Postitive Spirit Invades for Rachel Alexandra

[Wandering Eyes]

On two occasions in the last five years, the winner of the GII Rachel Alexandra S. (Untapable {Tapit}, 2014; and Monomoy Girl {Tapizar}, 2018) has gone on to repeat the dose in the GI Kentucky Oaks on the first Friday in May. Whether there proves to be anything of that class in this year’s renewal remains to be seen, but a legitimate case can be made for several of Saturday’s entrants, a number reduced to nine by the early-week scratching of ‘TDN Rising Star’ and GISW Chasing Yesterday (Tapit).

Mike Ryan’s Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile), a close relative of 2017 GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), validated 5-2 favoritism by overcoming a wide run on the far turn to graduate by a widening 1 1/2 lengths beneath the Twin Spires Nov. 8, then turned in a visually impressive effort in winning Aqueduct’s GII Demoiselle S. Dec. 1, sitting three wide the trip before galloping away from her rivals late to score by 10 1/2 lengths at 11-1. Freshened a bit since, she has turned in some strong moves over the deep track at Payson Park, including a best-of-10 half-mile in :48.60 Feb. 10.

Needs Supervision (Paynter) defeated no fewer than four next-out winners in breaking her maiden at Laurel Nov. 2 ahead of an odds-defying first-level allowance victory going Churchill’s one-turn mile Nov. 24. Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Madaket Stable bought in thereafter and in her first start for the new partnership, the bay was more workmanlike than spectacular in defeating 31-1 Eres Tu (Malibu Moon) in the local Silverbulletday S. Jan. 19.

There appears to be plenty of early speed on paper in the form of GII Pocahontas S. romper Serengeti Empress (Alternation), GII Golden Rod S. upsetter Liora (Candy Ride {Arg}) and the stretching-out Letellier Memorial S. winner Bell’s the One (Majesticperfection). Calumet Farm’s Oxy Lady (Oxbow) could prove the main beneficiary of the race flow and anything that approaches the 94 Beyer Speed Figure she earned for her success in the GIII Tempted S. Nov. 2 would make her very tough here. Oxy Lady was a latest fourth to Chasing Yesterday in the GI Starlet S. Dec. 8.

Molto Bella (Violence) was runner-up in Churchill’s one-mile Rags to Riches S. last October, but a low-odds and alibi-free fourth in the Demoiselle. She produced something approaching her best form when running-off with Tampa’s seven-furlong Gasparilla S. Jan. 19 and stretches back out for this. Julien Leparoux rides from the inside gate.

 

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