Strong Cox Trio Tackles Intricate in Rachel Alexandra

Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
West Omaha wins the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course

A promising matchup of local standouts Alpine Princess  and West Omaha  vs. dominant Golden Rod Stakes (G2) victress Intricate  looms in the Feb. 17 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The $300,000 Rachel Alexandra, contested over 1 1/16 miles, is the first domestic 50-point contest on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Brendan Walsh, trainer of rising star Intricate, captured the race last year with eventual champion 3-year-old filly and Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Pretty Mischievous . While Intricate, a daughter of Gun Runner  , was impressive in her 5 1/2-length victory in last fall's Golden Rod, she will face no easy task in the Rachel Alexandra against a field of in-form contenders. Intricate has been sidelined since her Golden Rod win.

Tyler Gaffalione, the passenger in the filly's three outings, will be in town from South Florida and will ride Intricate. Owned by the partnership of Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Scott Estes, and Cambron Equine, Intricate has registered five official works since returning to training, including a five-furlong drill in 1:00 1/5 Feb. 3.

"I think we have her to where there will be a little improvement to come as well after Saturday," Walsh said. "If things go reasonably well Saturday, then you come back in the Fair Grounds Oaks and that should set her up perfectly for the (Kentucky) Oaks itself."

Intricate wins the Golden Rod Stakes on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Churchill Downs
Photo: Coady Photo/Jetta Vaughns
Intricate wins the Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs

Sign up for

Cox Triple Threat

Brad Cox knows a thing or two about winning the Kentucky Oaks. He saddled Monomoy Girl  and Shedaresthedevil  to victory in the 2018 and 2020 editions of the Run for the Lilies. Cox has entered not one, but three very live fillies in the Rachel Alexandra.

Gary and Mary West's homebred West Omaha  routed her rivals in Fair Grounds' local prep for the Rachel Alexandra, the Jan. 20 Silverbulletday Stakes. In a professional effort, the West Coast   filly stalked before pouncing on the pacesetters turning for home, bounding clear to a five-length tally over the re-opposing Perfect Shot .

Drawing the far outside 7 post isn't ideal, but with West Omaha's tactical speed, she should still be able to get the trip she needs to get the W. Luis Saez, like Gaffalione, also jets in from Gulfstream Park for Fair Grounds' big day of racing.

Alpine Princess wins the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds, December 23, 2023. Jockey: Florent Geroux
Photo: Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges Jr.
Alpine Princess defeats West Omaha in the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course

The second and possibly most dangerous of the Cox trio is Alpine Princess . Campaigned by Full of Run Racing II and Madaket Stables, the Classic Empire filly enters the Rachel Alexandra off two consecutive victories highlighted by a sparkling, frontrunning triumph in the Untapable Stakes Dec. 23 at the New Orleans oval. In that performance, she defeated stablemate West Omaha by two lengths.

The Godolphin blueblood Tarifa  rounds out the Cox entrants. Stepping up to stakes company for the first time on Saturday, the Bernardini filly stretched out to two turns successfully in her most recent outing when landing a mile and 70 yards first-level allowance contest.

In addition to Cox trio, comebacking graded stakes winner V V's Dream  is another leading challenger to Intricate.


Entries: Rachel Alexandra S. presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2)

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, February 17, 2024, Race 13

  • Grade II
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $300,000
  • 3 yo Fillies
  • 5:48 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Tarifa (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Brad H. Cox 5/1
2 2Pennick (ON) Jareth Loveberry 122 Gary M. Scherer 8/1
3 3Perfect Shot (KY) Joel Rosario 122 Steven M. Asmussen 10/1
4 4Intricate (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Brendan P. Walsh 3/1
5 5Alpine Princess (KY) Florent Geroux 122 Brad H. Cox 7/2
6 6V V's Dream (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 122 Kenneth G. McPeek 5/2
7 7West Omaha (KY) Luis Saez 122 Brad H. Cox 9/2