Plum Ali looks to avenge Breeders' Cup loss in Appalachian

Plum Ali, last seen at Keeneland finishing fifth as the second choice in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), tops a field of six 3-year-old fillies entered Tuesday for Saturday’s 33rd running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Appalachian going a mile on the turf at Keeneland.

The Appalachian will be the first of six graded stakes on Saturday afternoon’s 11-race program, going as the sixth race with a 3:51 p.m. EDT post time.

Owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables and trained by Christophe Clement, Plum Ali won her first three starts, including the Juvenile Fillies at Kentucky Downs and the Miss Grillo (G2) at Belmont, prior to the Breeders’ Cup. Joel Rosario has the mount Saturday and will break from post position 4.

Expected to vie for favoritism is Starlight Racing’s Jouster, who is a nose away from being undefeated in three starts on turf. Runner-up in the Florida Oaks (G3) in her most recent start, the Todd Pletcher trainee will be ridden by Luis Saez and break from post position 1.

Pletcher has won the Appalachian twice with Ocean Drive (2003) and Audacious Chloe (2007).