent Rachel Alexandra to Diamond D Ranch in Lone Oak, Texas, where Jimmy (Scooter) Dodwell broke her in. In November of that year, Morrison asked if Rachel was ready to be entered in a Florida sale. "She had a ton of speed, with a long stride, and [I thought] she might be able to run forever," recalls Dodwell. "I stuck my neck out and told Mr. Morrison, 'You might want to hang onto this one.'" Racing career Jockey Rachel Alexandra's original jockey was Brian Hernandez Jr. who rode her to two wins in five starts. However, Wiggins had used Calvin Borel to work Rachel and considered a change. Borel first rode Rachel Alexandra in the Grade II Golden Rod Stakes to a length victory, setting a stakes record for time. Rachel Alexandra began a 9-race winning streak with Calvin Borel aboard. Borel said he learned not to hold back Rachel Alexandra, even if she wanted to run the first quarter-mile in a fast 22 seconds or the half-mile in 44. "I don't fight her ever since I've been on her," he said. "The first day I learned that." 2009 racing campaign highlights Following dominating wins in the Martha Washington Stakes and Fair Grounds Oaks, Rachel Alexandra stepped into the Oaklawn Park starting gate as the 1–10 favorite in the Fantasy Stakes and led wire-to-wire in the mile race. Winning by 8 lengths, she finished with a final time of 1:43.35. A minus win pool of $3,382 and minus place pool of $227,722 resulted, with no show wagering offered for the 5 horse field. In the $500,000 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, Rachel Alexandra was sent off as the 3–10 favorite, coming to Louisville off four straight wins, all in stakes company, including an 8 length romp in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park in her most recent start. Gabby's Golden Gal broke the quickest and was sent to the lead immediately by jockey Victor Espinoza as she set a pace of 23.75, 47.46,