Summer Applause couldn't quite catch Believe You Can in last month's Silverbulletday Stakes, but proved much better than her rival in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) this afternoon at Fair Grounds, leaving Believe You Can far behind in the stretch to win the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) prep race by a length.
Ridden to victory by Robby Albarado, Summer Applause settled into the fourth position early on as Avie's Sense set a moderate pace of :24.16 and :47.54 while leading by three lengths. Inny Minnie was racing on the outside in second, followed on the rail by Believe You Can. Table Three Ten and Annaclone were the early trailers.
Following three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.01, Summer Applause began to advance on the outside in an attempt to catch the runaway leader, who was still going strongly on the front end. The pair hooked up in the homestretch and a thrilling stretch duel followed, during which Summer Applause gradually gained the upper hand before drawing away late to score a convincing victory. The final time for the 1 1/16th miles race was 1:43.30.
Avie's Sense finished three lengths clear of the rest of the field, while Inny Minnie, Believe You Can, Table Three Ten, and Annaclone completed the order of finish. The winner is trained by Bret Calhoun and has stamped herself as the early favorite for the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) here next month.
-Keelerman
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