It's Rushing Fall vs. Vasilika in Keeneland's First Lady Stakes
Rushing Fall, winner of four graded stakes in as many attempts at Keeneland, and eight-time graded stakes winner Vasilika head a field of 14 fillies and mares entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 22nd running of the Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady to be run at a mile on the Keeneland turf course.
Scheduled as the eighth race with a 5:04 p.m. post time, the First Lady is a "Win and You’re In" race for the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1)
Owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and trained by Chad Brown, Rushing Fall captured the Jessamine (G3) as a 2-year-old in 2017 and last year won the Appalachian (G2) and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1). This spring at Keeneland, she also won the Jenny Wiley (G1).
Rushing Fall is tied with Take Charge Lady for the second-most stakes wins at Keeneland. Wise Dan won a record seven stakes here.
Regular rider Javier Castellano has the mount and will break from post position 11.
Vasilika, fresh off a nose victory over First Lady rival Juliet Foxtrot in the John C. Mabee (G2) at Del Mar, has two Grade 1 victories on her resume for trainer and part-owner Jerry Hollendorfer. The victory in the John C. Mabee was her fifth Grade 2 triumph.
Flavien Prat comes in from California to ride Vasilika, who will break from post position six.
The field for the First Lady, with riders from the rail, is:
1. Conquest Hardcandy (James Graham, 124 pounds)
2. Awesometank (James Doyle, 124)
3. Juliet Foxtrot (Florent Geroux, 124)
4. Uni (GB) (Joel Rosario, 124)
5. Marina’s Legacy (Jesus Castanon, 124)
6. Vasilika (Prat, 124)
7. Indian Blessing (Jamie Spencer, 124)
8. Mitchell Road (Julien Leparoux, 124)
9. Simply Breathless (Brian Hernandez Jr., 124)
10. Storm the Hill (Adam Beschizza, 124)
11. Rushing Fall (Castellano, 124)
12. Ms Bad Behavior (Jose Ortiz, 124)
13. Just Wonderful (Wayne Lordan, 121)
14. Hanalei Moon (Tyler Gaffalione, 124).