Dolphus Morrison Rachel Alexandra is named after her breeder’s eldest granddaughter. AS president ofa steel company, Morrison wa sin Texas inspecting a job where he watched his first race. It was for quarterhorses, but he transitioned to thoroughbreds soon after. He bought some horses and turned them over to Hal Wiggins, the beginning of a more-than 20-year association. Among his previous stakes winners are Lotta Rhythm, winner of the Pocahontas Stakes and third in the 2001 Golden Rod and Lotta Kim, 2003 Golden Rod runner-up. Rachel Alexandra avenged those defeats with last year’s tally.

The family is that of Belmont-Travers winner, and Preakness third, Hail to All.