Three graded stakes winners and a pair of unbeaten black-type winners are among 11 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La. The 1 1/16-mile contest is also worth 85 qualifying points for the G1 Kentucky Oaks on a 50-20-10-5 basis to the top four finishers.
The Rachel Alexandra, race 12 of 13 on Saturday's card, is one of six stakes on the day and is followed by the Risen Star Stakes, a qualifying points race for the Kentucky Derby.
Post time for the Rachel Alexandra is 6:27 p.m. Eastern.
Steve Asmussen sends out Stonestreet Stables LLC's La Crete in search of her third consecutive victory without a loss. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro left the maiden ranks at Churchill Downs last Nov. 20, then traveled to New Orleans to win the Silverbulletday Stakes on Jan. 22. Joel Rosario, the 2021 Eclipse Award winner for outstanding jockey, will be aboard when La Crete leaves from the rail post.
Brendan Walsh-trained North County, going for her fourth consecutive win, leaves from post two with Adam Beschizza aboard. Owned by Rebecca Hillen, Stonecrest Farm and Bruno De Julio, the Not This Time filly broke her maiden on debut at Indiana Grand in September, took a Keeneland allowance race in October, then won Fair Grounds' Untapable Stakes Dec. 26.
Chris Walsh's California Angel is likely the best known of the three graded stakes winners in the field, as the daughter of California Chrome was well publicized in her bid for the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar last fall. The George Leonard trainee came into the Breeders' Cup off an exciting stretch-running victory at odds of 17-1 in Keeneland's G2 Jessamine Stakes Oct. 13. California Angel is winless in two starts on dirt, however, and comes off a non-threatening sixth-place finish behind North County in the Untapable. DeShawn Parker will be aboard, and it's worth noting that California Angel will have blinkers added to her equipment.
The other two graded stakes winners in the field each earned their stripes at Churchill Downs.
Dream Lith, another filly by Medaglia d'Oro, won the G2 Golden Rod Stakes last out on Nov. 27 after facing G1 company in two previous starts. The Robertino Diodoro runner, owned by Cypress Creek Equine and Arnold Bennewith, will be ridden by Ramon Vazquez.
Hidden Connection, fourth last out to champion Zulu Echo in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, had previously won the G3 Pocahontas in Louisville on Sept. 18. Owned by Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds and trained by Bret Calhoun, Hidden Connection (by Connect) will be handled by Reylu Gutierrez.
Awake at Midnyte and Miss Mattie B, second and third in the G2 Santa Ynez Stakes last out at Santa Anita, are shipping to New Orleans for the Rachel Alexandra for trainers Doug O'Neill and Bob Hess, respectively. Graham Motion is sending Divine Huntress, who is coming off a 12 3/4-length allowance victory at Parx Racing.
Mario Gutierrez rides Awake At Midnyte, Mike Smith will be aboard Miss Mattie B, and Jose Ortiz handles Divine Huntress.
All starters carry 122 pounds.
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