Grade II race | |
Location | Fair Grounds Race Course New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1982 (as Davona Dale Stakes) |
Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
Sponsor | Fasig-Tipton (since 2020) |
Website | Fair Grounds |
Race information | |
Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles |
Surface | Dirt |
Track | left-handed |
Qualification | Three-year-old fillies |
Weight | 122 lbs. |
Purse | $300,000 (since 2021) |
Bonuses | Qualification points – Road to the Kentucky Oaks. |
The Rachel Alexandra Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at a distance of one and one sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in February at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event currently offers a purse of $300,000. [1]
The inaugural running of the event was on 6 March 1982 as the Davona Dale Stakes over a distance of one mile and forty yards and was won by Windfields Farm's Laura North who was trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Grover G. Delp and ridden by jockey Ronald Franklin in a time of 1:424⁄5. [2]
The event was named in honor of Calumet Farm's champion homebred filly Davona Dale, foaled in 1976 was U.S. Champion Three-Year-Old Filly after winning the Grade I Kentucky Oaks and sweeping the New York Triple Tiara series: the Acorn Stakes, the Mother Goose Stakes, and the Coaching Club American Oaks. Davona Dale was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1985. Today Davona Dale continues to have an event named for her as the GII Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
The event became a preparatory event for the Fair Grounds Oaks and was scheduled after the Thelma Stakes (today known as the Letellier Memorial Stakes for two-year-olds held in December) which was run over the six-furlong distance.
In 1985 the distance of the event was increased to one and one sixteenth miles and the winner Marshua's Echelon also was victorious in winning both the Thelma Stakes and the Fair Grounds Oaks. [3]
The following year Tiffany Lass repeated Marshua's Echelon achievements and then continued with her undefeated streak winning the GI Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park and the GI Kentucky Oaks. [4] Although Tiffany Lass would not race in the second half of 1986 her performances were substantial enough to land her U.S. Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors for the year.
In 1999 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the classification of the event to Grade III. [1] For the first running as a graded event, the US Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Silverbulletday from 1998 entered and began her three-year-old campaign in the event. Starting at short odds of 1/10 Silverbulletday faced seven other fillies and won the event by 2+1⁄4 lengths. [5] Silverbulletday would go on to win another seven more events of which four were Grade I and be crowned US Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1999. [6]
In 2001, a year after Silverbulletday retired Fair Grounds track administration renamed the event to the Silverbulletday Stakes. [1]
In 2002 running of the event Take Charge Lady equaled the track record in winning by 8+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 1:42.09. [7]
In 2003 the event was upgraded to Grade II status but this only was until 2005 when it was downgraded back to Grade III. [8]
Due to the catastrophic damage caused by of Hurricane Katrina to the Fair Ground Race Course in 2005 the event was held at Louisiana Downs in 2006. [9]
In 2010 Fair Grounds track administration renamed the event again to the Rachel Alexandra Stakes in honor of the 2009 American Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra. Rachel Alexandra had won the Fair Grounds Oaks in 2009 during her exceptional campaign that won her the Eclipse Award.
In 2016 the event was upgraded from Grade III to Grade II status. In 2020, the purse was increased to $300,000. [1]
The Rachel Alexandra Stakes is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and has produced multiple winners of that race, including Monomoy Girl (2018) and Serengeti Empress (2019). [10]
Speed record:
Margins:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
Rachel Alexandra Stakes – Fair Grounds Oaks double:
Notes:
† Rachel Alexandra Stakes was known as the Davona Dale Stakes
‡ Rachel Alexandra Stakes was known as the Silverbulletday Stakes
Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
At Fair Grounds –Rachel Alexandra Stakes | ||||||||||
2024 | Tarifa | Flavien Prat | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.28 | $291,000 | II | [11] | |
2023 | Pretty Mischievous | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan Walsh | Godolphin Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.15 | $291,000 | II | [12] | |
2022 | Turnerloose | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Ike & Dawn Thrash | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.22 | $300,000 | II | [13] | |
2021 | Clairiere | Joseph Talamo | Steven M. Asmussen | Stonestreet Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.34 | $300,000 | II | [14] | |
2020 | Finite | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds, Thomas J. Reiman, William Dickson & Deborah A. Easter | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.97 | $294,000 | II | [15] | |
2019 | Serengeti Empress | James Graham | Thomas M. Amoss | Joel Politi | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.74 | $198,000 | II | [16] | |
2018 | Monomoy Girl | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Micheal Dubb, Monomoy Stables, Elkstone Group & Bethlehem Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.26 | $196,000 | II | [17] | |
2017 | Farrell | Channing Hill | Wayne M. Catalano | Coffeepot Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.09 | $196,000 | II | [18] | |
2016 | Venus Valentine | Corey J. Lanerie | Thomas M. Amoss | Rosemont Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.24 | $200,000 | II | [19] | |
2015 | I'm a Chatterbox | Florent Geroux | J. Larry Jones | Carolyn & Fletcher Gray | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.10 | $175,000 | III | [20] | |
2014 | Untapable | Rosie Napravnik | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.64 | $196,000 | III | [21] | |
2013 | Unlimited Budget | Rosie Napravnik | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.38 | $200,000 | III | [22] | |
2012 | Summer Applause | Robby Albarado | W. Bret Calhoun | Gillian S. Campbell, R Group & Greenwood Lodge Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.30 | $194,000 | III | [23] | |
2011 | Kathmanblu | Julien R. Leparoux | Kenneth G. McPeek | Five D Thoroughbreds & Wind River Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.13 | $147,000 | III | [24] | |
Silverbulletday Stakes | ||||||||||
2010 | Jody Slew | Miguel Mena | W. Bret Calhoun | Martin Racing Stable & Dan Morgan | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $145,500 | III | [25] | |
2009 | War Echo | Shaun Bridgmohan | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $150,000 | III | [26] | |
2008 | Indian Blessing | Garrett K. Gomez | Bob Baffert | Patti & Hal J. Earnhardt III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.75 | $196,000 | III | [27] | |
2007 | Appealing Zophie | John R. Velazquez | Steven M. Asmussen | Heiligbrodt Racing Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.13 | $200,000 | III | [28] | |
At Louisiana Downs | ||||||||||
2006 | Baghdaria | M. Clifton Berry | W. Bret Calhoun | Wayne Sanders & Larry Hirsch | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.07 | $269,200 | III | [29] | |
At Fair Grounds | ||||||||||
2005 | Summerly | Donnie Meche | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.79 | $150,000 | III | [30] | |
2004 | Shadow Cast | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.82 | $150,000 | II | [31] | |
2003 | Belle of Perintown | Calvin H. Borel | Eddie Kenneally | Kenneth Mahler & Jamie Schloss | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.48 | $150,000 | II | [32] | |
2002 | Take Charge Lady | Jon Court | Kenneth G. McPeek | Select Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.09 | $150,000 | III | [33] | |
2001 | Lakenheath | Corey J. Lanerie | Gene A. Cilio | James B. Tafel | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.09 | $125,000 | III | [34] | |
Davona Dale Stakes | ||||||||||
2000 | Shawnee Country | Donnie Meche | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.11 | $125,000 | III | [35] | |
1999 | Silverbulletday | Gary L. Stevens | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.36 | $125,000 | III | [5] | |
1998 | Cool Dixie | Ronald D. Ardoin | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.38 | $125,000 | Listed | [36] | |
1997 | Blushing K. D. | Lonnie Meche | Sam B. David Jr. | James P. & Sue V. Burns | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.48 | $100,000 | Listed | [37] | |
1996 | Up Dip | Curt C. Bourque | Albert Stall Jr. | Mike G. Rutherford | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.61 | $62,725 | Listed | [38] | |
1995 | § Legendary Priness | Christopher A. Emigh | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.42 | $43,125 | [39] | ||
1994 | Playcaller | Ronald D. Ardoin | Thomas M. Amoss | Mike G. Rutherford | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.31 | $51,823 | Listed | [40] | |
1993 | Bright Penny | Ronald D. Ardoin | William Badgett Jr. | Arthur I. Appleton | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.80 | $31,825 | [41] | ||
1992 | Prospectors Delite | Bobby J. Walker Jr. | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III, James Elkins & Temple Webber, Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $31,700 | [42] | ||
1991 | Nalees Pin | Kenneth Bourque | Larry Robideaux Jr. | George Waggoner | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.50 | $31,775 | [43] | ||
1990 | Windansea | Randy Romero | Lee J. Rossi | Carl Maggio | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.40 | $27,600 | [44] | ||
1989 | Exquisite Mistress | Calvin H. Borel | Joseph E. Broussard | Joe Ladnier & Carson Kimbrough | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.80 | $26,675 | [45] | ||
1988 | False Glitter | Shane P. Romero | Louie J. Roussel III | Louie J. Roussel III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.40 | $28,450 | [46] | ||
1987 | Out of the Bid | Kenneth Bourque | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.20 | $37,900 | [47] | ||
1986 | Tiffany Lass | Ricky Frazier | Lazaro S. Barrera | Aaron U. Jones | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.00 | $39,900 | [48] | ||
1985 | Marshua's Echelon | Ronald J. Franklin | Noxie Romano Jr. | Joe & Jean Pizzitola | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $47,250 | [49] | ||
1984 | Texas Cowgirl Nite | Kenneth Bourque | Ken W. Delahoussaye | Charley S. Staples | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:42.00 | $29,050 | [50] | ||
1983 | Duped | Julio C. Espinoza | Donald R. Winfree | James J. Devaney | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:43.00 | $23,500 | [51] | ||
1982 | Linda North | Ronald J. Franklin | Bud Delp | Windfields Farm | 1 mile & 40 yards | 1:42.80 | $22,950 | [2] |
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
The Fair Grounds Oaks is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in March, usually on Louisiana Derby day at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event currently offers a purse of $400,000.
The Fantasy Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually usually in early April at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The event currently offers a purse of $750,000.
The Gulfstream Park Oaks is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies, over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt held annually in March at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.
The Davona Dale Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies, over a distance of one mile on the dirt held annually in late February or early March at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a points system to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks, one of the most important races for three-year-old fillies and held the day before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. It features roughly 30 stakes races for Thoroughbred fillies between September and April – the number and specific races have varied slightly over the years. The point system replaces the previous qualifying system which was based on graded stakes earnings.
Take Charge Lady is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the leading fillies of her generation in the United States, winning 11 of her 22 races between April 2001 and November 2003, earning over $2 million. She recorded Grade I victories in the Ashland Stakes and consecutive editions of the Spinster Stakes, and also won the Alcibiades Stakes, Silverbulletday Stakes, Fair Grounds Oaks, Dogwood Stakes and Arlington Matron Stakes.
Cathryn Sophia is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2016 Kentucky Oaks. After wide-margin wins on both her starts as a juvenile, the filly won the Forward Gal Stakes on her first appearance of 2016 and followed up in the Davona Dale Stakes. She sustained her first defeat when odds-on favorite for the Ashland Stakes but rebounded to win the Oaks on May 6.
The 2014 Road to the Kentucky Oaks was a points system by which three-year-old fillies qualified for the 2014 Kentucky Oaks. The point system replaced a previous qualifying system which was based on graded stakes earnings.
The 2015 Road to the Kentucky Oaks was a points system by which three-year-old fillies qualified for the 2015 Kentucky Oaks. The point system replaced a previous qualifying system which was based on graded stakes earnings.
The 2016 Road to the Kentucky Oaks was a points system by which three-year-old fillies qualified for the 2016 Kentucky Oaks. The point system replaced a previous qualifying system which was based on graded stakes earnings.
The 2017 Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a points system by which three-year-old fillies qualified for the 2017 Kentucky Oaks, held on May 5. The point system replaced a previous qualifying system which was based on graded stakes earnings.
The 2018 Road to the Kentucky Oaks was a points system by which Thoroughbred fillies qualified for the 2018 Kentucky Oaks, held on May 4. The races were held from September 2017 through April 2018. The top four finishers in the specified races earned points, with the highest point values awarded in the major preparatory races held in late March or early April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes acted as a tie breaker.
Monomoy Girl is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 2018 and Champion Older Female Horse of 2020. She showed very promising form as a juvenile in 2017 when she won her first three races before being narrowly beaten in the Golden Rod Stakes. In the following spring, she took the Rachel Alexandra Stakes and the Ashland Stakes before winning the Kentucky Oaks, the filly equivalent of the Kentucky Derby. She followed this up with wins in the Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks, but was disqualified to second for interference in the Cotillion Stakes. She then rebounded to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff while facing older horses for the first time.
The 2019 Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a points system by which Thoroughbred fillies will qualify for the 2019 Kentucky Oaks, to be held on May 3. The field for the Kentucky Oaks, the filly equivalent of the Kentucky Derby, is limited to fourteen horses, with up to four "also eligible" horses in case of a late withdrawal from the field. The 29 races in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks will be held from September 2018 through April 2019. The top four finishers in the specified races earn points, with the highest point values awarded in the major preparatory races held in late March or early April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes act as a tie breaker.
The 2020 Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a points system by which Thoroughbred fillies will qualify for the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, which will be held on September 4. The field for the Kentucky Oaks, the filly equivalent of the Kentucky Derby, is limited to fourteen horses, with up to four "also eligible" horses in case of a late withdrawal from the field.
The Waya Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, three years old and older run over a distance of 1+3⁄8 miles on the turf held annually in October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of $200,000.
Swiss Skydiver is a retired American champion Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2020 Preakness Stakes, only the sixth filly to win the second leg of the Triple Crown. She also won the 2020 Santa Anita Oaks, 2020 Alabama Stakes, and 2021 Beholder Mile.
The 2021 Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a points system by which Thoroughbred fillies qualified for the 2021 Kentucky Oaks held on April 30. The field for the Kentucky Oaks, the filly equivalent of the Kentucky Derby, is limited to fourteen horses, with up to four "also eligible" horses in case of a late withdrawal from the field. The 30 races in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks were held from September 2020 through April 2021. The top four finishers in the specified races earn points, with the highest point values awarded in the major preparatory races held in late March and early April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes act as a tie breaker.
Clairiere is an American multiple graded stakes winning Thoroughbred racehorse. Her graded wins include the Grade I Cotillion Stakes in 2021 and the Grade I Ogden Phipps Stakes twice at Belmont Park.
Pretty Mischievous is a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who in 2023 won the Grade I Kentucky Oaks and Test Stakes.
Fair Grounds 3/30/1985 R10 Fair Grounds Oaks (Gr. 3) 1st
Fair Grounds 3/9/1985 R10 Davona Dale Stakes 1st
Fair Grounds 2/16/1985 R10 Thelma Stakes 1st
Churchill Downs 5/2/1986 R9 Kentucky Oaks (Gr. 1) 1st
Oaklawn Park 4/12/1986 R9 Fantasy Stakes (Gr. 1) 1st
Fair Grounds 3/22/1986 R10 Fair Grounds Oaks (Gr. 3) 1st
Fair Grounds 3/2/1986 R10 Davona Dale Stakes 1st
Fair Grounds 2/15/1986 R10 Thelma Stakes 1st