Rachel is considered a foundation mare for Stonestreet, one who could potentially pass on her ability to several generations. When she and Zenyatta became broodmares, the race for the creation of a potential superhorse began, and those in the multimillion-dollar breeding business eagerly awaited their offspring.

In 2012, Stonestreet was second in North America in yearling sales dollars, offering 45 yearlings and completing sales of 38 with gross sales of close to $5 million. Stonestreet is expected to keep Rachel’s offspring, but losing her ability to produce would be a blow. How her offspring will perform is unknown, but her bloodlines can still be passed on, especially because her filly is expected to join the farm’s broodmare band.

Banke was worried only about Rachel. With every update, cards, flowers, treats and calls flooded into the hospital and the farm. The feisty qualities — divaesque, Banke called them — that made Rachel a fierce competitor gave way to a gentler side.

“She was amazing,” Barr said. “She just kind of went with it. We were on pins and needles, expecting problems, and they just didn’t happen.”

Each day brought renewed hope, even after an abscess developed near Rachel’s reproductive tract, and a new friendship. Brent Comer, a technician, sat outside Stall 13 — considered lucky after Rachel’s Preakness victory from Post 13 — 15 hours a day, sometimes checking her Facebook page or watching videos of her races. He groomed her, hand-walked her, fed her and gave her medication.

“She had a bit of a big crush on Brent, that’s for sure,” Barr said.

Four years and two foals earlier, the love affair with Rachel Alexandra began when she followed her 20 ¼-length Kentucky Oaks victory with a nail-biter two weeks later in the Preakness.