The rain held off long enough on Monday morning for two of the most popular horses on the grounds to get their exercise in.

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra turned in her second to last, and most crucial, work in advance of her start in the Personal Ensign on August 29. With rider Shaun Bridgmohan up, the filly worked over the main track shortly before 6 a.m., covering six furlongs in 1:13.24. She strode out effortlessly, and appeared to finish up well, with trainer Steve Asmussen saying he caught her coming home the final quarter in :23 and change. With her first start at 10 furlongs looming, the strength the filly has shown at the end of these works is quite encouraging.

Some hours later, Loudonville Stakes winner Lisa's Booby Trap galloped a little over a mile on the main track, with owner/trainer Tim Snyder aboard. The filly won her first three starts at Finger Lakes, a lower-tier track outside of Rochester, then rocked the Spa with her first stakes victory. One of the best human-interest stories at the track this summer, the filly is named partially for Snyder's late wife. He said he's leaning toward the Victory Ride on the Travers undercard as her next start.

Quite the entourage followed Rachel across the street to the track for her work. It was fun to see that Lisa's Booby Trap has attracted her own following, as a handful of five or six people - including some fans from Florida - followed her through the paddock and tunnel to the main track.