Kathmanblu wins Rachel Alexandra as heavy favorite

Kathmanblu proved a worthy favorite when rallying from mid-pack to notch her third straight stakes victory Saturday by capturing the Grade 3, $150,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

With Julien Leparoux aboard for trainer Ken McPeek, Kathmanblu finished the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:45.13 over a fast track. She paid $3.20 as the heavy choice in a field of six 3-year-old fillies. Inglorious rallied belatedly to finish second as the 4-1 second choice, about 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner and just ahead of front-running Gran Lioness.

The $2 exacta paid $11 and the $1 trifecta paid $19.10

Lilacs and Lace was a late scratch.

Kathmanblu, a leading Kentucky Oaks prospect, won the Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs to end her 2-year-old season, then won the Sweetest Chant on the Gulfstream Park turf to start this year.