The highlight of the weekend at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans was the inaugural running of the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies Stakes, a 1 1/16 mile main track event for older fillies and mares. As expected, undefeated Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, Rachel Alexandra was sent off as the 1-20 favorite, unraced since the Woodward Stakes in September. Among the 4 others in the race included 6-1 second choice Clear Sailing, winner of three straight including the Pelleteri Stakes over the same track and distance, and 9-1 third choice Zardana, a stablemate of Zenyatta trained by John Shirreffs, winner of the Bayakoa in December before finishing 4th in the Santa Maria last out at Santa Anita. An estimated crowd of 12,000 was on hand on a sunny afternoon with temperatures in the mid 60's.
Fighter Wing sprinted away out of the inside post to get the early lead and was pressed by Rachel Alexandra a length behind and to her outside through fractions of 23.84 and 47.72 over the fast track. Zardana sat another 3 lengths behind the pacesetters early. Entering the stretch, jockey Calvin Borel asked Rachel Alexandra for run as the favorite passed the tiring Fighter Wing to take over the lead through 3/4 in 1:12.86. However, Zardana, three wide into the lane, moved up to challenge Rachel Alexandra to her outside. The pair battled through the stretch noses apart, until the 1/16 pole when Zardana gradually pulled away to win by 3/4 lengths in 1:43.55. It was a long 11 1/2 lengths back to Unforgotten third.
On Sunday afternoon owner Jess Jackson announced that Rachel Alexandra was not in top form and so will not race in the Apple Blossom. See step 4 for details.
Results Chart from Daily Racing Form
