Oleksandra makes winning rally in thrilling Jaipur Stakes

Oleksandra likes to make things interesting. The 6-year-old Australian-bred mare did it again Saturday, closing from dead last to nip Kanthaka at the wire in Belmont Park’s Grade 1, $250,000 Jaipur Stakes.

The Jaipur marked Oleksandra’s first Grade 1 triumph, and also gave trainer Neil Drysdale his first top-level win since 2014.

"She had been training really well into this race," Drysdale said. "She is so much fun to watch race. She makes life very exciting.

Oleksandra, a daughter of 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, sports a late-running style. She got the right setup for that late move Saturday in a six-furlong turf sprint, as Hidden Scroll and Pure Sensation went through the opening quarter-mile in :21.33.

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Hidden Scroll put his nose in front coming into the stretch, and then Stubbins came through on the outside to take the lead. But Stubbins’ advantage didn’t last long, as Kanthaka and Texas Wedge made late bids into the final furlong and passed that one.

Meanwhile Oleksandra, who was last of eight on the backstretch, thundered home down the center of the track under jockey Joel Rosario. She needed every inch of the six furlongs, scoring by a nose.

"The fast pace was probably why I was further back, but she came with a great run in the end," Rosario said. "We do well together. She's fine. You just need to understand her and what she wants to do during the race."

Oleksandra, a 2-1 favorite, stopped the clock in 1:06.80 and returned $6.50. Kanthaka finished second in his first start in 13 months, with Texas Wedge in third.

"The speed up front helped her, but on the other hand I've seen her do well with slower fractions," Drysdale said. "The main thing is the turn of foot she had and she really put that on display.

Team Valor International campaigns Oleksandra, who was second last out at Santa Anita Park on May 25 in the Monrovia Stakes (G2). The Jaipur was her second graded triumph, with the first coming last October in Keeneland’s Franklin County Stakes (G3).

Oleksandra's victory Saturday also stamped her "Win and You're In" ticket to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

Drysdale said he would sit down with Barry Irwin of Team Valor to come up with a schedule leading into the Breeders' Cup. 

"We'll have to discuss with Mr. Barry Irwin. Obviously, her final call of the year would be the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, and she's won there before."