Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra took a jog around the Fair Grounds early Monday morning. The four-year-old filly galloped around the track as she prepares for her first race of 2010.

Monday's gallop came just two days after Rachel worked four-furlongs with exercise rider Dominic Terry. In Saturday's workout the double Eclipse Award winner covered the half-mile in 50 3/5 seconds.

The four-year-old covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.49, breaking the old mark of 1:47.72 he set in last year's Florida Derby.

The four-year-old stalked the pace being set by Past the Point. Jockey John Velazquez moved the 2-5 favorite to the lead on the final turn and began to run away from his eight rivals through the stretch.

On Thursday morning Oaklawn Park owner Charles J. Cella announced that the Arkansas facility will increase the purse of its Apple Blossom Handicap, now Invitational, to $5 million to draw the two horses into a showdown.

"Should this race come off as expected," noted Cella, "it will most certainly fulfill every promise made." However, who said that $5 million will convince the people who make the decisions that the race will happen.

Being called "A Race for the Ages," the race, now known as the Apple Blossom Invitational, is set for Saturday, April 3 and will be extended from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles. The $5 million purse will stand only if both champions race. The original $500,000 purse will hold if just one of the ladies runs.

"We have always pursued a goal of bringing the world's best racing to Arkansas," Oaklawn Park President Charles J. Cella said. "That is what led us to create the Racing Festival of the South more than 30 years ago. We have been even more fortunate in recent years. That gives us the opportunity to fulfill the promises we continually make to our fans, our horsemen and all of our supporters -- should thi

Veteran runner Grasshopper returned to the races from a long vacation to win the $56,000 race. Sent off at odds of 3-1, the six-year-old posted a neck victory over Gentleman James who was 7-1 in the betting.

Grasshopper, ridden by Alan Garcia, was making his first start since last April's Ben Ali Handicap at Keeneland. Now trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Grasshopper notched his first win since February, 2008 in the Mineshaft Handicap at the Fair Grounds.

The four-year-old Quality Road made a successful return to the races on Gulfstream's opening day last month by winning the $100,000 Hal's Hope Stakes with regular rider John Velazquez.

"It was a good race," trainer Todd Pletcher said after the victory. "He likes the Gulfstream track and we'll point him now for the Donn. Then he might get a little break and point for the big races in summer and fall." In Saturday's race the colt will start from post four with Velazquez in the saddle.

"Winslow Homer had a little sensitivity in his shin Sunday morning," Fox noted on his website. "We went over him with a fine-toothed comb and found a small stress fracture in his cannon bone, resulting in Winslow having to go on the shelf for the next 60-90 days.

Winslow should return to training in early April.

"She took to the dirt well and I got a good trip," said her jockey Julien Leparoux, "but the distance was too short for her." She be Wild, trained by Wayne Catalano, was running fifth for much of the race.

The filly, sent off as the 7-5 favorite in the 11 horse field, found herself three wide around the turn for home and was unable to contend for the lead.

Gloria De Campeao won the opening day $200,000 Maktoum Challenge at one mile over the track's synthetic oval. Ridden by Tiago Pereira, the Brazilian- bred was never far off the pace. Trained by Pascal Bary, Gloria De Campeao retook the lead down the stretch to defeat Forgotten Voice.

"This horse loves Dubai and never runs a bad race," said Bary. "We will be aiming him for the World Cup in which he was an excellent second last year." The time for the mile was 1:38.48 Finishing third was Consul General with 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile champ Midshipman coming in fourth. Rounding out the order of finish was Premio Loco, Without A Prayer, Lovelace, Otaared,

"The $250,000 Delaware Handicap purse reduction allows for the addition of a pair of $125,000 stake races to be run later in the season - the Sweet & Sassy Stakes on October 23 and the Brandywine Stakes on October 30," the press release stated.

Won last year by Swift Temper, the Delaware Handicap is a 1 1/4 mile race for fillies and mares. Contacted last week following the Eclipse Awards, track publicity director Chris Sobocinski said that talks have been held on having 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and two-time Eclipse Award winner Zenyatta run in the Del 'Cap.

"Winslow came into the race superbly trained but not at his peak," Porter noted on his website. "He got a terrific, patient and very intelligent ride from our main man, Ramon (Dominguez). The entire Palm Meadows crew of Tony's (trainerTony Dutrow)didagreat jobgettingHomer readyfor this tough race." Porter is making another run at the Kentucky Derby.

Three years ago, is it that long already, his Hard Spun proved to be one of the best three-year-olds of 2007. He won the Lane's End Stakes, runner-up to Street Sense in the Run for the Roses, third in the Pre

Winslow Homer came into the race with two wins in three lifetime starts, including a dominating 12 1/2-length, entry-level allowance victory at Philadelphia Park last November. However, his performance vs. Jackson Bend in the Holy Bull was even more imposing and it stands as the number one three- year-old prep race of the season.

The son of Unbridled's Song prevailed by three-quarters of a length, running the one-turn mile in a quick 1:35 4/5. The track played extremely fast, however, as evidenced by one track record (race six at 5 1/2 furlongs) and another near miss as a first-time starter in race two ran one-fifth of a second too slow.

Conducted at a distance of one mile and 40 yards, the Lecomte had a final field of 10 after the scratch of Callide Valley. The 2-1 favorite was Maximus Ruler, while Ron the Greek was sent off at odds of 7-1.

Breaking from the inside, Maximus Ruler and jockey Francisco Torres set the pace from the start. Ron the Greek got off slowly and was unhurried through the early going.

Aikenite and Winslow Homer both were 7-2 at post-time in the nine horse field.

Taking the field into the far turn was Homeboykris followed by Thank U Philippe, Piscitelli and Jackson Bend. Around the final turn Winslow Homer began to improve his position on the inside and joined Jackson Bend on the lead at the top of the stretch.

The track cancelled Thursday's race card on Wednesday after doing the same on Monday.

"We're told that the heavy rain is supposed to be clear of us by about noon tomorrow," said Santa Anita President Ron Charles. "The weather outlook for the weekend is favorable and we are optimistic that if the forecast holds, we're going to be able to run Saturday and Sunday. As we've said, safety is our number one priority and we?ll continue to make all decisions based upon that." The problem has been the ineffectual draining of the water from the artificial racing surface.

Rachel Alexandra got Horse of the Year over Zenyatta and the filly was unanimously voted champion three-year-old female.

However, Zenyatta was not the unanimous choice for champion older filly or mare.

The chestnut colt will take on eight rivals in the one-mile event.

Jackson Bend, owned by Jacks or Better Farm, will be ridden by Jeremy Rose from the far outside post. The chestnut colt is the top money earner in the field with $477,820.

"We are in the midst of a severe weather system right now," said Santa Anita President Ron Charles.

"The Weather Service has told us that this is the heaviest rain we've had in this area in the past five years. Since Sunday afternoon, we've been hit with a lot of rain.

The "big five" are Lookin At Lucky, Jackson Bend, Buddy's Saint, Super Saver and Noble's Promise. Those colts combined to win 17 of 25 races in 2009.

Right underneath the early favorites are many three-year-olds that have shown early promise including Uptowncharlybrown, Kettle River, American Lion, Take Control, Tiz Chrome, Eightyfiveinafifty and Conveyance.

Rachel Alexandra received 130 votes to Zenyatta's 99 in balloting from the Daily Racing, National Turf Writers Association and National Thoroughbred Racing Association. A closer election was expected, but it is obvious that the electors came to a consensus.

The election of Rachel Alexandra gives co-owner Jess Jackson a third consecutive Horse of the Year. Curlin received the honor in 2007 and 2008 and with the filly racing this year Jackson could make it four straight years.

As a three-year-old filly, Rachel Alexandra won all eight starts including the Preakness Stakes, Haskell Invitational and Woodward Stakes. Owned by Jess Jackson and Harold McCormick, Rachel Alexandra earned more than $2.7 million in 2009 and was also voted champion three-year-old filly of the year.

Jockey Calvin Borel was her jockey and she was trained by Steve Asmussen, who won his second straight Eclipse Award as champion trainer. Rachel Alexandra will continue her racing career in 2010 with the possibility of meeting Zenyatta.

Conducted at a distance of one mile and 40 yards, the Lecomte is the first of a three race series that includes the Risen Star Stakes on February 20 and the Louisiana Derby on March 27. Last year Friesan Fire swept the three races and was the post-time Kentucky Derby favorite.

Trainer Steve Margolis has Sugar Bowl Stakes winner Cool Bullet making his first start of the year in the Lecomte. The chestnut gelding will start from post nine with Brian Hernandez, Jr. set to ride.

Taking the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields was Ranger Heartley while odds-on favorite Conveyance won the San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita.

Ranger Heartley, owned by Herb and David Alpert, upset 7-10 favorite Connemara in the 1 1/16 mile California Derby.

"We saw her gallop today (Saturday at Hollywood Park) and I talked to Ann, and then I talked to John (trainer John Shirreffs), and she looks too good," owner Jerry Moss said. "It's what she likes to do and that's what we decided to do, so we're going to run her.

"It had nothing to do on whether she is Horse of the Year or not. If she's Horse of the Year, she'll run as Horse of the Year and if she's not, she'll run as not Horse of the Year." Zenyatta and the filly Rachel Alexandra are the two finalists for 2009 Horse of the Year, which will be announced Monday night in Beverly Hills.

As an appetizer to get people in the mood for the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs and NBC Sports are teaming to televise six prep races over three consecutive Saturdays.

On March 27, USA Network will present the Louisiana Derby from Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans and the Lane's End Stakes from Turfway Park in Kentucky.