Believe You Can rebounded from a poor fourth-place finish in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) last month to win the $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) by a head.
Ridden to victory by Rosie Napravnik, Believe You Can got off to a good start and settled into the second position along the rail as the maiden Colonial Empress set a quick pace of :22.88 and :46.47 while leading by three-quarters of a length. Heavily favored Summer Applause, winner of the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, was back in third, followed by Small Kitchen and Disposablepleasure.
Believe You Can soon moved up to reclaim the lead and rounded the far turn with a sizable advantage. Summer Applause was beginning to roll on the far outside, but as the field entered the homestretch, Believe You Can led by about four lengths and didn't appear to be tiring.
But Summer Applause turned in a game finish, gradually narrowing the gap before finishing up strongly to be beaten just a head. But Believe You Can was the winner, and deservedly so. The final time was 1:43.94.
Disposablepleasure finished third, followed by Small Kitchen and Colonial Empress. The winner is trained by Larry Jones and owned by Brereton C. Jones.
-Keelerman
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