Little Alexis works for Grade 1 Cotillion

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Little Alexis, who finished a troubled and late-running third in the Grade 1 Test Stakes, worked six furlongs in 1:15.85 on Thursday at Gulfstream Park in her final major prep for the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 20.

Little Alexis broke off at the five-furlong pole, cruised through an easy opening three-eighths in 37.91 seconds, hit the wire in 1:03.41 while still in hand, then finished strong, completing her work at the mile pole on the clubhouse turn.

“I told the rider to take it easy early, then let her finish up strong,” said owner-trainer Carlo Vaccarezza. “She came back from New York in great shape. She never lost an ounce; she’s been perfect. I was going to work her tomorrow, but there’s about an 80 percent chance of rain, so we moved her breeze up one day.”

Vaccarezza said Little Alexis will ship to Parx on Sunday, and that he may do a little something with her over that track later in the week. Joel Rosario will be aboard for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion.

Little Alexis, a daughter of Mr. Greeley, has made just three starts, winning her first two races locally, including the 6 1/2-furlong Cash Run prior to her big effort in the Test. Little Alexis had some trouble at the start of the Test before rallying four wide from the rear of the pack to finish just a length behind Sweet Reason, who also is expected to compete in the Cotillion.

“I think she deserves to be there next week,” said Vaccarezza. “In the Test, she got tangled at the start and bumped a couple of times along the way, so she got a little delayed early but was really running at the end. I think a mile and one-sixteenth will help her tremendously, and what impresses me the most is that she’s a lightly raced filly who just keeps improving with every race. We also have Rosario, and you can’t do any better than Joel Rosario.”