In a textbook performance, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra earned her first win of the season on Saturday, drawing off for an easy victory in the Grade II Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs.

After two straight runner-up efforts - although by slim margins - to start 2010, the filly finally returned to the winner's circle with a performance so similar to what fans often saw from her in her unbeaten 2009 campaign.

With regular rider Calvin Borel up, Rachel raced on the outside of pacesetter Jessica Is Back through fairly brisk early fractions. She took the lead under a loose rein midway on the far turn, then under mild urging from Borel, repelled a rally from Distinctive Dixie in upper stretch. She drew away to win by 10½ lengths under a hand ride while geared down in the final furlong.

Rachel stopped the clock in 1:48.78 for the nine furlongs. Interestingly, her time was faster than the 1:49.37 clocked by Blame in winning the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap against a solid field of older males about two hours later.

Granted, Rachel Alexandra, who carried highweight of 124 pounds, was expected to win with ease. On paper, she towered over her four rivals, who had just one graded win between them. Still, after this season's early losses, it was gratifying to see her return to the 'W' column. Bigger things, and an expected return to Saratoga, could be ahead.

In another noteworthy development, Rachel Alexandra had run her first two races of 2010 in a figure eight noseband, a bridle worn by many of Steve Asmussen’s trainees that is designed to help a horse relax and soften its carriage. For Saturday’s race, the filly was without the figure eight and back in the plain bridle she ran in last year.

____________ In the Stephen Foster, Blame ran down morning line favorite Battle Plan to notch his fourth consecutive stakes win. Battle Plan, the regally bred son of Belmont winner Empire Maker and the champion filly Flanders, had things all his own way on the front end and kicked clear by open lengths in midstretch. But Blame unleashed a furious rally in the final furlong to win by three-quarters of a length, snapping Battle Plan’s four-race win streak. Take nothing away from either of the top two finishers. The 4-year-old Blame, winner of six of his last seven races, won the Fayette at Keeneland and the Clark at Churchill last fall, then took the William Donald Schaefer at Pimlico in his first start of the year. His next start is likely to be the Whitney at Saratoga.

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Speaking of horses we'll see at Saratoga, Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver returned to the worktab this morning, breezing four furlongs in :49.21 at Belmont. It was his first work since finishing eighth in the Preakness. The colt is expected to run next in the Jim Dandy or the Haskell before contesting the Travers.