Race 9 at Churchill Downs | Saturday, April 25 | Post Time 5:46 PM Eastern

Roxelana Stakes | Purse $200,000 | Six Furlongs | Fillies and Mares, Four Years Old and Upward

Top Win Contenders: Mink’s Palace (3), Lotsandlotsofcandy (4), Jersey Pearl (2)

Mink’s Palace is on a pattern. Last year, she won the Rolexana Stakes after not running since the previous December, and she has been on a similar layoff since December to run in the race this year. Jockey Saez rode her in last year's race and is aboard today. She also won her last race, the Holiday Inaugural Stakes, powerfully, moving from seventh after a quarter pole, still fifth at the eighth pole, and moving easily past four horses and winning by two lengths. She earned a career-best 103 Equibase Speed Figure. Mink’s Palace has won four of 10 races at Churchill Downs, where she is one for five at other tracks. She has had seven workouts since the last week of February, and she is ready to win this race again.

Lotsandlotsofcandy (4) won two of her three tries at Churchill Downs. In her career, she has won four of seven career races. She ran as fast as Mink’s Palace, earning a 103 figure in January this year. She had her worst effort in her last race in February, but that was on turf, so that we can discount that. She has won all of her races leading at the start. There are other horses that could contest the pace, but if she gets an easy lead at the start, she has a chance at winning again.

Jersey Pearl (2) is also a strong sprinter, having won six races and finished second or third six times in her 15-race career. She also won twice at Churchill Downs, but her figures are a bit light compared to the top contenders, with her best figure of 99 in recent efforts. Still, she comes back from a four-month layoff, and she won last September in a classified allowance race, just slightly in the same class. She has won on the lead at the start, but she can stalk, and that gives her a shot to win or to complete the exacta.

Win bets: Mink’s Palace (3) at odds of 9 to 5 or higher.

Lotsandlotsofcandy (4) at odds of 2/1 or higher.

Jersey Pearl (2) at odds of 3 to 1 or higher

Exactas:

Box Mink’s Palace (3), Lotsandlotsofcandy (4), Jersey Pearl (2)