Fair Grounds: Applauding to be scratched out of Rachel Alexandra

The 3-year-old filly Applauding, who was among the entries for Saturday's Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds, will be scratched from the race, trainer Al Stall informed track officials Monday morning. Applauding breezed a half-mile in 50.80 seconds Monday morning, and Stall said he wasn't pleased with the work.

"She didn't work to my satisfaction and I'm going to scratch her," Stall said. "She just wasn't herself. I don't know if something's bugging her internally or what. She just wasn't right."

This is the second stakes race from which Applauding has been scratched this winter. She was removed from the Feb. 21 Silverbulletday Stakes the day of the race after showing colic-like symptoms early in the morning. Applauding appeared to have recovered quickly from that setback and was on a regular breeze pattern preparing for the Rachel Alexandra.

A Congrats filly owned by Ramona Bass, Applauding won her career debut while setting a Keeneland Polytrack record for six furlongs last fall, and she was an easy first-level sprint allowance winner early in the Fair Grounds meet.