Pricey full brother to Rachel Alexandra will debut Saturday

A full brother to Hall of Fame mare Rachel Alexandra will debut Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Epic d'Oro is entered Saturday's seventh race, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on turf. Epic Horses bought him for $1.35 million at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale, and he has been working with trainer Todd Pletcher.

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By Medaglia d'Oro out of the Roar mare Lotta Kim, he had three breezes in March then began working in earnest in October. Most recently, he went four furlongs in 49.65 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday.

Rachel Alexandra earned over $3.51 million and captured five Grade 1 victories, including the Preakness Stakes and Haskell. She won the 2009 Eclipse awards as horse of the year and top 3-year-old filly. She produced two foals, both of whom won. Rachel's Valentina won the 2015 Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga. Jess's Dream won his only start in a maiden special weight at Saratoga and also had a moderately successful career at stud in Florida.

Lotta Kim's other offspring have had nowhere near the success of their famous sister. The top earner among the others is Dolphus, by Lookin at Lucky, who won about $211,000. He won four times in 12 starts and finished second by a neck to Shaman Ghost in the 2017 Pimlico Special (G2). She also produced the Grade 2 placed Gladys and the stakes-placed Wooderson.