The morning line odds maker at Monmouth Park has tabbed Rachel Alexandra as the 1/9 favorite to win Saturday's Lady's Secret.
-About the only intriguing thing I can identify with this race is the fact that there appears to be a ton of early speed in the field. Stage Trick, Queen Martha, Ask the Moon, Rachel Alexandra, Fabulous Babe, and Yes She's a Lady all have shown a recent ability to be on or just off the lead in the early stages. I suppose if you want to try and beat Rachel that getting her into a pace duel on the front end would be about your only hope (albeit, a very slim hope).
-Stage Trick is the only filly in the field other than Rachel Alexandra to have placed in a graded stakes event (3rd in the G3-Obeah at DEL).
-Fabulous Babe was claimed two races back for $35,000 at Delaware Park; 30/1 seems a bit high low for a recent claimer going up against the reigning Horse of the Year.
Every horse in the field is guaranteed to earn at least $10,000 from this race and it only took $1,000 to pass the entry box, so I suppose this was an easier way for the connections of Fabulous Babe to net $9,000 than having to actually beat other horses.
-Any guesses on what the exacta is going to pay in this race? In Rachel's last race, the Fleur de Lis, the exacta paid a hefty 14.00 for a $2 bet. I'm not being sarcastic with that statement, a $14 exacta isn't bad at all with a 1/9 shot on top. Of course, the place horse went off at odds of 18/1 and the tri only paid $23.40.
I'm gong to guess $5 for the Lady's Secret exacta as I think Queen Martha makes sense as the second choice in this race and she only has to beat the other five to grab the place spot.