Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra carried the famed burgundy and gold silks of Stonestreet Farm to six victories, four of which were Grade Is, including the GI Preakness S. and GI Woodward S. So, it was only fitting that another filly carrying the colors of Barbara Banke's operation, Clairiere (Curlin), won that Horse of the Year's namesake Grade II race at the Fair Grounds Saturday. The event, which produced GI Kentucky Oaks winners in 2018 and 2019, offered 50 points towards this year's run for the lillies.
Clairiere rallied strongly from well back to capture her 1 1/16-mile debut at Churchill Downs Oct. 25. She made another late run for the lead in that venue's GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 28, but was collared by the re-opposing Travel Column (Frosted) and forced to settled for second.
Dispatched as the 2-1 second choice behind that rival in this sophomore bow, Clairiere stumbled a bit exiting her rail draw and was left at the back of pack as 25-1 shot Off We Go (Air Force Blue) dictated terms several lengths clear of Travel Column through an opening quarter in :23.73. Clairiere snuck up the fence to improve her position to mid-pack through a half in :47.99. Travel Column charged to the front approaching the far turn as Clairiere muscled her way between rivals to stay close to her favored foe. The Stonestreet homebred slipped inside of the chalk at the top of the lane, but Travel Column closed up that opening at the fence, forcing Clairiere's rider Joe Talamo to switch tactics. He swung his mount to Travel Column's outside and the two surged clear of the rest of the field. Clairiere was going the better of the two and forged ahead of Travel Column in the final sixteenth to win by a neck. Moon Swag (Malibu Moon) completed the trifecta.
“I'm extremely excited about who she is,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen, who also conditioned Rachel Alexandra. “This filly, the third run of her life, is just getting better. Races going further look like they'll be right in her wheelhouse. For her to win the Rachel Alexandra in the Stonestreet silks is extremely special. We'll discuss her next start with the team and she how we're doing. This filly has a very bright future.”
“This is a really nice filly, very professional,” said Talamo. “Steve gave me all the confidence in the world in her. Going in he said to just ride your race. I just kind of pointed her in the right direction and down the lane when I eased her out she was all racehorse. It's fun to ride those kind. The sky is the limit, especially with that just being her third start.”
Pedigree Notes:
Clairiere is the first foal out of Stonestreet's 'TDN Rising Star' Cavorting (Bernardini), a three-time Grade I winner and earner of over $2 million. A daughter of GSW Promenade Girl (Carson City), the now-9-year-old mare has since produced a juvenile filly by Medaglia d'Oro and a yearling colt by Curlin. The half-sister to GSW Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) failed to get in foal to Quality Road last season. The second graded winner of the day out of a daughter of Bernardini, following GIII Mineshaft S. victor Maxfield (Street Sense), she is also his 25th graded winner and 45th black-type scorer as a broodmare sire. Clairiere is the 36th graded winner and 75th black-type victor by Curlin, another Hall of Famer who carried the Stonestreet silks.
Saturday, Fair Grounds
RACHEL ALEXANDRA S. PRESENTED BY FASIG-TIPTON-GII, $300,000, Fair Grounds, 2-13, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.34, ft.
1–CLAIRIERE, 122, f, 3, by Curlin
1st Dam: Cavorting (MGISW, $2,063,000), by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Promenade Girl, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Promenade Colony, by Pleasant Colony
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen; J-Joseph Talamo. $183,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $270,492. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Travel Column, 122, f, 3, Frosted–Swingit, by Victory Gallop. ($850,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-OXO Equine LLC; B-Mr & Mrs Bayne Welker Jr & Denali Stud (KY); T-Brad H Cox. $60,000.  'TDN Rising Star'
3–Moon Swag, 122, f, 3, Malibu Moon–Yara, by Put It Back. ($150,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Brad King, Jim Cone, Scott Bryant and Stan & Suzanne Kirby; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh. $30,000.
Margins: NK, 6HF, NK. Odds: 2.30, 1.00, 23.70.
Also Ran: Littlestitious, Becca's Rocket, Souper Sensational, Zoom Up, Off We Go. Scratched: Charlie's Penny.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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