"If you're a horse trainer, she's the ultimate gift," Asmussen said. "She's obviously a beautiful, talented filly with a tremendous way of running.
"For her to change barns, change her whole environment and accept it, she's truly special."
Rachel Alexandra's biggest challenge in the Preakness came not from Pioneerof the Nile, who was eased late and finished 11th, or the shooter from Florida, Big Drama, who finished fifth. It came from Mine That Bird, the small bay gelding and former Canadian champion.
Despite losing his rider, Calvin Borel, to the filly, Mine That Bird nearly made another miraculous last-to-first trip under Mike Smith. Last at the half mile, the hard-charging Mine That Bird was fourth into the stretch and lost by just a length.
"My horse ran his guts out and just got beat," Woolley said.
Smith did not get the near-perfect ride Borel got. There was some bumping at the far turn with Flying Private that caused Mine That Bird to check.
Flying Private was one of two D. Wayne Lukas horses in the race. At a post-race dinner with some jockeys and trainers, Lukas said Smith told him the two horses bumped hard three times.
"[Smith] said, 'Flying Private knocked Mine That Bird plum sideways,' " Lukas recounted. "He said, 'I don't mean bumped, I mean we hit.' He said, 'I hollered at [Flying Private jockey Alan Garcia] and, boom, here he comes again.' "
Woolley understood the implications.
"It's huge when you get beat three-quarters of a length," he said. "It's huge. If he gets a little cleaner run at her, maybe he's got a chance to beat her."
In the end, it was the filly who wasn't nominated for the Triple Crown series barely holding off the gelding whom no one knew before he romped in the Derby slop. This time, the filly won.
"It's pretty amazing how a few days and two minutes can change everything," Woolley said. "It's been a fun ride. And I'm looking forward to more, so we'll see what happens."
The Belmont beckons.
