It was the second straight win for the reigning Horse of the Year following a pair of losses to start the season.

Calvin Borel was aboard for trainer Steve Asmussen as Rachel Alexandra beat Queen Martha by 3 lengths with Ask the Moon third.

The 4-year-old paid $2.20 to win. The time was 1:49.78 for the 1 1/8 miles on an oppressively hot afternoon.

It was a triumphant return to Monmouth, where Rachel Alexandra beat the boys last summer in the $1 million Haskell Invitational, one of the key victories that propelled her to the championship in an 8-0 campaign.

After a slow start this season with a pair of narrow losses, Rachel Alexandra seems back to her old dominant self. She rolled to a 10 1/2-length win in her previous outing, the Fleur De Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs. That victory came June 12, providing a six-week interval between starts. Her next start could come against fillies and mares in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga Aug. 29.

Saratoga — Heavily favored Devil May Care took command leaving the stretch turn and drew away for a 4-length victory in the $250,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

John Velazquez rode the Todd Pletcher-trained Devil May Care to her third straight victory over members of her own sex.

The Coaching Club Oaks, in which she ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.42 after being rated behind a moderate pace, was her fifth career win from eight career starts. Biofuel was a decisively beaten second and Acting Happy finished third of six.

Del Mar — Ridden by Victor Espinoza, The Usual Q.T. rallied from just off the pace to win the $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes by 2 lengths. The Grade 1 race was The Usual Q.T.’s second straight win following his victory at Hollywood Park June 27.