Kentucky Oaks
Oaks Notes
The Oaks is always overshadowed by the Derby, but this year seems especially so — perhaps because the race will likely draw a small, modestly accomplished field dominated by the awesome Rachel Alexandra. In a small attempt to redress the imbalance here though, a bit of Oaks news …
– Is D. Wayne Lukas feeling cagey, or cranky? When asked yesterday how far Oaks contender Be Fair had galloped, the trainer replied, “Doesn’t matter. She was strong.†Asked the same question today, he said it was up to others to “figure out” the distance. Be Fair, fourth in the Ashland Stakes, will work Sunday or Monday. Tweeter, Lukas’ other Oaks starter as of this morning, worked five furlongs in :59.80, the best of 30 at the distance.
– The addition of Tweeter — lightly raced, stepping up from maiden company, not without fans on Twitter — brought the likely Oaks field back to seven after it was announced that Fitz Just Right will miss the race due to an ankle chip in her right front, discovered after the filly breezed four furlongs in :49. Stablemate Justwhistledixie equaled that time, then galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.20 over the main track (video).
– Rachel Alexandra had a planned morning off, walking the shedrow instead of going to the track. She’s scheduled to work on Monday, with Calvin Borel up. For that, I would like to be at Churchill …
Notes for 2009-04-16
– Rachel Alexandra turned in a sharp work this morning at Churchill Downs, breezing five furlongs in :59.40 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.60. “As usual, she went a little bit faster than I really wanted, but she does it so easy,” said trainer Hal Wiggins, adding the filly would wrap up her prep for the Kentucky Oaks with a work on Monday, April 27. Catching wind of the bullet move, rival Justwhistledixie had this to say on Twitter: “Rumor has it my main competition Rachel Alexandra worked pretty nicely this morning. That’s okay, I get to show my stuff tomorrow morning.” Not only is this year’s 3-year-old crop showing a lot of depth, it’s proving pretty web savvy …
– During last year’s Keeneland spring meet, there was quite a bit chatter about lower handle and fewer favorites winning. What a difference a year makes:
Through April 11, the Polytrack and turf surfaces have been rewarding favorites with a usual share of the winnings. After 67 races, there have been 31.3-percent of the favorites on top, which is only slightly lower than the Thoroughbred racing’s historical 33-percent watermark figure.
Order restored. Maybe the Polytrack isn’t so inscrutable, maybe the stats even out, maybe trainer Dale Romans was onto something when he said last April, “I’m not so sure [betting on Keeneland] would be a problem if it were longer than a two-week meet, so they can get a gauge on who’s running well.” With another year to adjust, seems like bettors now have a better gauge.
Much the Best
Mike Watchmaker asks, “Seriously. How good is Forever Together?” (Beware: DRF+ link.) Just watch the Jenny Wiley stretch run for the answer:
Slow pace, late kick: After Kiss With a Twist takes the field through the first six furlongs in 1:17.12, Forever Together makes her move on the outside, going from sixth entering the stretch to a win in less than 30 seconds (with the final sixteenth in :6.13), all under a handride, becoming the latest Breeders’ Cup winner to return successfully this year. It’s going to be fun watching her campaign through the summer and fall …
Zenyatta too, whenever she debuts. The champion worked six furlongs in 1:10.60 on Saturday in prep for her eventual return. A race in May at Hollywood is a possibility, said trainer John Shirreffs, but nothing is set. Whatever the race, it seems safe to say it’ll be the most anticipated of the spring.
Oaks and Derby odds and ends: Ashland winner Hooh Why is under consideration for the Oaks; no decision yet on Stardom Bound, who gets a new rider in Garrett Gomez. Julien Leparoux picks up the mount on General Quarters, replacing rider Eibar Coa for the Derby. (The General gains a little more credibility with that move.) Pioneerof the Nile worked a bullet four furlongs handily in :46.20 at Santa Anita this morning, Papa Clem arrived at Churchill on Tuesday, and @derbyoaks tweeted that West Side Bernie jogged over the track for the first time today. Also on the grounds and out of quarantine, Desert Party and Regal Ransom. The duo will work over the weekend. Terrain is off the trail: “We just feel he’s not quite a Derby horse,” said trainer Al Stall, who said the gelding would be pointed to the Lone Star Derby instead. If only more connections had the restraint. Instead, come Derby day, “8 or 9 certainly won’t belong at Churchill.”
That gives me an idea: Who are five unlikeliest Derby prospects? The horses you think would be better pointing elsewhere? List below in the comments …
Helmet Clues
Before the Kentucky Oaks, Jerry Bailey kept talking about jockey Gabriel Saez having only three pairs of goggles on his helmet, despite the sloppy track condition, inferring from that little detail that Saez planned to keep Proud Spell close to the pace. He did, and she came home an easy winner …
Thursday Evening Notes
– Quick Oaks picks: Pure Clan, Country Star, Rasierra. I’m leaving out likely favorite Proud Spell, based on her third place finish in the Ashland. It could well turn out that she just didn’t take to the Keeneland Polytrack last month and will return to the form she displayed at the Fair Grounds, but I suspect it’s more likely she peaked beating Indian Blessing in the Fair Grounds Oaks in March. [5/2 Addendum: It’s pouring at Churchill this afternoon and the track is a sloppy mess. Rethinking the Oaks, Proud Spell moves back into contention …]
– Here’s how the Wizard settled on his Derby pick: “Big Brown is brilliant. The others in this race are not.”
– Brilliant or not, Beyer tosses Brown for lack of experience and picks these three: “1. Pyro 2. Z Fortune 3. Gayego.”
– The big news out of Churchill this morning was Big Brown’s fast three furlong :35.40 blowout. Smooth Air also took to the track, going three furlongs in a pedestrian :38.20. Big Brown was headstrong, requiring an outrider to help pull up, which you can see for yourself by visiting Churchill’s video page, a fantastic repository of Derby work and gallop videos. Also of note: Big Brown appeared wearing front wraps, which trainer Rick Dutrow said were nothing to worry about.
– Beware the year of the cicada.
About
Jessica Chapel writes and edits in Massachusetts. Railbird is a Thoroughbred horse racing blog published from June 2004 to July 2019. More / Contact
Elsewhere
Find Jessica on Pinboard and Instagram, Railbird on LibraryThing and Twitter.
Etc.
Links
Search
Boston Racing
Spreadsheets/Data
← Home
Copyright © 2000-2026 by Jessica Chapel. All rights reserved.