Fever a setback for Little Alexis

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Little Alexis’s scheduled trip to Santa Anita to compete in the Grade 1 La Brea on Dec. 26 has been canceled, owner-trainer Carlo Vaccarezza said Wednesday.

Little Alexis suffered an allergic reaction on her neck and spiked a fever of nearly 105 degrees immediately after her ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and last week she missed several days of training with a fever.

“She spiked a fever overnight, we missed three or four days of training, and I really don’t want to rush a quality filly like this to make the plane, which leaves for California on the 17th, or the race,” said Vaccarezza. “She seems to be doing fine at the moment, although we’re still not sure if this latest incident has anything to do with the previous issue that occurred right after the Breeders’ Cup.”

Vaccarezza said he plans to take things “day by day” with Little Alexis and has nothing picked out for her locally.

“Considering all she’s been through, I just don’t want to rush her into anything or run her again until we’re confident she’s 100 percent,” said Vaccarezza.