In Rachel Alexandra’s most recent race, she was almost upset by Florida-bred Macho Again, who used his signature late rally to come within a head of the superstar filly in the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in September. On Saturday, Florida-bred Unforgotten will look to push Rachel Alexandra to the limit once more as the 2009 Horse of the Year makes her 4-year-old debut.
Unforgotten, a 6-year-old daughter of Northern Afleet, and Rachel Alexandra are among the five fillies and mares entered in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies, a 1 1⁄16-mile test at Fair Grounds. Unforgotten drew the No. 4 post and is set to have Miguel Mena aboard, while Rachel Alexandra will start from post No. 2 under Calvin Borel.
Unforgotten, Clear Sailing and Fighter Wing each will carry 117 pounds, while Zardana will tote 121 and Rachel the high weight of 123 pounds. Even with that slight advantage, Unforgotten’s trainer, Dallas Stewart, said he won’t be expecting his horse to upset Rachel Alexandra. In fact, he’s not even sure he wants to take on the Steve Asmussen trainee.
“We’re thinking about it, and we’ll see how it pans out,” Stewart said. “We’re leaning toward running, and we’ll make a definite call in the next couple of days. You’re probably running for second money going against Rachel, and there are some nice fillies in there. We’re not thinking that we can beat her, but anything can happen in a horse race.”
Unforgotten was bred by Charles T. Rognom and Robert A. Adams and is owned by Adams. The mare has won five of her 32 starts for $548,563. She hasn’t run since finishing seventh behind Florida-bred Sweet Repent in the Sunshine Millions Distaff at Gulfstream Park in January.
Unforgotten snapped a 16-race losing streak in the $125,000 Treasure Chest Stakes at Delta Downs in December. It was the second stakes win of her career and her first since capturing the $100,000 Goddess Stakes at Delta Downs in March 2008. Unforgotten has finished second a whopping 11 times, including a loss to War Echo in the $100,000 DRF Distaff at Fair Grounds in December. She’s been solid at the New Orleans oval, with one win and three runner-up efforts in six starts.
Unforgotten had her final work for the New Orleans Ladies on Friday at Fair Grounds, breezing a half-mile in 50 1⁄5 seconds.
“She didn’t seem to take to the track at Gulfstream last time, but she was second here (at Fair Grounds) the time before,” Stewart said. “She’s doing great. She’s just a nice filly to be around, a solid competitor. She’s just a solid, little horse.”
Stewart said that if he scratches Unforgotten from the New Orleans Ladies, she’ll likely start in the $50,000 Fairway Fun Stakes, a 1 1⁄16-mile test for fillies and mares at Turfway Park on March 27.
Rachel Alexandra had her final work for the New Orleans Ladies on Monday, breezing a half-mile in 49 seconds. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro earned Grade 1 victories over males last year in the Woodward, Preakness and Haskell Invitational while extending her winning streak to nine races. She’s won 11 of 14 career starts for $2.95 million.
“It was just an easy half,” Asmussen said. “It’s hard to compare her to anybody else, so we just gave her an easy half and let him (exercise rider Dominic Terry) get along with her, and it looked like she went beautiful. She’s a beautiful mover. That’s how she runs, and that’s what makes her special. She went over the racetrack very well. She got the breeze in, did very well, looked good.”
Clear Sailing and Fighter Wing were the top two finishers in the $60,000 Pelleteri Stakes, which covered 1 1⁄16 miles, at Fair Grounds on Feb. 13. It was the first stakes victory for Clear Sailing, a lightly raced filly by Empire Maker who has won three straight races since a third-place debut in 2008.
Fighter Wing, who also was fourth in the DRF Distaff, will be seeking her first stakes win and likely will vie for the early lead.
Zardana has raced primarily on turf and synthetic surfaces, having won the Bayakoa Handicap (G2) on Hollywood Park’s main track in December before a fourth-place finish to St Trinians in the Santa Maria Handicap (G2) on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface Feb. 13.
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– Photo of Florida-bred Unforgotten by Coady
