Friday the Fourth: A Most Oaksellent Adventure

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The Kentucky Oaks is decorated in pink lilies.
The 146th Kentucky Oaks races September 4, 2020 at Churchill Downs.

Nine talented fillies have signed on for this Most Oaksellent adventure. The Grade 1, $1.25 million dollar, 1 and 1/8 mile dirt race is set to post at 5:45 P.M. ET. Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY will host the spectator free event. The KY Oaks is the 12th race on a card of lucky 13. The first race posts at 11 A.M ET.

The tote board is dressed up pink for the Kentucky Oaks.
The tote board is dressed up pink for the Kentucky Oaks.

The KY Oaks field is set! The contenders are listed by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/breeder/and morning-line odds:

  1. Swiss Skydiver/T Gaffalione/K G McPeek/Peter J. Callahan/WinStar Farm,LLC./8-5
  2. Tempers Rising/J R Leparoux/D Stewart/Mark H. and Nancy W. Stanley/Dr. Bryan Boone, DMV/50-1
  3. Donna Veloce/R Santana, Jr./S Callaghan/Kaleem Shah, Inc.,Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith/15-1
  4. Speech/J Castellano/M W McCarthy/Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables, LLC.,and Heider Family Stables, LLC./5-1
  5. Gamine/J R Velazquez/B Baffert/Michael Lund Petersen/Grace Thoroughbred Holdings, LLC./1-1
  6. Bayerness/R Bejarano/C DeVaux/Belladonna Racing, LLC./Machmer Hall/50-1
  7. Shedaresthedevil/F Geroux/B H Cox/Qatar Racing, LTD., Flurry Racing Stables, and Big Aut Farms/20-1
  8. Hopeful Growth/M Franco/A R Margotta, Jr./St. Elias Stable/Phillips Racing Partnership/30-1
  9. Dream Marie/J Talamo/M J Williams/Miracle’s International Trading, Inc./Wynnstay LLC. and GWR LLC./50-1

Read on for more details by horse (state of breeding) sire-dam: (career entries – wins: 2nds: 3rds) and a bit more…

Swiss Skydiver (KY) Daredevil Expo Gold: (9-5:2:1). She got her start at Churchill Downs where she broke her maiden at first asking. She has had a lovely career winning 4 graded stakes and finishing 2nd and 3rd in two other graded stakes. In her last race, The Alabama at Saratoga, she was the winner. She raced an all male field at my home track, Keeneland, this Fall in the Blue Grass Stakes and finished second. She shares her sire with Shedaresthedevil.

Tempers Rising (KY) BayernMarchmont: (10-1:5:2). This filly also broke her maiden at Churchill but that was her 5th start overall and her second start at Churchill. She got one of her several second place finishes at Keeneland. Her only Grades Stakes earned her one of her other 2nd place races, the G2 Fair Grounds Oaks. She is coming of yet another 2nd place finish. That was a big step down, it was an allowance optional claiming race. She shares her sire with Bayerness. Tempers Rising’s trainer, Stewart, has won the KY Oaks.

Donna Veloce (KY) Uncle MoCoin Broker: (4-2:2:0) is a California runner. Racing at two CA tracks she always finished 1st or 2nd. She broke her maiden in her first start and has performed very well in 3 graded stakes, the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenille Fillies, the G1 Starlet Stakes and the G3 Santa Ysabel Stakes.

Speech (FL) Mr SpeakerScribbling Sarah: (7-3:3:1) is another big CA runner (5 of her 7 starts were in California). She was a winner by her second race and she went on to finish 2nd in two graded stakes before wowing at Keeneland. She is fresh off a G1 win in the Ashland Stakes. Her jockey, Castellano, has won the KY Oaks before.

Gamine (KY) Into Mischief Peggy Jane: (4-3:0:0) is the favorite to win! She would show as undefeated if it were not for a drug based disqualification. She is a shipper, having raced at a different track every time and in 3 different states. This will be her KY debut. Her wins include two G1 stakes. Her trainer, Baffert, has won several KY Oaks.

Bayerness (KY) BayernWeight No More: (5-2:0:2) broke her maiden at Keeneland, it was her first start. She raced next at Churchill and won there as well. Her last 3 starts have been in graded stakes and she was 3rd in each of the last two.

Shedaresthedevil (KY) Daredevil Starship Warpspeed: (9-4:2:2) was a winner from her first race, right at Churchill Downs. She has always finished 4th or better and most of her races were listed, black type or graded. She is coming off a two win streak, her last start and win was the G3 Indiana Oaks. Her jockey, Geroux and her trainer, Cox, have won the KY Oaks.

Hopeful Growth (KY) Tapiture Maiden America: (5-3:1:0). This filly got her start up north with a win. Her last 2 entries were in graded stakes where she was 5th and then 1st. She has yet to race in KY.

Dream Marie (KY) GraydarLin Marie: (11-3:2:1) is a heavily raced filly. She broke her maiden in her third start. Her last 6 starts have been black type or graded stakes. She has not won in this step up in class but has finished 2nd twice and 3rd in a G2 stakes. This will be her first KY race.

Go fillies, go!  The race is on for the 2020 Kentucky Oaks!
Go fillies, go! The race is on for the 2020 Kentucky Oaks!

This Friday, September 4th, enjoy the most Oaksellent adventure at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Oaks will race spectator free but you can cheer on your favorite filly on the television. From 11AM to 2:30 PM ET watch Fox Sports 2 then switch to NBCSN to watch from 3 to 6 PM ET. Please, continue to check out Thoroughbred U for the latest on the greatest in racing and more.

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