Evenly Matched Field of Six Set for Saturday's Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association

Godolphin’s Alms, a two-time Grade 3 winner, heads an evenly matched field of six 3-year-old fillies entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 32^nd running of the $150,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association.

The race, run at a mile on the Keeneland turf course, is the first of six graded stakes on Saturday’s 10-race program. Post time for the Appalachian Presented by Keeneland Select, the day’s fourth race, is 2:45 p.m. 

Trained by two-time Appalachian winner Mike Stidham, Alms has won four of five career starts, including Grade 3 victories in the Matron at Belmont and the Jimmy Durante at Del Mar. Fifth as the favorite in the Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs in her most recent start, Alms will be ridden by Joel Rosario and break from post position four.

Top competition to Alms could come from Florida Oaks (G3) runner-up Walk In Marrakesh (IRE).

Merriebelle Stable’s Walk In Marrakesh began her career in Europe before coming to North America and falling a nose short of victory in the Natalma (G2) at Woodbine. Trained by Ignacio Correas IV, Walk In Marrakesh will be ridden by Jose Ortiz and break from post six.

The field for the Appalachian, with riders from the inside, is: Mariafoot (FR) (Luis Saez), Enola Gay (Julien Leparoux), Evil Lyn (Tyler Gaffalione), Alms (Rosario), Passion Factor (Flavien Prat), Walk In Marrakesh (IRE) (Ortiz). All starters will carry 118 pounds.