Rachel Alexandra did what the fans at Monmouth Park came to see her do–win the $412,000 Lady's Secret. But unlike what many expected, it was not a walkover for the reigning Horse of the Year, as she was made to work by pacesetter Queen Martha, who was game all the way before finishing three lengths short.

Facing six rivals–none of them with a graded stakes win to their credit–Rachel Alexandra was the star attraction in the July 24 Lady's Secret, which had its purse increased by $262,000, distance lengthened to nine furlongs, and date pushed up a week to accommodate majority owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen. A crowd of nearly 13,000 was on hand to see the 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro filly win for the 13th time in 18 lifetime starts on a hot afternoon.

With regular rider Calvin Borel aboard, Rachel Alexandra had a near-perfect trip behind Queen Martha, a 4-year-old Rahy filly making her second start in the United States with Joe Bravo in the irons. Queen Martha broke sharply from post 2 and was sent straight to the lead. Stage Trick was up close early too, but Borel would not let the leaders get away and raced just to their outside while in stalking position.

Queen Martha clicked off splits of :23.93 and :47.92 and midway on the far turn it looked like she was going to be engulfed by Rachel Alexandra, who had moved right alongside. But Queen Martha found more and still narrowly led after three-quarters in 1:12.30. It was not until they were inside the quarter-pole that the champion went by her rival, and she took a 1 1/2-length into the stretch