Rachel Alexandra foal Jess's Dream debuts Monday

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jess’s Dream, the first foal by 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, makes his highly anticipated debut in Monday’s sixth race at Saratoga, a 1 1/8-mile maiden heat.

Jess’s Dream is by the stallion Curlin, a two-time Horse of the Year, and is owned and bred by Stonestreet Stables, which campaigned both parents.

Jess’s Dream arrived at Saratoga last summer but had several minor setbacks in his training. He had a foot issue and then had several bouts with what trainer Kiaran McLaughlin believes was pharyngitis.

“Because of who it is, you take it to the next level, and we sent him to do tests at a clinic in Ocala,” McLaughlin said. “But he never had any soundness issues. Luckily, he’s been good.”

McLaughlin said Jess’s Dream has trained well, but he’s a little leery about the colt having to make his first start at 1 1/8 miles. There was some consideration about running 6 1/2 furlongs on Friday, but that might have been too short.

“We talked amongst us and Stonestreet and decided if he gets a little tired, at least we got him there,” McLaughlin said. “It’s here at Saratoga, let’s get him going. If he finishes fourth and gets a little tired, we’ll move on to Belmont, where there are better [distance] options. But he is fit enough and ready to go, or we wouldn’t put him in. If he gets a little tired at that distance, it’s understandable.”

Jess’s Dream is the only first-time starter in the field. His chief competition looks to be All Rise, a son of Mineshaft who finished fourth in his two-turn debut here July 31. Mineshaft, trained by Bill Mott, gets Lasix for the first time.

Securitiz, third in that same race, also is back in this field but must break from the far-outside post in the eight-horse field.