Sizing Up Rachel's Competition in the Fleur de Lis

RACHEL ALEXANDRA, the 1-5 favorite, carrying the high weight of 124 pounds, will be making her third start of the year in the Grade 2, Fleur de Lis, and undercard for the Stephen Foster. We Rachel fans know all about her, but what about the other horses? Should we be concerned about the competition in Saturday's race? Let's look at their profiles:

JESSICA IS BACK, 5-1, carrying 116 pounds, ridden by Garrett Gomez, is a 6 year old out of Put it Back. She won two ungraded stakes races: the Nancy’s Glitter Handicap last year and the Ocala Stakes this year. She seems to be getting better because she finished in the money in her last 6 races.

Jessica is Back winning the Ocala Stakes in March 2010

MADE FOR MAGIC, 10-1, carrying 117 pounds, ridden by Omar Berrio, is a 5 year old out of Cape Canaveral. Most notably, she just won the Grade 2 Milady Handicap last month at Hollywood Park. Other than that she really hasn't won any other stakes races.

Made for Magic winning the GrII Milady last month

DISTINCTIVE DIXIE, 18-1, carrying 114 pounds, ridden by Robby Albarado, is a 5 year old out of Fusaichi Pegasus. You may remember her from a couple months back in La Troienne where she came in 4th. She has never won a stakes race. She was entered in the Fleur de Lis last year and came in 5th.

MULTIPASS, carrying 113 pounds, ridden by Jose Lecano, is a 4 year old out of Olmodavor. She has never won a stakes race.

So there you have it. It may not seem like much of a competition for first place with Rachel Alexandra in the mix. Evidently, her connections are attempting to groom her for the Breeders Cup run in November later this year, so perhaps this race is a sort of "training session" for her. Nevertheless, it is always exciting to see her race with whatever field there is!

REFERENCE: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5472304/sizing_up_rachels_competition_in_the.html?cat=9