The highly anticipated Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds this Saturday will see undefeated Good Cheer take on five other promising fillies. With a prize purse of $300,000 and 50 crucial points for the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard up for grabs, this race is set to be a pivotal moment for these young thoroughbreds. Good Cheer, who has won all four of her previous races by impressive margins, will make her debut for 2025 and her first appearance at Fair Grounds. Trained by Brad Cox, she is the favorite at odds of 6-5.

The Path to Glory: Good Cheer's Stellar Career

Good Cheer's journey to the Rachel Alexandra Stakes has been nothing short of remarkable. The filly has dominated her competitions, winning her four races with ease. Her victories include an 8¼-length debut win at Indiana Horseshoe and a 17-length triumph in a 1⅙-mile allowance at Churchill Downs. Additionally, she secured two stakes wins, the Rags to Riches by 4¾ lengths and the Goldenrod (G2) by another 17 lengths. These performances have earned her a reputation as one of the most formidable contenders in the field.

Trainer Brad Cox expresses confidence in Good Cheer’s abilities. He notes that she has been training exceptionally well at Payson Park, where she has adapted to the track conditions. Cox believes that if a horse can perform well on this challenging surface, it bodes well for its future performances. With three wins in the past seven editions of the Rachel Alexandra, Cox has high hopes for Good Cheer to continue her winning streak. Despite the smaller field size, he acknowledges the caliber of the competition, emphasizing that many successful Kentucky Oaks winners have passed through this race.

A Competitive Field: Challengers to Watch

While Good Cheer is the standout favorite, several other talented fillies will vie for the top spot. Simply Joking, trained by Whit Beckman, has shown immense promise with two consecutive stake wins. Her victories, including a gritty performance in the Letellier Memorial and a wire-to-wire win in her sophomore season, indicate she has more potential yet to be unleashed. Kenny McPeek fields two runners, Anonima and Gowells Delight, both showing promise but facing varying degrees of experience and success.

Bless the Broken, though winless since July, has demonstrated strong form, finishing second to Simply Joking in the Silverbulletday and seventh behind Muhimma in the Demoiselle (G2). Aledean, trained by Tom Amoss, rounds out the field with two wins from four starts. The absence of Ballerina d’Oro due to a fever has slightly altered the dynamics, but the remaining competitors are still expected to put up a tough fight. For racing enthusiasts, the picks lean towards Simply Joking, Good Cheer, and Anonima, setting the stage for an exciting showdown.