Kenny McPeek and Corey Lanerie had a nice finish with Eskimo Kisses in second place in the Ashland Stakes!
Are you ready for my favorite fourteen filly face-off on Friday, the 4th? I have a quick breakdown on the facts, fun, food, fashion, feelings and fortune that awaits in the 144th Kentucky Oaks. Please, follow along with my easy outline for the Oaks.
Patrona Margarita finished in the top 3 of the Ashland Stakes with Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. and W. Bret Calhoun.
FACTS:
The Grade I, $1 million dollar 2018 Longines Kentucky Oaks is one of the oldest, most prestigious and best attended Thoroughbred horse races. Inaugurated in 1875, the race takes place annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. It falls on the day prior to the renowned Kentucky Derby, 5/4/18, posting as race 11 at 6:12 PM ET. The race is 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt for 3 year-old fillies. 30 prep races have led to the selection of this year’s contenders. The prep races took place from September through April. Historically, the longest margin in lengths was won in 2009 with Rachel Alexandra. She finished first by 20 and 1/4 lengths. The fastest speed at 1 and 1/8 miles belongs to Bird Town who finished in 1:48.64 minutes in 2003. Last year, Abel Tasman won the Oaks.
Here is your 2018 KY Oaks field by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning-line odds:
Sassy Sienna/Gary L. Stevens/Brad Cox/Medallion Racing and Jerry McClanahan/15-1
Coach Rocks/Luis Saez/Dale Romans/ Roddy J. Valente, RAP Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds/12-1
Classy Act/Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr./Bret Calhoun/Carl R. Moore Management, LLC./15-1
Eskimo Kisses/Corey Lanerie/Kenny McPeek/Magdalena Racing, Gainesway Stable, and Harold Lerner/15-1
Monomoy Girl/Florent Geroux/Brad Cox/Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables/2-1
FUN:
Watch live from Churchill Downs, opening at 8:00A.M. ET or take it all in from the comfort of television. NBC Sports Network will cover the races from 12 P.M. ET to 3P.M. ET and from 5 to 6:30 P.M. ET. The entire lucky 13 card runs from 10:30 A.M. ET to 7:23 P.M. ET. Many race tracks will host simulcasting and and parties. Keeneland in Lexington, KY will open its gates at 9 A.M ET on KY Oaks day for $5 general admission. Check your local track on-line to see what party plans are available or throw your own party. Check out the food suggestions, next in this post.
Monomoy Girl wins the Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland for Brad Cox and Florent Geroux!
FOOD:
There is just one official drink, the Finlandia Oaks Lilly, the recipe is in the link: Finlandia Oaks Lily
For food, think festive southern picnic style favorites. In Kentucky we love beer cheese, pimento cheese, barbecue and burgoo. Check out my post “Burgoo on the Menu” for the recipe.
Don’t forget something sweet for desert. Strawberry cake and ice cream keeps up with the pink color scheme.
Kenny McPeek and Corey Lanerie had a nice finish with Eskimo Kisses in second place in the Ashland Stakes!
FASHION:
The winning owner receives a silver KY Oaks trophy while the winning filly is draped in “Lilies for the Fillies” or a garland of pink, stargazer lilies. The overwhelming theme is pink! Wear pink! Big hats are cute on the ladies and fedoras look fantastic on the gents. Dresses, seersucker, bow-ties… bring out your most fashion forward pieces. They even have a Longines Fashion contest!
Patrona Margarita finished in the top 3 of the Ashland Stakes with Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. and W. Bret Calhoun.
FEELINGS:
Here is my input on our Oaks field by horse (sire/dam):
Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute/Diva Delite) – This filly has the most KY Oaks prep points (150) and is tied for the highest speed figure with Monomoy Girl at 107. Midnight Bisou is undefeated in her 3 year-old campaign, all graded stakes wins. As a two-year old she finished twice in second place. A KY bred horse, she ships from California having raced formerly at Del Mar and Santa Anita exclusively. Midnight Bisou is a strong bet for the winner and her jockey Mike Smith won the Oaks in 2013 and 2017.
Monomoy Girl (Tapizar/Drumette) – I favor this filly. She is a KY bred that stayed closer to home. Her last race out she won the G I Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. At Churchill downs her record in 2 for 3. Monomoy Girl is undefeated in 2018. In 6 starts she has 5 wins and one second place finish, in G II stakes race. Her jockey trainer combo just finished the Keeneland Spring Meet on top. Florent Geroux was Keeneland’s leading jockey and Brad Cox tied Wesley Ward for leading trainer. It is just a brief ride down the road for this dominating trio to take that Keeneland success on to Churchill Downs.
Sassy Sienna (Midshipman/Tap For Gold) – This girl has experience! She has sassed her way through 9 races, winning a third of those. She has two nice 2nd and 3rd place finishes as well. Another KY bred filly, she has raced before at Keeneland and Churchill. Her jockey, Stevens, won the Oaks in 1986 and 1999. She shares trainers with Monomoy Girl.
My Miss Lilly (Tapit/Wicked Deed) – Sounds like she was named to win this race, with the official flower of the race right in her name. My Miss Lilly certainly looks like a beautiful pageant girl in her gorgeous grey coat. Bred in KY, she has 2 wins and 2 third place finishes to her career but she hasn’t raced at Churchill. Racing at Aqueduct and Gulfstream she has won and showed in graded stakes.
Chocolate Martini (Broken Vow/Nicksappealinglady) – This KY bred got her first 2 starts in at Churchill. Unfortunately, she did not break her maiden until her 4th time out. Falling back to 4th place on her next race she finished her last 2 races in first place. In March she won a GII at Fairgrounds where she raced the past 5 of her 7 starts.
Coach Rocks (Oxbow/Mexican Moonlight) – She has made a lot of the local news but not necessarily based on her racing career. Coach Rocks is partially owned by Coach Rick Pitino, the former Louisville, KY basketball coach whom some have reported vows not to visit his former city where she will now race. All gossip aside, this KY bred has raced at 3 KY tracks, Kentucky Downs, Keeneland and Churchill. After starting in Saratoga she finally became a winner her last 2 starts, both at Gulfstream, including a G II win.
Rayya (Tiz Wonderful/Spread) – A KY bred filly, this girl lives and races far from home. All five of her career starts were at Meydan Racecouse in Dubai. She got her Oaks berth winning the UAE Oaks. This filly was also second among the boys in the UAE Derby, lookout! Her trainer Baffert won the Oaks last year as he did in 2011 and 1999.
Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro/Loving Vindication) – This Canadian bred filly from Ontario got her first 3 starts at home on Woodbine’s track. She has traveled around America a bit since then covering 4 other courses but no racing in KY. In 7 graded stakes she has won once. Her jockey, Velazquez, won the Oaks in 2004.
Eskimo Kisses (To Honor and Serve/Silver Colors) – Her 7 career starts are sandwiched between her races at Keeneland, finishing second in both, the last was G I stakes. Eskimo Kisses’ third race was at Churchill but it was her 4th time when she broke her maiden. Her last 2 races were each graded where she finished second in each. This KY bred has left the state a few times having finished in the money at Oaklawn and Fair Grounds.
Take Charge Paula (Take Charge Indy/Perfect Paula) – She has done a lot of racing, 9 starts to be exact. After winning her first 2 starts this KY bred returned to the state to compete at Churchill. That was the first prep on The Road to the KY Oaks, the Pocahontas Stakes, where she was disappointing in 10th. Not to be discouraged, she went on to finish 1st or 2nd in 6 black type or graded stakes thereafter.
Patrona Margarita ( Special Rate/Margarita Mistress) – She is a Texas bred filly that race there her third start at Lone Star. Patrona Margarita actually began her racing career at Churchill and won right from the start. Her 2nd race was there as well when she dwindled behind in 8th but she returned to Churchill in her 4th race and won the G II Pocahontas! I watched her with a nice 3rd place finish her last time out, in Keeneland’s G I Ashland Stakes. It was her 7th race.
Classy Act (Into Mischief/Acting Class) – Despite her KY breeding, she is 0 wins for 3 starts in KY races. She finished 2nd and 7th at Churchill with a 2nd place race at Keeneland in between. Finally, she shipped to Fair Grounds and won her next 2 starts. At the same track she moved up into graded stakes and finished 2nd and 4th in those.
Heavenhasmynikki (Majestic Warrior/Floral Park) – This Ohio bred filly broke her maiden at Mahoning Valley in Ohio in her first start. She headed down south to Gulfstram thereafter winning an allowance then finishing 4th and 3rd in G III and G II races respectively. Her jockey, Borel, won the KY Oaks in 2009 with the great Rachel Alexandra, the 20 plus length winner!
Kelly’s Humor (Midnight Lute/Cauy’s Humor) – She is your homegirl! This KY bred filly has raced exclusivly in KY. Twice at Ellis Park, her first 2 races and wins, twice at Churchill and twice at Keeneland. Her last 4 races were all graded stakes and she got KY Oaks points in 2 of the 4 with 2nd place finishes.
Monomoy Girl wins the Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland for Brad Cox and Florent Geroux!
FORTUNE:
Sorry, no tips today. I hope the info I gave you in the facts and feelings portions helps you make an educated decision. There are a lot of winnings to be made but your fortune is your own. Gamble responsibly and have a good time with it. The industry could use your donation or maybe you just might win big!
Thank you for taking the time to read my Outline for the Oaks. I hope the information has been helpful. Check out Thoroughbred U tomorrow for my Kentucky Derby post.
