Horse Racing News by Marty McGee

Al Stall Jr. said going into the Stephen Foster Handicap that he had Blame ready to run "in the 90th percentile."

Even when Gleam of Hope won the off-the-turf Cradle Stakes at River Downs last summer as a 2-year-old, trainer Tony Reinstedler thought the colt ultimately would do his best work on grass.

There was the Kentucky Derby, then the Metropolitan Mile. Now trainer Todd Pletcher has set his sights on another first: the Stephen Foster Handicap.

Rachel Alexandra has been entered to run in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap on Saturday at Churchill Downs, it was announced Wednesday morning by Jess Jackson, majority owner of the 2009 Horse of the Year.

Macho Again had his final workout in preparation of his defense of the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap when he breezed five furlongs in 1:02.20 with regular rider Robby Albarado aboard Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

Mine That Bird had his second workout for trainer D. Wayne Lukas when he breezed a half-mile in 48 seconds over a fast track shortly after the renovation break Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

As a possible decision nears in regard to a next race, Rachel Alexandra went through a fourth straight Monday workout at Churchill Downs when breezing six furlongs in 1:11.20 early on the Memorial Day holiday.

Hot Dixie Chick will be facing older fillies and mares for the first time when she starts Monday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs.

In a veritable lifetime on the racetrack, Valorie Lund got her biggest thrill when Atta Boy Roy won the Grade 2 Churchill Downs on the May 1 Kentucky Derby undercard.

Rachel Alexandra sped things up a bit with her third straight Monday morning workout at Churchill Downs, going five furlongs in 1:00.40.