NEW ORLEANS (Monday, March 8, 2010) – Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra drew post position No. 2 in a five-horse field for her 2010 debut in Saturday’s $200,000 New Orleans Ladies. Regular rider Calvin Borel will be aboard, carrying 123 pounds, the maximum weight as the conditions are written.

Rachel Alexandra will break to the outside of Fighter Wing, who set the pace in last month’s Pelleteri Stakes before fading to second and has been on or very near the lead in all of her recent starts.

Zardana, the Grade II Bayakoa winner shipping in from Southern California for trainer John Shirreffs, drew to Rachel Alexandra’s outside in post No. 3. Shirreffs also trains Zenyatta, the Champion Older Female preparing to face Rachel Alexandra for a $5 million purse in Oaklawn Park’s April 9 Grade I Apple Blossom.

The field is rounded out by Unforgotten, a multiple stakes winner with more than a half-million dollars in earnings, in post No. 4, and Clear Sailing, the impressive Pelleteri winner, in post No. 5.

$200,000 New Orleans Ladies Race 10 (5:15 p.m. CST) 1 1/16 Miles For fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward

Post Position, Horse (Jockey, Trainer, Weight)

1. Fighter Wing (Corey Lanerie, Greg Geier, 117) 2. Rachel Alexandra (Calvin Borel, Steve Asmussen, 123) 3. Zardana (David Flores, John Shirreffs, 121) 4. Unforgotten (Miguel Mena, Dallas Stewart, 117) 5. Clear Sailing (Shane Sellers, Glenn Delahoussaye, 117)