Evita Argentina

IEAH Stable’s Laragh, one of the outstanding 2-year-old fillies of 2008, will make her debut as a 3-year-old in Saturday’s 60th running of the $150,000 Comely (Grade II) at Aqueduct.

The daughter of Tapit finished a good third to champion Stardom Bound in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), and then completed out her 2-year-old season with a victory in the Hollywood Starlet (GI) over the synthetic surface at Hollywood Park.

The $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (GI) at Churchill Downs remains a goal for trainer John Terranova’s filly, but the one-mile Comely is obviously an important stepping stone for Laragh.  It will also mark the debut on dirt for Terranova’s filly, who started her career on the grass.

“She’s bigger, she’s stronger, and hopefully, she’s faster,” Terranova said.  “We had originally planned on bringing her back in March, but the extra time off did her a world of good.  We went right to the end of last year with her with a lot of traveling, and the transition to age two to age three is a real jump.”

Ramon Dominguez will ride Laragh, who faces five rivals in the Comely.  That group includes Florida Oaks (GIII) winner Don’t Forget Gil; Dream Play, the beaten favorite in the Cicada (GIII); and Busher runner-up Subprime.

KENTUCKY/RACHEL ALEXANDRA BACK HOME – L & M Stable’s Rachel Alexandra, a dominant winner of the Fantasy (GI) at Oaklawn and the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) in her last two races, arrived back home at Churchill Downs early Thursday following an overnight van ride from Oaklawn Park.

Trainer Hal Wiggins’ daughter of Medaglia d’Oro looms as the likely favorite for the Kentucky Oaks as she brings a four-race winning streak and six victories in nine career races into her scheduled start in the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 1.  Rachel Alexandra notched the first win of that streak in a romp in the Golden Rod (GII) in November at Churchill Downs.

War Kill ($35.40) upsets Evita Argentina in Keeneland’s Beaumont – Longshot War Kill ($35.40), making her stakes debut for trainer Ken McPeek, survived a stretch-long duel with winner Selva to win Wednesday’s $150,000 Beaumont Stakes (GII at Keeneland.

Julien Leparoux rode the winner, who covered the Beard Course distance of seven furlongs, 184 feet over the Polytrack surface in 1:25.97.  Consequence was third and favored Evita Argentina, settled for fourth in the field of six fillies.

Evita Argentina might have earned a Kentucky Oaks start with a big effort.  McPeek was not looking in that direction with War Kill, though he was unsure of her next start.

“She’s not a big package but she’s got a huge heart,” McPeek said.  “We’ll let the dust settle and figure it out.  She’s obviously got a lot of talent.”

L & M Racing's Rachel Alexandra may have earned the role of favorite in the 135th Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) on May 1 at Churchill Downjs when she romped to an effortless 8 ½-length romp in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes (GII) at Oaklawn Park.

The Hal Wiggins-trained daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, the 1-9 favorite in a field of five 3-year-old fillies, never had an anxious moment as she galloped to victory under jockey Calvin Borel.  She covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.36.  It was the fourth consecutive victory for Rachel Alexandra, a streak that began with a victory in the Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs last fall.

"I really don't know how good she is," Borel said.  "She's never been pressured yet, and if she stays like she is, I don't know if she'll ever be pressured.  She's unbelievable."

Wiggins said Rachel Alexandra would ship to Churchill Downs on Wednesday to continue her preparation for the Kentucky Oaks.

Afleet Deceit finished second in the Fantasy, three lengths in front of Just Jenda.

Rachel Alexandra was such a heavy favorite that Oaklawn Park did not allow show wagering in the Fantasy, but still had to pay out a minus win pool of $3,382 and a minus place pool of $227,722.

MIDWEST/HOOH WHY KNOCKS OFF STARDOM BOUND IN ASHLAND - Longshot Hooh Why jumped to the lead at the start and never surrendered that position on her way to a 24-1 upset victory in Saturday's $400,000 Ashland Stakes (GI) at Keeneland.

Runner-up Gozzip Girl was flying at the finish, but fell a neck shy of catching the winner, while reigning juvenile filly champion Stardom Bound finished third under regular jockey Mike Smith.  The loss by Stardom Bound snapped a string of five consecutive victories in Grade I races by the champion.

"I'm at a loss for words, really.  It certainly wasn't her 'A' game," said Smith, "She got away slow, but she always does.  Actually it (the pace) was good for her.  They were going slow, but she's closed on a slow pace before."

Jockey Corey Lanerie picked up the mount on Hooh Why when jockey Rene Douglas took off his mounts at Keeneland earlier in the day. The move resulted in Lanerie's first Grade I win. The winner covered 1 1/16 miles over the synthetic Polytrack surface in 1:43.80 for trainer Donna Dupuy.

Hooh Why went off at long odds despite near-miss against Stardom Bound in her previous race in the Santa Anita Oaks, where she finished third, just a head back of the champion.

Evita Argentina, a winner over males in the San Vicente (GII) at Santa Anita last time out, heads a field of seven 3-year-old fillies in Wednesday's $150,000 Beaumont (GII) at Keeneland.

The John Sadler-trained fllly will break from the rail post under Garrett Gomez in the Beaumont, which is run at the Beard Course distance of seven furlongs, 184 feet.  Multiple stakes winner Selva appears to be Evita Argentina's main rival in the Beaumont.

EAST/LARAGH PREPS FOR COMELY - Hollywood Starlet (GI) winner Laragh prepped for an expected start in Saturday's Comely (GII) at Aqueduct with a five-furlong work on Sunday at Belmont Park.

The John Terranova II trainee covered the distance in 1:00.20 over a "fast" track in preparation for her first start of the year.  The gray filly is being pointed toward the Kentucky Oaks.