New Orleans-based trainer Tom Amoss will see Saturday's big races at the Fair Grounds from two distinct angles.
In the day's second-biggest race, the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes for top 3-year-old fillies, Amoss-trained Hoosier Philly was the 6-5 early favorite over Silverbulletday winner Chop Chop in a stacked field.
In the top race, the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes for top 3-year-old colts, Amoss' Curly Jack, at 8-1, could be seen as a long shot, even though he is among a cluster of entrants rated just behind favorites Victory Formation at 3-1 and Tapit's Conquest at 6-1.
Both are trained by Brad Cox, who won the 2021 Risen Star then the Kentucky Derby with Mandaloun, and who trained last year's Rachel Alexandra winner, Turnerloose. Cox also trains Instant Coffee, which won the Lecomte Stakes by 2½ lengths Jan. 21 at the Fair Grounds and is sitting out this race to prepare for the Louisiana Derby on March 25.
“It's a very diverse and large field,” Amoss said of the Risen Star, which has 14 entrants. “There are horses who are trying to step up in major competition, horses making transition from sprinter to route, and some accomplished horses, too.
“(Cox's) horses are accomplished and certainly the horses to beat in this race.”
Victory Formation, who will be ridden by Flavien Prat, has won all three of his career starts. He is coming off taking the Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 1 at Oaklawn Park. He also has won an allowance claiming race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26 after winning his maiden race on Oct. 21 at Keeneland.
Tapit's Conquest, a Tapit colt out of Conquest Lil Miss, was second in an allowance race on Jan. 21 at the Fair Grounds after winning a maiden special weight race at Churchill on Oct. 1.
Curly Jack, with Edgar Morales up, was second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill in his latest outing, after finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland and winning the Iroquois Stakes. However, Curly Jack has not raced since Nov. 26 to keep him strong for a big campaign ahead.
“Curly Jack is a stakes winner, and he already has 17 points toward the Kentucky Derby (qualifying), which is sixth on the list going into this weekend,” he said. “He has certainly at times run very, very well.
“He has not raced since November, but in his comeback he has trained very well. So we're hopeful we get that improvement.”
Amoss also will have a well-rested entrant in the Rachel Alexandra in favorite Hoosier Philly in the field of six. Hoosier Philly also has not raced since Nov. 26, because she has shown that she can have a long, successful 3-year-old season, Amoss said, and he wanted to give her a break before that campaign started.
Hoosier Philly has won all three of her starts — the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes on Nov. 26 at Churchill, the Rags to Riches at Churchill on Oct. 30, and a maiden special weight on Sept. 25 at Churchill.
“She's an elegant-looking filly with a great deal of length to her stride, like poetry in motion,” Amoss said. “And her style is what we call tactical; she can be any where you want her in a race. She does have speed, but she doesn't have to use it.
“I think you'll see her laying a little bit off of whoever wants to take the lead early in the race,” he said. “She's undefeated, but this will be the toughest field she has faced thus far.”
Chop Chop, trained by Cox, is the 8/5 favorite right behind Hoosier Philly. In winning the Silverbulletday on Jan. 21 at the Fair Grounds, Chop Chop, a daughter of City of Light, bounced back from finishing 13th and last in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 4 after venturing too wide and never making up ground.
Pretty Mischievous, trained by Brendan Walsh, is the third favorite at 9/2. Todd Pletcher-trained Miracle is at 12/1, but Amoss said she bears watching.
Amoss-trained filly Serengetti Empress won the 2019 Rachel Alexandra, and his Venus Valentine won in 2016, and he won with Playcaller in 1994, the same year his Fly City won the Risen Star. Pletcher's Unlimited Budger won the Rachel Alexandra in 2013. Pletcher won the Rachel Alexandra in 1994.
“I think Chop Chop's talent as well as her experience is something that will be a major test for us,” Amoss said. “We've beaten Pretty Mischievous before (in the Golden Rod), but that's when they were 2. It's a big difference between 2 and 3.”