The celebration is in full swing! I started out Kentucky Derby week right. On Sunday, I went to Churchill Downs for Fan Fest. The Kentucky Derby Museum hosted a special day with museum access, tours of Churchill Downs and presentations by famous horsemen. So many activities are taking place right now ahead of the KY Derby but certainly don’t miss out when the Fillies Run for the Lillies in the 143rd Kentucky Oaks.
The same year that the KY Derby was inaugurated , 1875, the Louisville Jockey Club, now known as Churchill Downs, hosted the first KY Oaks race. Last year Cathryn Sophia was the winner. In 2009 Rachel Alexandra won by over 20 lengths. The $1 million dollar Longines KY Oaks is for 3 year-old Thoroughbred fillies. Fillies are eligible to race in the KY Derby but it is uncommon and none are entered this year. The KY Oaks is the richest race for 3 year-old fillies. The race carries some of the highest attendance records for horse racing in America. It is a dirt race of 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs). The winner is draped in a garland of stargazer lilies and receives a silver trophy, see the featured image. The winner’s purse is $600,000. The Grade 1 race takes place this Friday, May 5th. The theme is pink and ties into women’s cancer charities, Horses and Hope.
Post Positions were drawn yesterday for the 14 fillies that earned points in qualifying prep races starting way back in September. Points are awarded in the same manner as the road to the KY Derby. Every filly this year was bred in KY. Here is the field by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning-line odds:
- Ever So Clever/Luis Contreras/Steven M. Asmussen/Clearview Stable/20-1
- Lockdown/Jose Ortiz/William I. Mott/Juddmonte Farm Inc./20-1
- Mopotism/Mario Gutierrez/Doug F. O’Neill/Reddam Racing, LLC./20-1
- Paradise Woods/Flavien Prat/Richard E. Mandella/Herman Sarkowsky and Martin J. Wygod/5-2
- Jordan’s Henny/Joe. Rocco, Jr./Michael A. Tomlinson/E. Ervine Woolsey and Ralph Kinder/30-1
- Vexatious/Kent Desormeaux/Neil D. Drysdale/Calumet Farm/20-1
- Farrell/Chaning Hill/Wayne M. Catalano/Coffeepot Stables/5-1
- Sailor’s Valentine/Corey Lanerie/Eddie Kenneally/Semaphore Racing LLC. and Homewrecker Racing LLC./30-1
- Wicked Lick/Brian Hernandez, Jr./Brendan P. Walsh/Lee Mauberret/30-1
- Miss Sky Warrior/Paco Lopez/Kelly J. Breen/Arlene’s Sun Star Stable/9-2
- Tequilita/Luis Saez/Michael R. Matz/Dorothy Alexander Matz/20-1
- Daddys Lil Darling/Julien Leparoux/Kenneth G. McPeek/Normandy Farm/20-1
- Abel Tasman/Mike Smith/Bob Baffert/Clearsky Farms/5-1
- Salty/Joel Rosario/Mark E. Casse/Gary Barber, Baccari Racing Stable LLC. and Chester Prince/6-1
- * also-eligible, field limited to 14: Summer Luck/Javier Castellano/Mark E. Casse/Gary Barber/30-1
Ever So Clever was on the KY Oaks leaderboard from the first qualifying race. She was 2nd in the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs on 9/17/16. She ran in 5 of the prep races at 5th twice and receiving points in 3, she won the last prep race in the series, the Fantasy Stakes. She has had 8 starts. She can handle mud at Churchill.
Lockdown got points in both of her Oaks prep races. She was 1st and 2nd respectively in the Busanda Stakes and the Gazelle Stakes. She has had 4 starts, always at 1st or 2nd.
Mopotism raced in 3 Oaks preps. She earned points in them all. She had 3rd, 2nd and 4th place finishes. Her career includes 7 starts.
Paradise Woods finished first place in her only Oaks prep race in the Santa Anita Oaks. She won by over 11 lengths however that was her 1st win of 3 races. She is the favorite!
Jordan’s Henny has 9 career starts. 3 of those were Oaks preps and she got points in 2 of those races finishing 5th, 2nd and 3rd.
Vexatious has raced five times. Two were Oaks prep races. She finished 3rd in each race. Her owner, Calumet Farm, holds the title for most Oaks wins. Calumet has already won 6 times.
Farrell is experienced. She has had 7 starts. She won all 4 Oaks preps that she started in. She has already raced at Churchill Downs 4 times. She can run in mud.
Sailor’s Valentine has started in 6 races. Only one was an Oaks prep, it was her last time out and that was at my home track, Keeneland when she won the Ashland Stakes.
Wicked Lick has raced 8 times and 3 were Oaks preps. She got points in all 3. Her first 2 starts were at Churchill.
Miss Sky Warrior is undefeated in Oaks preps. She won the Gazelle by 13 lengths. She won 2 other preps and she has won the last 5 of her 6 races.
Tequlita has had 7 starts. Two of those were Oaks preps where she finished 1st and 2nd. She has finished in the top 2 in 6 of her races.
Daddy’s Lil Darling has raced 8 times. 3 of those races were at Churchill. 5 of her races were Oaks Preps. She won the Pocahontas.
Abel Tasman has only raced 3 Oaks preps. She has 6 starts, finishing in the top 2 in 5 of those races.
Salty won the Oaks prep, Gulfstream Park Oaks. She has raced 3 times, always at Gulfstream Park.
Summer Luck raced in Oaks preps in 3 of her 6 starts. Her last time out was at Keeneland’s Ashland Stakes where she finished 5th.
The KY Oaks in the 11th race on a card of lucky 13 on Friday. It is 1 of 6 graded stakes that day. The 1st race posts at 10:30 A.M. EDT while the KY Oaks posts at 6:12 P.M. If you don’t make it live, NBC Sports will televise the race. Be sure to watch the Run for the Lillies! Check back for my KY Derby story, coming soon.
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