Rachel Alexandra, who was named Horse of the Year over Zenyatta on Monday night, has settled into a routine of jogging one mile then galloping one mile around the Fair Grounds oval most mornings.

The now 4-year-old, who hasn't started since becoming the first female to win the Woodward on Sept. 5, is still on track to turn in her first timed work around Feb. 1 as she prepares for her highly anticipated season.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said a campaign of six or seven races is likely for his star - including, he hopes, several tilts against Zenyatta, who she hasn't met on the track yet. With owner Jess Jackson unwilling to run over a synthetic surface (such as Del Mar) a return to New York this summer seems likely for Rachel Alexandra. The filly's ultimate goal, of course, is the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.

Meanwhile, stablemate Hot Dixie Chick, who was third in the voting for champion 2-year-old filly, returned to the worktab on Thursday morning but still has a way to go.

The filly breezed a half in :52 flat, leading Asmussen to say she's "highly unlikely" to make her 3-year-old debut in the Silverbulletday on Feb. 20.

Hot Dixie Chick, who is owned by Jackson's wife Barbara Banke, won two stakes at Saratoga last summer, the Schuylerville on opening day and the Grade I Spinaway on closing weekend. She hasn't started since.

The progress of horses in Asmussen's string has been hampered by poor weather, as the Fair Grounds was plagued by rain throughout December and the track was also frozen several days.