Rachel Alexandra was one of the best fillies of our time, and it was only a matter of time until she had a big time race named after her.
There are nine fillies who are headed to post at the newly minted Rachel Alexandra Stakes at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, and the winner of this race is almost sure to be running in the Kentucky Oaks in May.
You can find horse racing odds at BookMaker.eu at the online racebook.
ODDS ANALYSIS
1: Shaken
2: Finley'sluckycharm
3: Venus Valentine
4: Forever Darling
5: Lemon Drop Belle
6: Midnight On Oconee
7: Lovable Lyss
8: Stageplay
9: Royal Obsession
The morning lines had not been released for the Rachel Alexandra Stakes prior to the publication of this article, but it's clear that this is a two-filly fight. Stageplay is sure to be the favorite after she romped to an easy win at the Silverbulletday Stakes last month here at the Fair Grounds. She was second best at the Golden Rod on a sloppy track in November, but that was her only defeat.
Forever Darling is the other of the top choices in the Rachel Alexandra. She's coming off of a 97 Beyer Speed Rating at the Santa Ynez at Santa Anita and has been shipped to the Fair Grounds just for this race in particular.
FAVORITE TO FOLLOW
Still, Stageplay has looked incredibly strong for trainer Steven Asmussen. She isn't one of the huge favorites yet to win the Kentucky Oaks, but winning this race would bring her a tremendously long way. She hasn't run worse than a 94 Beyer Speed Rating in her career, and she's been a huge favorite everywhere she's gone.
She's a speed ball by nature, and that might end up helping against a relatively short field without a heck of a lot of speed in it. Stageplay was impressive against other challengers in this race, Midnight On Ocone and Jet Black Magic, though those two fillies aren't expected to contend at the Rachel Alexandra.
UNDERDOG TO WATCH
It would only be fitting if Royal Obsession won this race. She was born alongside Rachel Alexandra at Stonestreet Stables, and there's nothing more that owner Barbara Banke would love than to see one of her fillies win the race named after her prized possession.
Asmussen also trains Royal Obsession, and he knows that this could be a special filly as well. Royal Obsession has only raced twice, neither run of which was in a graded stakes race. She's still undefeated, but she's going to need a career best Beyer Speed Rating to have any chance to win this one.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Forever Darling is the one filly we're a little afraid of here. She doesn't have fantastic breeding, nor does she have a great trainer or owner from an historical standpoint. That said, she's the only other filly in this field to post a 95+ Beyer Speed Rating at any point in her career.
Still, we're suckers for a storybook ending. Royal Obsession will be our choice here to win this race, but we'd rather put the two Asmussen horses together in an exotic ticket.
Play Royal Obsession to win the Rachel Alexandra Stakes
Need to fund your account before the big race but don't have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone or tablet. Don't miss out on getting paid because you couldn't bet. Click here, and deposit at BookMaker now! The Rachel Alexandra Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 5:23 p.m. ET at Fair Grounds Race Course.
