Rachel Alexandra, the filly phenom who won the Preakness Stakes on Saturday in Baltimore, Md., is in the care of attention of a Montgomery County native.

Scott Blasi, who was raised in Havana and graduated from Caney Valley High School in 1992, is the personal handler for the prize-winning horse following her surprise victory over the colts on Saturday.  Blasi works for renowned horse trainer Steve Asmussen, whose other credits include training Curlin, whose is horse racing’s highest-earning equine in history.

Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks on May 1 by an astounding 20 1/4 lengths.  Because of her impossible-to-ignore victory, Rachel Alexandra became the hottest commodity in the racing circuit.  Within the week of winning the Kentucky Oaks, Rachel Alexandra was sold to billionaire wine producer Jess Jackson, who used Asmussen and Blasi to train the champion filly for a race for the black-eyed susans at the Preakness Stakes.

Rachel Alexandra outlasted the pack at the Pimlico race track, and Blasi was the first person to congratulate jockey Calvin Borel, who also rode Kentucy Derby winner Mine That Bird, after crossing the finish line.  In fact, the NBC television cameras followed Blasi as he escorted the Preakness Stakes champion to the winner’s circle. 

After the celebration ended in the Preakness Stakes, Blasi took sole possession of the horse as she strode back to the paddock for a much-needed rest.  The horse, with Blasi as the personal handler and trainer, will now compete for the mile and a half Belmont Stakes in New York City on June 6.