Strong Cox Trio Takes On Intricate in Rachel Alexandra

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 1/4-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 not raced 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."

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, respectively, 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 reopposing 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.

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, front-running triumph in the Untapable Stakes Dec. 23 at the New Orleans oval. In that performance, she defeated stablemate West Omaha by two lengths.

"She likes the track here," Cox said of Alpine Princess. "It's a step up. We'll give her another opportunity at the graded stakes level and hopefully she can get it done."

Alpine Princess was seventh in the Oct. 6 Alcibiades Stakes (G1) her only other graded try in five trips to the post.

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

Comeback Trail

In addition to the Cox trio, comebacking graded stakes winner V V's Dream  is another leading challenger to Intricate. Trained by Kenny McPeek, the daughter of Mitole was a dominant winner of the Pocohantas Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs last September before finishing a close second in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. She has been unraced since running a distant third in the Rags to Riches Stakes Oct. 29.