Ria Antonia rerouted to Rachel Alexandra

Ria Antonia was awarded the victory in the November 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Fillies upon the disqualification of She's a Tiger for interference. A 32-1

upsetter that day in first-time blinkers, the daughter of Rockport Harbor

returned to the worktab with a three-furlong move in :36 3/5 at Belmont on

January 5.

Subsequently shipped to Fair Grounds, Ria Antonia turned in her first local

work on January 18, touring a half-mile in :49 3/5. She came back Sunday to

breeze the same distance in company in :48 2/5, the second-best time of 107 at

the New Orleans oval.

Both the Risen Star and the Rachel Alexandra are contested over 1 1/16 miles

at Fair Grounds. They serve as respective preps for the Louisiana Derby and the

Fair Grounds Oaks, scheduled for March 29.

In other Derby contenders news:

Hopeful hero Strong Mandate, last seen finishing third in the Breeders' Cup

Juvenile, drilled five-eighths in a bullet 1:00 2/5 over Oaklawn's fast track on

Monday. The D. Wayne Lukas trainee posted the best of 57 moves at the distance

as he tunes up for the February 17 Southwest Stakes.

Two of Steve Asmussen's notable sophomores stretched their legs at Fair

Grounds. Kentucky Jockey Club winner Tapiture fired a bullet six furlongs in

1:13, while Gold Hawk, third as the 6-5 favorite in the Lecomte, covered a

half-mile in :50 1/5.

At Santa Anita, Sham victor Midnight Hawk negotiated five furlongs in 1:03

1/5 for Bob Baffert, and Sham runner-up Kristo zipped four panels in :47 4/5 for

John Sadler.

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