SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — On the morning after her historic victory over older males in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, the 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra, while tired, appeared no worse for the wear according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

"She ran hard, cooled out, drank plenty of water," Asmussen said. "She's a professional. She puts in the work. That's what gives you so much confidence about her. She doesn't just take the day off."

Rachel Alexandra, who will continue racing at age 4, likely clinched Horse of the Year honors with the eighth win and third over males in an undefeated season. Her streak includes wins against 3-year-old colts in the Preakness and the Haskell Invitational and against 3-year-old fillies in the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose Stakes.

After what was the most testing race in that span, she may be due for a layoff after a dramatic neck decision over Macho Again in the Woodward.

Principal owner Jess Jackson last week raised the possibility that the Woodward would be Rachel Alexandra's last race of the year.

The other possibility is a meeting with the undefeated 5-year-old mare Zenyatta, who is based in California and is being pointed toward the Breeders' Cup, which will be run on Nov. 6-7 at Santa Anita. Rachel Alexandra will not compete at in the Breeders' Cup because of Jackson's dislike for the synthetic racing surfaces in place at Santa Anita and other California racetracks.

Both have been invited by the New York Racing Association to the Oct. 3 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park, the purse for which would be raised to $1 million with an additional $400,000 commitment from Television Games Network-Betfair if both start.

"She's run more races than Zenyatta's run, and Zenyatta's a 5-year-old," Jackson said. "You can't expect a youngster — she's only 3 and she just ran against older horses — to keep going all the time. You have to give them a break, and we'll talk that over very seriously."