Kentucky Oaks Day Selections
May 3rd, 2012By Jude T. Feld Follow @racehorsereport
4th Race) FUNNY PROPOSITION has lived up to her Saratoga Yearling Sale hype and should appreciate the added distance of today’s race. CRESPANO has improved off her two-year-old season and is back in the Todd Pletcher stable. She can be counted on for a good effort. IRE broke her maiden at Keeneland but will find this allowance field tougher to beat. UPTOWN BERTIE has been training well at Churchill for her first try versus allowance foes.
5th Race) FRONTSIDE has run two bang-up races in 2012. The daughter of War Front can beat this field with a good trip. DANCINGINHERDREAMS has been working well for her new trainer Billy Mott and could take it all if she runs her best.
6th Race) PLUM PRETTY is the queen of this group. Her Apple Blossom (G1) victory was excellent and would take this event if repeated. ABSINTHE MINDED has been racing in sharp form for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Another in-the-money finish is imminent. ST. JOHN’S RIVER is a capable filly and has been working well for her 2012 debut. She would need her all-time best to topple the favorite. JUANITA always tries hard and could be part of the exotics picture.
7th Race) CONTESTED has never run a bad race. She worked well here on April 28 and should come out firing for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. GOOD DEED was impressive taking the Prima Donna at Oaklawn Park. Another race like that puts her in the photo. SMALL KITCHEN found the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) too long and too tough but can rebound in this easier field.
8th Race) STEPHANIE’S KITTEN won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2). She came back to the races in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland and ran a creditable third behind Karlovy Vary, who has trained wildly for today’s Kentucky Oaks (G1). RUN A RISK is an improving filly who ran the best race of her life last time out. She could surprise with a move forward. ANNA SOPHIA is highly regarded by her stable. She had a troubled trip in her last start and could turn it around with a jockey switch to Hall of Famer Mike Smith. DAME MARIE is undefeated in two starts and must be considered.
9th Race) MUCHO MACHO MAN has become a win machine since his mediocre Triple Crown run last year. He has trained nicely at Churchill and looks tough to beat once again. NATES MINESHAFT is another who loves to win races. He goes for his fifth straight this afternoon and looks like the horse the top pick should fear. FORT LARNED is improving leaps and bounds. He posted his best speed figure ever last time out and is certainly part of the mix. SUCCESSFUL DAN has won four straight dating back to 2010. He could take the top prize too.
10th Race) HOWE GREAT is best on turf. He is a colt of quality and hails from a top stable who excels with grass horses. STAR CHANNEL keeps improving for top trainer Todd Pletcher. Where he’ll stop, nobody knows. GUNG HO finished third behind Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls Dullahan and Hansen in the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. A win here would not be shocking. FLASHY DRESSER is undefeated. The talented colt must be respected off his troubled stakes victory at Charles Town last time out.
11th Race) JEMIMA’S PEARL has improved in both her American starts. She gave probable Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Bodemeister all he could handle when working out earlier this week. She has an excellent stalking style for this speed-laden field as well. ON FIRE BABY has a perfect record at Churchill Downs and is training like she means business in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). GRACE HALL will be the Oaks favorite and deservedly so. She is talented filly who has never finished worse than second. KARLOVY VARY and EDEN’S MOON have both worked well and could be part of the trifecta.
12th Race) VUITTON comes off a solid second-place finish where she earned the top speed figure. She should win. DREAMY DIVA is trained by the talented Michelle Lovell and could be ready for a big effort in her debut. THAT’S ME ran well as the favorite first time out and might take this with some improvement.
