Fair Grounds: Ria Antonia likely to go in Rachel Alexandra Stakes

The connections of Ria Antonia, the filly who was placed first through disqualification in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall, have changed plans and now intend to race her in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes rather than the Risen Star Stakes when she makes her 3-year-old debut Feb. 22.

Ron Paolucci, Ria Antonia’s principal owner, proclaimed just after the BC Juvenile Fillies his desire to point Ria Antonia to the 2014 Kentucky Derby, and the Risen Star for males has been her goal since Ria Antonia resumed steady training in December following a short rest.

Instead, Ria Antonia – for now, at least – is likely to stick to racing against females in the Grade 3, $200,000 Rachel Alexandra instead of the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star.

“It was always kind of an option to run in the Rachel Alexandra, and it looks like that might be the easier of the two races,” said trainer Jeremiah Englehart. “[Paolucci] could still change his mind, but that’s probably what we’re going to do.”

Englehart, based in New York, shipped Ria Antonia to Fair Grounds in early January. With assistant trainer and regular exercise rider Elizabeth Dobles overseeing her training, Ria Antonia had her second timed Fair Grounds workout last Sunday, zipping a half-mile in company in 48.40 seconds, the second-fastest of 107 works at the distance.

“That was her first breeze with company since she started back,” Englehart said. “She’s still just getting her legs under her. Elizabeth said she really liked the way she grabbed hold of the bridle. She got a little tired in the gallop-out, but two more five-eighths and another half, and she should be ready to go.”

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Ria Antonia, by Rockport Harbor, had only a maiden win and a fifth-place finish in the Frizette Stakes to her credit before taking a major forward step at odds of 32-1 in the Juvenile Fillies.

◗ Fair Grounds canceled training Tuesday and Wednesday. A winter storm was forecast to hit New Orleans on Tuesday afternoon, though temperatures remained above freezing, and there was no more than a light drizzle during regular training hours Tuesday.