Stronger Than Ever vs. Wonder Gadot likely in Rachel Alexandra

Stronger Than Ever, the 33-1 upset winner of the Silverbulletday Stakes on Saturday, will stay at Fair Grounds and run back in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Feb. 17, trainer Ken McPeek said Sunday.

After winning her first two races last year, Stronger Than Ever was seventh in the Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs and a well-beaten third in the Trapeze Stakes at Remington Park, but after returning to Kentucky following the Trapeze, McPeek sent her a couple weeks ago to his Fair Grounds string with his eye on the Silverbulletday. Rallying from last under Florent Geroux, Stronger Than Ever got the best of favored Wonder Gadot by a neck, running one mile 70 yards in 1:44.28, earning a 76 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She’s a really solid filly, and has been from the beginning,” McPeek said. “These young horses are continually changing, and she just was going the right way. The track at Remington was kind of against her, and at Churchill she didn’t fire her best shot. I do like the way Florent rode her yesterday. I think she’s going to love a mile and an eighth once we get to races like that.”

Wonder Gadot, who probably got too much of a strong early pace, held gamely for second. She’s likely to remain at Fair Grounds, trainer Mark Casse said, and is a likely runner in the Rachel Alexandra. So, too, is Heavenly Love, the Casse-trained filly who was a somewhat disappointing fifth in the Silverbulletday.