Jess Jackson buys Rachel; Preakness next?

It was announced early this afternoon that Jess Jackson, owner of two-time Horse of the year Curlin, has purchased the brilliant 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra and reports are that he might run her in the Preakness Stakes on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course.

What a shot in the arm that would be for racing. The sport needs its stars running in these big high-profile races, and after her 20 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1, Rachel Alexandra is certainly one of those stars. She proved in the Oaks that she's more than capable of running against the boys, much like Rags to Riches when she beat the males, including Curlin, in the 2007 Belmont Stakes.

Calvin Borel is the regular rider for Rachel, and he also rode Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby on May 2. Hmmmmm. Wonder which horse he'd choose if they both go in the Preakness. One guess, huh?

Here's the Associated Press story that moved on the wire today:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)--Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra has been sold to Stonestreet Stables, opening the possibility for the filly superstar to run in the Preakness.

Jess Jackson, owner of Stonestreet Stables, announced the sale on Wednesday. The purchase from Dolphus Morrison and Mike Lauffer comes less than a week after Rachel Alexandra posted a record 20-length victory in the Oaks.

Morrison said after the Oaks he had no plans to enter Rachel Alexandra into either of the remaining Triple Crown races. He would have to pay a $100,000 supplement to put Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness on May 16.

Stonestreet also owns 2007-08 Horse of the Year Curlin, who retired last fall as racing's all-time money winner. Jackson said he plans to breed Rachel Alexandra to Curlin once her racing career is over.