The Alys Look, Hidden Connection square off in Broussard

Two fillies who traveled the New Orleans route to the Kentucky Oaks meet Friday at Fair Grounds in the $100,000 Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard Memorial.

The Alys Look earlier this year won the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds and went on to finish third in the Oaks. In 2022, Hidden Connection just missed winning the Fair Grounds Oaks before a subpar 12th in the Oaks.

Hidden Connection is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Broussard, a one mile and 70-yard dirt contest for older fillies and mares that drew eight entrants, not all of whom will run. Lexa is expected to pass on the Broussard in favor of a Turfway Park stakes in January, according to trainer Whit Beckman. Bow Draw, listed at 50-1 on the morning line, lacks any semblance of stakes credentials and is based at Oaklawn Park.

Trainer Kenny McPeek entered two, Corningstone, a logical participant, and Unbridled Mary, who is new to his barn and has raced almost exclusively as a California turf sprinter. McPeek said he plans to run both horses.

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Brad Cox trained The Alys Look through the Oaks, after which the partners who own the filly moved her to trainer Chris Davis – for one start. The Alys Look clunked home sixth in the Summertime Oaks on June 3, and when she resurfaced in the entries this fall, Brendan Walsh was her trainer. Her comeback race Nov. 24 at Churchill lacked sizzle but was solid enough. The Alys Look, with a favorable trip, wore down Corningstone to win the second-level dirt route allowance by one length.

“It wasn’t an easy spot by any means,” Walsh said. “She’s done well since, and you’d have to think she’ll improve a good deal from that race to this.”

The Alys Look, who clearly broadened and strengthened during time away from racing, got an 84 Beyer Speed Figure last time, a solid bridge to get back to the high 80s figures she posted at her peak.

Hidden Connection’s November start at Churchill did not go well, the filly checking in a distant eighth in the Chilukki Stakes. Her trainer, Bret Calhoun, has a clear excuse. The Chilukki is a one-turn mile, and Hidden Connection has become strictly a two-turn horse. Calhoun tried her this past summer going seven furlongs at Ellis Park, and Hidden Connections was equally ineffective.

“I don’t know what it is, but she definitely doesn’t want to be rushed like that. Going one turn and being pressed, pressed, pressed, she doesn’t like that at all,” Calhoun said.

Connections originally were aiming for the Houston Ladies Classic next month. Hidden Connection, training at Fair Grounds, gave her trainer no reason to ignore the Broussard.

“We just felt like it was smart to go ahead and run her,” Calhoun said.

Hidden Connection should be part of the pace with Rose Palace, who starts in the Broussard and will be scratched from a Friday allowance race, trainer Tom Amoss said.

Scratch Kat won’t be anywhere near the pace but need not fall quite so far behind the leaders as she did last out in the Falls City Stakes at Churchill. Scratch Kat checked in sixth but was beaten less than two lengths for second and turned in the race’s fastest final furlong, 11.78 seconds. Scratch Kat’s last Fair Grounds appearance came in March 2022, when she cleared the maiden ranks. The Broussard marks her career finale.

“This race was a target even before we went in the Falls City,” trainer Phil Bauer said. “We’d love to get her a stakes win before she goes to the breeding shed.”

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