Weeked Racing Preview (Illinois)

RACHEL RETURNS TO MONMOUTH

Six fillies and mares will brave it out to face reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in Saturday's $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park. The Steve Asmussen gem was a dominant, 10 ½-length romper of the G2 Fleur de Lis Handicap in her latest and looks tons the best in here. A winner of the G1 Haskell Invitational Stakes on this oval in 2009, the dark bay will have Calvin Borel along for the ride.

Yes She's A Lady, Fabulous Babe, Hark, Ask the Moon, Queen Martha and Stage Trick comprise the overmatched group.

Just six will vie in the feature race of the Claiming Crown card at Canterbury Park on Saturday, the $150,000 Jewel. Trainer Mike Maker looks to have a strong presence in here with talented allowance runner Headache. The son of Tapit exits a strong second and Churchill and is enhanced by the presence of jockey Julien Leparoux in this test.

G2 Cornhusker Handicap second Racing Bran should vie for favoritism with the aforementioned. The five-year-old son of Awesome Again took an Illinois-bred stakes event two prior and has won six of his last nine overall, signaling his good current form. Recent stakes hero My Friend Nev could be a player for the high-percentage Jamie Ness.

Also part of the big day of racing that highlights previous claiming runners are the $100,000 Emerald, $100,000 Lady Canterbury S., $75,000 Glass Slipper, $75,000 Rapid Transit, $50,000 Express, $50,000 Iron Horse, $25,000 Sprint S.

BIG MIKE GOES FOR ANOTHER IN PRINCE OF WALES

Big Red Mike drew post four to lead an eight-horse contingent in Sunday's $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie. The recent Queen's Plate winner has been installed as the 6-5 morning-line choice.

The Mark Frostad-trained Hotep is the 5-2 second choice on the board with pilot Patrick Husbands. Mobthewarrior, Captain Canuck, Golden Moka, Mobil Unit, Dark Cloud Dancer and Who We Gunna Call round out the order for this Canadian classic.