Bella Ballerina in the Golden Rod, Fair Grounds Photo
Fair Grounds Press
NEW ORLEANS — Making her first start as a 3-year-old, Golden Rod Stakes (G2) winner Bella Ballerina headlines Saturday’s $300,000 Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Louisiana Derby Preview Day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
One of six stakes races on the card, totaling $1.425 million in purses, the 1 1/16-mile Rachel Alexandra is the third of four local prep races for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and is the first Oaks prep of the season to award 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points to the top five finishers.
The Rachel Alexandra attracted eight 3-year-old fillies and is scheduled as Race 11 on the 12-race Louisiana Derby Preview Day program. First post is noon CT.
Perfect in two starts for trainer Brendan Walsh, Bella Ballerina pressed the pace and fended off late challengers to capture November’s Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs. The Godolphin homebred is a half sister to Pretty Mischievous, winner of the 2023 Rachel Alexandra and Kentucky Oaks 149, also trained by Walsh. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione takes the call.
Rallying late but unable to reach Bella Ballerina in the Golden Rod, Whisper Hill Farm’s Just Singing ships in from Florida for another chance, as the Kent Sweezey-trained filly will make her first start as a 3-year-old in the Rachel Alexandra. Proven at the distance, Just Singing broke her maiden at 1 1/16 miles in late October at Churchill Downs. Drawn on the rail, the Justify filly will have Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the irons.
A logical contender is Lael Stables’ Luv Your Neighbor, runner-up in both local Oaks preps for trainer Mike Stidham. With 15 qualifying points, Luv Your Neighbor will have a new rider, as Luis Saez takes the call.
Here is the complete field for the Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra (G2) from the rail out with jockey and trainer:
Just Singing ( Velazquez, Sweezey)
Classic Glide (Brian Hernandez Jr., Robert Medina)
Bella Ballerina (Gaffalione, Walsh)
Dancin in Old Town (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux)
Powered by Family (Jose Ortiz, Cherie DeVaux)
Luv Your Neighbor (Luis Saez , Mike Stidham)
Majestical (Ben Curtis, Peter Eurton)
Agrippina (Paco Lopez, Lindsay Schultz)
