Clairiere turns tables on Travel Column in Rachel Alexandra
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
When they met at the end of their 2-year-old season in the Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs, Travel Column snatched victory from Clairier in the final strides, running her down for a one-length win. On Saturday, in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds, Clairiere returned the favor.
Travel Column, getting a stalking trip under Florent Geroux, got first run on Clairiere and led much of the stretch run, but Clairiere, under a fine ride from Joe Talamo, switched outside Travel Column inside the final furlong and ran her down to win by about a neck.
The top two pulled far clear of third-place Moon Swag as Clairiere stopped the timer in 1:45.34 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast main track that appeared to be slowing through the second part of the program. Clairiere got a provisional 83 Beyer Speed Figure, the same number she earned in the Golden Rod.
The Grade 2, $300,000 Rachel Alexandra is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks; the top four finishers got 50, 20, 10, and five points, respectively, to qualify them for the 14-horse Oaks field in May. The Oaks winner has raced in the Rachel Alexandra seven times the last 14 years, and Steve Asmussen, Clairiere’s trainer, has twice won the Oaks with fillies coming out of Fair Grounds – Summerly in 2005 and Untapable in 2014.
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Clairiere ($6.60) has the pedigree to be a Grade 1 filly and might be on her way there. Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and owned by Stonestreet Stables, she’s by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and out of Cavorting, an exceptional multiple Grade 1 winner during her racing career. This was only Clairiere’s third start, too, and she finished second in the Golden Rod off a debut route victory. Travel Column had raced twice before the Golden Rod, including a start in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes.
“Down the lane when I eased her out, she was all racehorse today,” Talamo said. “I think the sky’s the limit, especially that being just her third start.”
Clairiere lacks early speed and in the Rachel Alexandra had to overcome a staggering start that left her in last place around the first turn and onto the backstretch. Saving ground all the way, Talamo let Clairiere edge into contention past the six-furlong marker and toward the half-mile pole as Off We Go laid down a relatively strong pace, 23.99 for the first quarter and 47.99 to the half. Geroux sent Travel Column up after Off We Go past the three-furlong pole, midway around the second bend, and turned for home trying to save horse, but Talamo had gotten onto Travel Column’s tail past the quarter pole and drafted behind her as long as he dared. When Talamo tipped out, Clairiere was ready to roll, overhauling the leader, who tried to battle back but fell just short.
It was 6 1/2 lengths from second to third as Moon Swag was a neck better than fourth-place Littlestitious. Then came Becca’s Rocket, a troubled-trip Souper Sensational, Zoom Up, and a tired Off We Go.