Applauding set to make her seasonal and two turn debut in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes
Applauding, a 3-year-old Congrats filly, is finally ready to make her 3-year-old seasonal debut in the $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes, at about 1 1/16 miles, that will be her 2 turn debut as well, because in her only two starts in her juvenile season, Applauding broke a maiden special weight race at six furlongs and persisted at the same distance in an allowance/optional claimer and remained unbeaten.
She broke her maiden at Keeneland and then the allowance/optional claimer was right here at home, the Fair Grounds racecourse.
Trained by Albert M. Stall Jr. for owner, Ramona Bass, Applauding’s connections decided to go for the Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park, and the event remained a possibility for her debut until last week, when the tentative plan changed.
Applauding will now make her debut in the Rachel Alexandra on 25 February, a race that is part of a multi stakes card at New Orleans.
The main reason of changing the plan was to keep Applauding at home, and after giving the situation further consideration, Rachel Alexandra had everything that Stall and owner, Ramona Bass wanted in her sophomore debut.
At about 1 1/16 miles, Applauding sooner than later had to be stretched out from sprint distances to longer distances and its always a comforting knowledge to possess for a trainer to know that his/her runner can be stretched out in distance.
It will be a test at two turns for Applauding, especially after dwelling in sprint races. She broke her maiden at about six furlongs at Keeneland at first asking on 14 October, 2011.
Ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez, Applauding crept in from behind to surprise Sacristy and Indian Miss, who finished second and third, respectively, while Applauding covered the six furlong distance in 1 minute and 7.76 seconds.
The Florida bred out of mare Andria’s Forest by Forestry, jockey Shane Sellers was given a chance over Garret Gomez for Applauding’s next start, but it didn’t make any difference to the filly as she humbled an allowance/optional claimer field with her sparkling run, at six furlongs at Fair Grounds racecourse.
She won the dash on 2 December, 2011, while covering the distance in 1 minute and 10.34 seconds.
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