British Idiom, Finite set to clash in Rachel Alexandra

Feb 12, 2020 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Fillies trained by Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen have both used the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds as springboards to success in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), and the two barns provide the leading contenders in Saturday's renewal of the $300,000 Road to the Kentucky Oaks series prep over 1 1/16 miles.

Cox, who trained champion Monomoy Girl to the double two years ago, unveils juvenile filly champion British Idiom for her season debut. The daughter of Flashback won all three of her starts last season, including a title-clinching triumph in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita. That proved a hard fought win for British Idiom, who was a more convincing winner of the Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland in her stakes debut.

Asmussen, who trained Rachel Alexandra himself, has conditioned four winners of this race, including eventual Kentucky Oaks scorers Untapable and Summerly. His leading prospect currently is Finite, who's registered three stakes wins in succession, highlighted by a game score in the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs in late November. The Munnings filly opened her 2020 account last month, prevailing in a stretch duel over Ursula in the Silverbulletday S. over the Fair Grounds strip.

Besides Ursula, the Rachel Alexandra field includes Tempers Rising, third beaten a neck in the Silverbulletday; Pocahontas (G2) runner-up His Glory, unplaced behind Finite in her last two; and the Ken McPeek-trained pair of Swiss Skydiver and Impeccable Style.

The Rachel Alexandra offers Oaks qualifying points of 50-20-10-5 to the top four finishers. The race can be watched and wagered on at TwinSpires.com. 

(Coady Photograpy)