Clairiere, Travel Column rubber match on tap in TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks

Mar 15, 2021 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

The potential morning line favorite for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks (G1) could be decided on Saturday when a rubber match in the blossoming rivalry between Clairiere and Travel Column takes place in the $400,000 TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2).

The 1 1/16-mile Fair Grounds Oaks is the first Road to the Kentucky Oaks series prep that will award 100 qualifying points to the winner, with 40 points to the runner-up, 20 points to third, and 10 points to the four-place finisher.

By virtue of her thrilling neck victory over Travel Column in last month's Rachel Alexandra (G2), Clairiere not only ensured her Kentucky Oaks participation by earning 50 points but also likely secured favoritism for the Fair Grounds equivalent. The regally-bred daughter of Curlin and Cavorting has won three of four starts and overcame a troubled beginning in the Rachel Alexandra to catch Travel Column, thus reversing the form of their prior meeting in the Golden Rod (G2) in November.

Travel Column, who won the Golden Rod by a length over Clairiere, proved the huntee rather than the hunter in the Rachel Alexandra, and so far the rivalry has gone the way of the filly that has rallied from farther back. Given she's shown more tactical foot than Clairiere and barring any early difficulties in running, Travel Column is again likely to get first run on that rival.

“I think she should get a good stalking trip from our post,” trainer Brad Cox said. “There’s no pace in the race. We’re not going to sit back there and give someone the race. We didn’t win (the Rachel Alexandra) but we were very, very pleased with the comeback and we expect her to move forward off that return.'

The two protagonists were well ahead of their Rachel Alexandra rivals, and thus it appears a complete form reversal from the likes of Moon Swag and Souper Sensational would be a major surprise. Instead, their most serious challenges are likely to come from a local stakes newcomer and two Florida invaders.

Li'l Tootsie improved her record to 2-for-3 the day before the Rachel Alexandra when defeating seven rivals in a 1 1/16-mile allowance in the slop in a time nearly identical to the Grade 2 event held the following afternoon over a fast track.

'It was a very impressive two-turn debut for a number of reasons,' trainer Tom Amoss said of Li'l Tootsie. 'Anybody that was handicapping and watching the race, knowing what she is, seeing her break, fall back, and then getting into stride late in the race. I don't think that was expected by anyone. It was an unusual race in the sense that she was totally out of position of where I thought she would be, based on what she accomplished in her other races sprinting.'

Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Fair Grounds Oaks twice, including with dual champion Ashado, and sends out Shadwell homebred Zaajel. The Street Sense filly is 2-for-2 sprinting, though her last-out win in the Forward Gal (G3) was on the slow side. Bill Mott sends in Juddmonte homebred Obligatory, a last-out maiden winner over a mile at Gulfstream with a potential to get much better being a daughter of Curlin.

The Fair Grounds Oaks post time is 6:14 p.m. ET. It can be watched and wagered on at TwinSpires.com.