Alexine Gets Another Shot

If a photo finish had turned out different last year, Alexine would be trying for her second consecutive victory in the $100,000 Hawthorne Handicap tonight at Hollywood Park.

The Grade III is the featured event on the first Friday night program of the meet with post time at 7 p.m. A 7-year-old gray mare, Alexine is the 6-5 favorite against only five opponents in the 1 1/16-mile Hawthorne.

A year ago, in a race that was followed by a layoff of more than nine months, the Argentine-bred missed by a nose at 7-5 to Queen Of Wilshire.

Alexine will be ridden by Corey Nakatani as she seeks her ninth victory in 22 outings. Her opponents are Rhiana, a consistent 6-year-old Runaway Groom mare; recent maiden winner Styler, Meguial, Keys To The Heart and Se Me Acabo.

Race of the day: Mineshaft, who won last month’s New Orleans Handicap, heads a field of eight older horses set to go 1 1/8 miles in the $100,000 Ben Ali at Keeneland.

One for the road: Devils Peak makes his first start since Jan. 9 and first on Lasix for top trainer Christophe Clement in today’s fourth at Aqueduct, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for older maidens. Devils Peak had trouble in his grass bow at Gulfstream Park, so expect improvement.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Way To The Top, Is It True Mex and Ex Federali in the seventh, Forward March and Revello in the eighth and Darknessontheedge, Chadwicks Well and Right Proof in the ninth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 4/9. Money: Previous day/meet total: $18.40/$53.80. Total money bet: $32.