2024 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at a Glance

Racing
West Omaha, Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton, Fair Grounds, Eclipse Sportswire
West Omaha looks like the 3-year-old filly to beat Saturday in the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton at Fair Grounds. (Eclipse Sportswire)

The Longines Kentucky Oaks may still be 11 weeks away but on Saturday at Fair Grounds one fortunate 3-year-old filly will punch herself a ticket to the May 3 spectacle at Churchill Downs. Though only 14 horses can run in the Oaks, the 50 qualifying points awarded to the winner of the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton should be enough to secure a spot in the field for the marquee race for 3-year-old fillies.

Rachel Alexandra Stakes

Racetrack: Fair Grounds, New Orleans

Date: Feb. 17

Purse: $300,000

Distance: 1 1/16 miles

Race: 13

Post Time: 6:48 p.m. ET

Notable winners: Pretty Mischievous (2023), Clairiere (2021), Serengeti Empress (2019), Monomoy Girl (2018), Untapable (2014), Summerly (2005), Take Charge Lady (2002), Silverbulletday (1999), Blushing K. D. (1997), and Tiffany Lass (1986).

First held: 1982

The Rachel Alexandra, which has been won by three of the last six Kentucky Oaks winners, is the first of 13 stakes across the country worth a maximum of 50 or 100 points that will have a pronounced impact on the field for the historic 150th edition of the Oaks.

1. Tarifa (5-1 morning-line odds): Won an allowance race on the Fair Grounds main track in fast time. Comes from top connections with the breeding and post position to be a main threat here.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Brad Cox

2. Pennick (8-1): Unbeaten in two starts but has yet to race beyond 5 1/2 furlongs. Considering her last start came in an off-the-turf race on a sloppy main track, this is a big ask.

JOCKEY: Jareth Loveberry; TRAINER: Gary Scherer

3. Perfect Shot (10-1): Finished a distant second in the Silverbulletday Stakes, the local prep for this race. Can be a threat in a relatively small field but hard to see her jumping up and winning.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

4. Intricate (3-1): Has not raced since sharp win in the Golden Rod Stakes Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs. Looks like a runner who can stay on the right track as a 3-year-old.

JOCKEY: Tyler Gaffalione; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh

5. Alpine Princess (7-2): Is on the upswing with two straight wins, including one in the Untapable Stakes here at Fair Grounds. Could be on the lead but figures to get plenty of pressure in a field loaded with horses who like to be close to the pace. The second of three Brad Cox-trained entrants.

JOCKEY: Florent Geroux; TRAINER: Brad Cox

6. V V’s Dream (5-2): Her only subpar effort came over a sloppy track in the Rags to Riches Stakes last year at Churchill Downs. Second in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes, she was never worse than second in her other four starts. Deserves consideration in her 3-year-old debut.

JOCKEY: Brian J. Hernandez Jr.; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

7. West Omaha (9-2): Won for fun in the Silverbulletday Stakes with a nice stalking trip for Cox. Can get the same type of journey here and looks like the one to beat.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Brad Cox

THE PICK: West Omaha

LIVE LONGSHOT: Perfect Shot

SUPERFECTA: 7-4-1-6

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