Handicapper's Corner: 2024 Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes No Joking Matter

Rachel Alexandra Stakes No Joking Matter

By: Michael Amo, ThoroFan Board Member

One morning I was at the Oklahoma Track at Saratoga to watch Rachel Alexandra work. She was working for her upcoming race, The Woodward Stakes (GI), against older horses.

I knew I was about to see a great Thoroughbred work. When she passed me, there was silence and it appeared none of her four feet were touching the ground. It looked like she was flying. It created an indelible imprint on my mind.

This weekend’s race has attracted seven 3-year-old fillies running 8.5 furlongs for a share of the $300,000 purse. It is also a prep for the Kentucky Oaks. The forecast looks for a rainy weekend, which may cause a number of scratches.

Let’s look at the field.

 

1.   Anonima (Sharp Azteca) She is trying graded company for the first time. She comes out of a solid win in a $100,000 race. Trainer McPeek brings in Jose Ortiz to ride her. Her regular jockey, Brian Hernandez, goes to McPeek’s other entry, Gowells Delight. Maybe a sign of who McPeek thinks is the better horse for this race.

2.   Good Cheer (Medaglia d’Oro) She is the Morning Line favorite following her win in grade two race last November. Working bullet. Coincidentally, she is sired by the same sire as Rachel Alexandra. She showed an impressive performance, 17 length win on a sloppy Churchill Downs track. An off-track may be to her advantage.

3.   Ballerina d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) Another offspring of Rachel Alexandra who started her career on the turf.  She lost her first dirt race by a length. Trainer Chad Brown replaces Jockey Dylan Davis, who rode her in that race with Flavian Prat. A sign?

4.   Gowells Delight (Practical Joke) Opened 2025 in a $300,000 race, but a traffic problem took her out of the race. Should do better this time. Not sure if she is fast enough, even on her best day, to compete here.

5.   Aledean ( Game Winner) Bought at Keenland September 2023 yearling sale for $600,000. Won her 2025 debut closing on a sloppy track at Fair Grounds. Trying graded company for the first time. May not be fast enough for this field. But the off-track may help.

6.   Simply Joking (Practical Joke) Comes into this race as the likely pacesetter. The last win was on a sloppy Fair Grounds track. This will be her first venture to graded company. She is fast enough to compete. Has home track advantage coupled with the possibility of an off-track.

7.   Bless the Broken (Laoban) Last December, she tried grade three company but lacked rally in the stretch. This January she came close in the Silver Bullet Day Stakes over a sloppy Fair Grounds Track.

Analysis

The big question for this race will be the condition of the track at post time. The forecast suggests the track could be sloppy. There should be limited pace in the race, making it hard for closers, especially if the track is sloppy.

Here is how they will finish:

6. Simply Joking  (4-1)

2. Good Cheer  (6-5)

3. Ballerina d’Oro (7-2)

5. Aledean    (15-1)

Handigamble

$30 Win on # 6      $30

$40 Place on #6     $40

$1 Trifecta Box ---#2,#3, #5  & #6  $24

$2 Exacta Partial Wheel  #6/ #2, #3, #5)  $6

Good Luck, but keep the day job