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Travel Column and Clairiere Meet Again in Rachel Alexandra

The expensive Travel Column (Frosted) and regally bred Clairiere (Curlin), who finished one-two in the GII Golden Rod S., face off again Saturday at Fair Grounds in the GII Rachel Alexandra S., presented by Fasig-Tipton, which offers 50 points towards the GI Kentucky Oaks. Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' after an impressive score in her career bow sprinting at Churchill Sept. 4, the $850,000 FTSAUG purchase was third when trying two turns for the first time in Keeneland's GI Darley Alcibiades S. Oct. 2. The gray was last seen rallying to victory in the Nov. 28 Golden Rod and has been working in company with champion juvenile colt Essential Quality (Tapit) leading up to this, most recently covering five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 (4/51) in NOLA Feb. 7.

“I loved her going into the race, I was concerned during the race, and I loved her even more after the race,” trainer Brad Cox said. “It was a little bit of a worry. We saw it in the Alcibiades too, she breaks a little slow and had to make a premature move. But once she gets going, she's a really, really nice filly and she's shown it time and again.”

The first foal out of MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini), Stonestreet homebred Clairiere made a powerful late run to win at first asking in a 1 1/16-mile test at Churchill Oct. 25 and came up just a length short in the Golden Rod.

“She's a very good, lightly-raced filly with a huge pedigree,” conditioner Steve Asmussen said. “It's the right spot to start her back and we're really looking forward to it. But obviously we have our eye down the road [towards the Kentucky Oaks] with her too.”

Another of interest in this field is Cosmic Racing's Zoom Up (Upstart), who is two-for-two over this track. Hitting the board in her first two tries in Kentucky last fall, the dark bay broke through in a local sprint Dec. 19 and followed suit with an optional claimer score Jan. 18.

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Maxfield Headlines Mineshaft

Looking at the morning-line and past performances, the GIII Mineshaft S. looks like a one-horse race and that horse is the undefeated Maxfield (Street Sense), who towers over the rest of the field. A debut winner at Churchill in September 2019, the Godolphin homebred romped in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. a month later. The early favorite heading into that year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he was forced to withdraw from contention just days before the race due to an ankle chip. Returning to action with a late-rallying score in Churchill's GIII Matt Winn S. May 23, Maxfield was knocked off the GI Kentucky Derby trail after suffering a condylar fracture in his right front leg during a breeze at Keeneland in June. Dr. Larry Bramlage performed surgery and the Brendan Walsh trainee made another successful comeback at Fair Grounds, capturing the Dec. 19 Tenacious S. Runner-up Sonneman (Curlin) and third-place finisher Dinar (Union Rags) also return here.

Last term's GII Louisiana Derby victor Wells Bayou (Lookin at Lucky) makes his second start of 2021 here. Fifth in Nadal (Blame)'s division of the GI Arkansas Derby in May, he was also forced off the Derby trail last summer due to bone bruising. The bay returned in NOLA Jan. 16, finishing third in the GIII Louisiana S.

The regally bred Enforceable (Tapit), winner of the GIII Lecomte S. in 2020, romped by eight lengths in a track-and-trip optional claimer Jan. 17, earning a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Fair Maiden Makes 2021 Bow in Santa Monica

Fair Maiden (Street Boss), last seen scoring a breakthrough win in the GI La Brea S. Dec. 26, makes her seasonal bow Saturday in the GII Santa Monica S. in Arcadia. Running on synthetic and turf during her five-race juvenile campaign, including a black-type score at Woodbine, the Godolphin homebred kicked off 2020 with a convincing optional claimer score in her first try on dirt at Churchill in September. Fourth to the re-opposing Merneith (American Pharoah) next out in Keeneland's Qatar Fort Springs S. Nov. 7, the chestnut rallied four wide for a decisive victory in the La Brea, finishing 2 1/4 lengths clear of Golden Principal (Constitution).

Merneith and Golden Principal make up two-thirds of the Bob Baffert contingent in this event. Merneith beat Golden Principal by 3 1/4 lengths in a six-panel optional claimer at Santa Anita Oct. 11 prior to her Keeneland victory and was third in the La Brea. In between that Oct. 11 test and the La Brea, Golden Principal captured a one-mile optional claimer at Del Mar Nov. 27. Rounding out the Baffert trio is Qahira (Cairo Prince). Run down late and forced to settle for second in the local GIII Chillingworth S. in September, the bay won the Kalookian Queen S. here last time Jan. 10.

Grade I winner Hard Not to Love (Hard Spun) looks to defend her title after taking last year's renewal of this test. The 'TDN Rising Star' has been winless since, but did place four graded events last term, most recently finishing third in the GIII La Canada S. Jan. 9.

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Maryland Horsemen Backside Access Procedures Released

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) and the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) have released procedures for access to the backside at MJC facilities. The restrictions are designed to help keep the spread of COVID-19 in check and are effective immediately.

For traveling between the Mid-Atlantic region of Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., horsemen are required to submit a weekly negative PCR test. When traveling from all other states, a five-day quarantine is required and a negative test must be submitted after the quarantine period. International travelers must quarantine for seven days and submit a negative test afterward.

If testing positive, the test must be submitted and clearance obtained to regain access. Rapid tests are not accepted. Failure to follow quarantine protocols will result in fines and suspension of access. Test results should be sent to covid19@mdhorsemen.com. For more information, contact Diana Piñones in the MTHA Racetrack Office at 410-902-6844.

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