Churchill Downs: Frank's Rockette leads opening-day stakes field

Frank’s Rockette leads a field of six fillies and mares entered for Saturday night’s 13th running of the $175,000 Roxelana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The six-furlong, main-track test will go as the ninth race on Saturday's 10-race program for opening day of the spring meet. Post time for the Roxelana is 10:11 p.m. EDT.

Trained by Bill Mott and owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Frank’s Rockette is a five-time graded-stakes winner. Her two most recent starts produced an eight-length victory in the Hurricane Bertie (G3) and a 12 1/4-length victory in the Sugar Swirl (G3).

Junior Alvarado has the mount and will break from post 1.

The top challenger to Frank’s Rockette looks to be three-time stakes winner Pretty Birdie.

Trained by Norm Casse, Pretty Birdie has compiled a 3: 1-2-0 record at Churchill Downs with the runner-up efforts coming last spring in the Eight Belles (G2) and the Leslie Lady Stakes.

Luis Saez has the mount Saturday night and will break from post position 5.

Another runner expected to draw support is Coppelia.

Trained by Phil Bauer, Coppelia won the Dream Supreme at Churchill Downs last fall and will make her 2023 debut. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount and will break from post position 6.