There were no mistakes this time around, as reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra sprinted away from four overmatched rivals leaving the eighth pole for her first victory as a four-year-old, and silencing at least some of her critics.

The bay filly was a perfect eight from eight during her championship season, with five Grade I successes, including her historic 20 1/4-length score in the Kentucky Oaks. Three of those five tallies at the highest level came at the expense of males, first the GI Preakness S. followed two starts later by a six-length defeat of Summer Bird (Birdstone) in the GI Haskell Invitational S. Aug. 2.

Her season ended--abruptly for some--with a head win from Macho Again (Macho Uno) in the GI Woodward S., and she would not be seen for six months. A date with Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) in the GI Apple Blossom S. seemed a mere formality when Rachel went to post as the 1-20 favorite in the New Orleans Ladies' S. Mar. 13, but Zardana (Brz) (Crimson Tide {Ire}) had other ideas and beat the champ on the square. With the Arkansas trip now called off, she took her place in the gate for the GII La Troienne S. on the Oaks undercard Apr. 30, and though she ran with credit when runner-up to Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song), many wondered just what she had left in the tank. She left nothing to chance yesterday.

Steered off the heels of Jessica Is Back under the wire the first time, Rachel Alexandra was a stalking second through an easy half in :47.25. Calvin Borel asked her to go after the pacesetter on the turn, and while Distinctive Dixie looked a momentary threat, Rachel strode away under hand encouragement and scored as much the best.