Rachel Alexandra has done some extraordinary things. The three year-old filly won the Kentucky Oaks by 20 lengths. In the Preakness Stakes, she taught the boys a lesson or two. She raced with the girls in Belmont’s Mother Goose and won by the length of the stretch. On Sunday, in a sea of mud at Monmouth Park, a racecourse on the Jersey shore, Rachel Alexandra beat the boys one more time in the 1.25 million-dollar Haskell Invitational. The Haskell victory gave the wonder filly her seventh win in 2009 in as many outings.

Larry Collmus, the announcer at Monmouth Park, summed it all up in inimitable fashion. As Rachel Alexandra flashed past the wire with jockey Calvin Borel flashing the ‘V’ sign in exultation, Larry Collmus exclaimed, “here’s a filly for the ages.”

Sunday’s Monmouth program got under way in great weather. The forecast, however, called for rain late afternoon. The weather office could not have been more right. As post time (6 15 P M Eastern time) for the Haskell approached, the track was a ‘mud oval.’ The 37,000-strong throng refused to look beyond Rachel Alexandra. Women took center stage at Monmouth lining up along the outer rail to cheer the filly home. The Medaglia d’Oro filly did not disappoint. She did what was expected of her and some more.

Munnings set out on a strong gallop in the Grade I event. Summer Bird, showing unusual alacrity, held his position on the inside. The last link in the battling trio was Rachel Alexandra who was in the three-path. A length and perhaps less, separated the three as they negotiated the final turn in the 1800-metre contest. A moment or may be two moments later, the Haskell was put to bed. Jockey Borel and Rachel Alexandra were four lengths in front. There was a tap or two to the filly’s left flank and Rachel Alexandra was eased up as she crossed the line six lengths in front. Summer Bird ran on and got the better of Munnings to take the runner-up berth. Papa Clem moved inside to salvage fourth in the six-horse field.

The time for the 1800-metre Haskell in the slop was 1 47.21 seconds. It was the second time that Rachel Alexandra was taking on and beating the boys. She returned $3.00 on a two-dollar ticket. It has been reported that the Travers at Saratoga on August 29 is the next race for Rachel Alexandra.

Part-owner Jess Jackson spoke. “We don’t know where she will go next. She will tell us what she wants to do. We are not going to the Breeders’ Cup and I have said it and I meant it. We’ll go back to Saratoga and breeze her before any decision is made about the Travers.”

Jockey Calvin Borel could not stop singing the praises. “This filly is just unbelievable. I cannot say how good she is. I gave her a few taps at the sixteenth pole and that’s it. She started looking around at the crowd and I kept her busy to the wire and kept her focused. She is an amazing athlete.”

Trainer Asmussen, on cloud nine after two graded stakes wins on Saturday and the Haskell on Sunday, talked about his filly’s great temperament.. “To compare her races, the Preakness, the Mother Goose and today’s Haskell, it is hard to determine her best effort. From changing barns and running over different surfaces and still showing her consistency, she can handle the crowd, the weather and nothing surprises her.”

On Saturday, the Steve Asmussen-trained Soul Warrior came out on top in the Grade II West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. Dale Beckner partnered the 23-1 longshot. Mine That Bird and Big Drama shared favoritism. The latter tried to make it all. Soul Warrior was forwardly placed. Mine That Bird brought up the rear. Turning for home, Big Drama had a two-length lead and kept going. Mine That Bird had made a move to get into contention and it was obvious that the Kentucky Derby winner was finding it hard to keep up. With 200 metres to go, jockey Beckner asked Soul Warrior to find more. There was a response. Soul Warrior found another gear and Big Drama was showing signs of leg-weariness. At the finish, it was Soul Warrior and it was Beckner’s first high profile win. Jockey Miguel Mena, scheduled to ride Soul Warrior, missed his flight and was replaced by jockey Beckner.

Mike Smith, Mine That Bird’s rider, said, “I take responsibility. I moved too soon. We had little left in the stretch. Mine That Bird is better than what he showed today.”

At Saratoga in New York, Saturday’s co feature was the 1800-metre Jim Dandy. Also owned by Jess Jackson and trained by Steve Asmussen, Kensei, winner of the Dwyer Stakes in his previous outing, won the Jim Dandy with a measure of comfort in the hands of Edgar Prado. The Mr Greeley colt is now a possibility for the Travers. Owner Jess Jackson has a dilemma. He will be double-handed with Rachel Alexandra and Kensei. Warrior’s Reward was second and Charitable Man, the favorite, managed third.

Edgar Prado expressed his thinking. “Kensei was keen early. Once he settled, he was OK. He responded well when needed. I liked him a lot today and he justified my confidence.”

The other big event on Saratoga on Saturday was the Grade I Diana. Forever Together, winner of the Diana last year, got an encore. Jockey Julien Leparoux saved ground and angled out in the last turn. Running on determinedly, Forever Together caught Caribbean Sunset in the waning yards. Forever Together was the odds on favorite.

I must devote a paragraph or two to what happened at Deauville (outside Paris) on Sunday. Goldikova was the favorite in the Prix Rothschild, a Grade I race that the Anabaa filly had won last year. It was a straight 1600-metre race on Deauville’s soft grass course. Only Green, Goldikova’s stablemate, set the pace. Olivier Peslier had Goldikova second. There were 300 metres to run and Goldikova struck the front. Peslier eased up in the closing stages and won by a length and a half in a time of 1 35.07 seconds. Elusive Wave, the French 1000 Guineas winner, took second with Christophe Lemaire. It was the fifth Grade I win for Goldikova. After a loss in her first 2009 start, Goldikova rebounded in Newmarket’s Falmouth Stakes in early July.

Trainer Freddie Head was unstinting in his adulation. “She is an extraordinary filly. She has improved since the Falmouth. She showed today that she is one of the best and can be compared to Miesque, Allez France, Zarkava and Three Troikas. She will go in the Prix Marois in mid-August at Deauville and will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita.”

I called Peslier to congratulate. “Thanks Tom. Yes, she is special. I won very easily. She is better now than what she was as a three year-old. We will have one run in France before coming to America.”

I asked Peslier about Vision d’Etat, winner of Royal Ascot’s Prince of Wales Stakes. “He is doing well. Prix Foy at Longchamp is the next race. The Arc is what Libaud (Vision d’Etat’s trainer) is planning for. I look forward to seeing you, Tom, at Longchamp in October.”

Let us move back to Saratoga. On Sunday, Seventh Street, a Godolphin-owned filly was the 145/100 favorite in the Go For Wand Handicap. It was a $300,000 Grade I event for distaffers. Saratoga was sloppy beyond belief. It rained and rained and rained some more. Color Me Up and Seventh Street disputed the lead with the former holding the edge until the field turned for home. Spritely, Edgar Prado up, slipped thru along the fence to gain the lead. Rajiv Maragh, showing commendable composure, persevered and got Seventh Street to find more despite not being able to keep a straight course. Jockey Maragh’s effort was rewarded. Seventh Street, a Street Cry filly, gained the upper hand late to win by a length and a half. As Spritely shortened stride, Miss Iselin moved late to be the bridesmaid. Many of Seventh Street’s wins have come on sloppy tracks.

It was the first Grade I win for jockey Maragh at Saratoga. Seventh Street is trained by Saeed bin Suroor. Cocoa Beach, stablemate of the winner, was scratched.

Jockey Rajiv Maragh commented on his ride. “I did not want to tangle up with the longshot outside of me (Color Me Up) and wanted to get my horse to the quarter pole with the most energy possible. She held up fine.”

I chatted with Malesh Narredu prior to his trip to London. Malesh is riding in the Shergar Cup competition on Saturday at Ascot. “I will be in London on Wednesday. I do not know what I will be doing until Saturday. Thanks for wishing me luck. Your support means a lot to me. I am honored to be going there. I will stay there for two extra days.”

“You are a thinking rider. You can hold your own. There is no doubt that you will do well. “ I told Malesh. Hayley Turner will captain the ‘English team.’ Alan Munro and Darryll Holland are the other members.

Ireland’s captain is Richard Hughes. Neil Callan and Seamus Heffernan are the other jockeys.

Frankie Dettori, I now learn, will be at Newmarket on Saturday. France’s Gerald Mosse will be the skipper of the ‘European team.’ Frederik Johansson and Andrasch Starke are the other two.

Ahmed Ajtebi is the captain of the ‘Rest Of The World.’ Malesh Narredu and Hiroyuki Uchida are the other two riders.

An elaborate ceremony is being planned on Saturday at Ascot. Please check TV listings in India.