Outstanding Field in lool Oaks
Four times in its six year history,
Interestingly, none of those six fillies exited the lool with a win. This race has had a history of upsets and longshots – no favorite has ever won, and only two winners ever had more than one more graded win.
All of those factors make this a tough race to predict and a desirable race to enter. Twenty one owners entered, but of course only fourteen get to start. This field is exceptional
Here is a look at the field:
PP 1 BATTLE CRUISER(KY) (UNBRIDLED’S SONG x WAR CHANT x SADLER’S WELLS) bred and trained by KyClocker2 (13%) Odds: 12-1
She hasn’t looked sharp in her three races since turning three, and except for a win in a four horse listed stakes, she hasn’t won since June. That’s getting frightfully close to a year. She has very nice earnings per race, but that has everything to do with her stellar performances last year all the way through to a third place finish in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Filly. Needs to wake up.
PP 2 ROMAN WORLD(IRE) (ALBERTO GIACOMETTI (IRE) x DEHERE x FORTY NINER) bred and trained by Emit (10%) Odds: 15-1.
Could not match the rally of several, including Waki Slam, in her last race and was overmatched in general when she tried running against older in January. She may well be better than those two races showed. She was still fairly close in her last, and what three year old is ready to go against older horses in a graded stakes in January? She was making progress late last year….
PP 3 YANKEE ROOTS(KY) (VINDICATION x UNBRIDLED’S SONG x
Grabbed the lead late but could not hold on two races back, beating Sisson’s Chant for the place in the Sweet Nanette. That’s worth putting on a resume: only two fillies have finished in front of Sisson’s Chant in the past 11 months. Last time Roots was a decent fourth in a tough Fantasia field, though she was beaten by both Waki Slam and Pravda. She’s still looking for her first stakes win, but she’s belonged in every race she’s entered, and she belongs here.
PP 4 INDYANA JOANS(KY) (A.P. INDY x DEPUTY MINISTER x UNBRIDLED) bred and trained by Knowlton (22%) Odds: 10-1
Stable’s history offers a primer on how to handle a good horse through a long productive career. With five wins and eight in-the-money finishes in nine starts, this one looks like she’s another good one for the barn. After her win against a decent listed field last time, she makes her graded debut. She fits with these, has excellent connections, and is showing steady recent improvement. Just what you want.
PP 5 PRAVDA(KY) (KINGMAMBO x PLEASANT COLONY x
Lightly raced filly has been coming up just short in nice rallies against tough graded company recently. There’s no question she’s going to win one of these soon. Tough to bet against her. Barn should be trying their hardest; she’ll need a win and some help to make the Kentucky Oaks field.
PP 6 SILLY CAUSE(KY) (SMART STRIKE x
Has not been in the money in any of her three graded tries to date, but it’s not hopeless. Her last try was an unsatisfactory European vacation as she tried sprinting. She’s not a sprinter; ignore that one. In the Sweet Nanette, she was a close fourth, losing to Yankee Roots and Sisson Chant. That shows she fits. May well get a piece.
PP 7 URBAN GOLD MINE(KY) (SEEKING THE GOLD x STORM CAT x A.P. INDY) bred and trained by Ozioziozi (13%) Odds: 7-1
Was not given the credit she was due in the Bugler preview to her last race, and she finished second in her graded debut. Some writers here are just idiots. First or second in each of her last seven races. She proved she’s a graded stakes caliber filly last time. She has shown dramatic recent improvement. All good reasons to respect this one.
PP 8 AZ A CRYSTAHL(IRE) (AZAMOUR (IRE) x
She ran a decent fifth in her graded debut against a field just as tough as this last time. Improvement off that effort clearly puts this one, the 14th and last qualifier, in the hunt. That she’s run a triple digit speed figure counts for her. This race is so wide open; it’s tough to know what to do with her.
PP 9 WAKI SLAM(KY) (GRAND SLAM x MISWAKI x GREEN DESERT) bred and trained by Chloedawg (11%) Odds: 9-1
Ranked number four in sprints, she showed she could handle two turns with two game tries. Last time out she held off an early duel, then finished a game second in the Fantasia, beating three of the contenders in today’s race. Not much other early speed in here; she might just steal it.
PP 10 ZALDUENDA FUSA(KY) (FUSAICHI PEGASUS x WAR CHANT x LYPHARD) bred and trained by Zalduendo (15%) Odds: 12-1
Perfect seven for seven in the money record on dirt will be challenged today as she takes on much better than she’s been facing. Coming off her best race, where she beat a nine filly field where she was the only stakeswinner. Still, while she hasn’t been beating much, she’s at least been beating them and showing recent improvement. It will undoubtedly take a triple digit figure to win this, and it’s doubtful she’s ready to do that. But she’s game enough to maybe get a piece of the purse.
PP 11 KATHERINEOFARAGON(FR) (HIGH YIELD x KINGMAMBO x FERDINAND) bred and trained by Gipper7 (16%) Odds: 39-1
Apparently took the name of the Backward Gal Stakes literally. Boy, one loss by 38 lengths, and the oddsmakers sure take it out on you next time. She’s had ten weeks to heal from that debacle, and if she’s ready, you have a chance at an $80 win payoff on the number six rated filly in the world. In her penultimate race she won the prestigious Movieland Starlet. If her speed figures seem light, remember they’re from her two year old season. Gimme Vince Young’s speed figures have improved by 13 points since the Movieland Starlet. A similar improvement for Katherine would give her the biggest figure here. There is certainly no guarantee, but if she’s matured during her recuperation, she offers a very rare betting opportunity. This is no $80 filly.
PP 12 GIMME VINCE YOUNG(KY) (GHOSTZAPPER x A.P. INDY x FORTY NINER) bred and trained by Super23 (16%) Odds: 11-1
In her last three graded tries, she’s lost to six different fillies she meets again today. That’s a lot of table turning before her. On the other hand, early in the three year old season rapid improvement is a powerful signal for more improvement. And this one’s recent improvement has been exponential.
PP 13 SISSON’S CHANT(KY) (WAR CHANT x MR. PROSPECTOR x NIJINSKY II) bred and trained by Levers (12%) Odds: 7-1
With six wins in her first seven starts, capped by a Grade I win against the boys, this number one rated filly seemed more likely to enter the Bluegrass Derby than the Oaks. Now after two third place finishes, the stable still will undoubtedly have their choice, but they may be leaning more toward the Oaks now. A third in a Derby Lock race last time showed again she can beat many of the top boys. She’s been by far the best filly in this three year old class. Stable has the luxury of using this race as a prep for either the Oaks of the
PP 14 KOKO TAYLOR(FR) (HIGH YIELD x CAPOTE x FORTY NINER) bred and trained by Banditkllr (11%) Odds: 5-1
She’s been thriving under a heavy workload recently, and she’s favored as she looks for her fourth win in eight weeks and her sixth start as a three year old. Stable believes in striking while the iron’s hot, and they’ve been absolutely right. Koko’s only route before her last race was terrible, but suddenly she can do no wrong, as she beat a very strong field last time.
Top Threes:
Morning Line: Koko Taylor, Sisson’s Chant, Urban Gold Mine
Speed Last Race: Koko Taylor, Urban Gold Mine, Waki Slam
Best Speed 8.5f: Waki Slam, Sisson’s Chant, Pravda
Current Class: Sisson’s Chant, Waki Slam, Pravda
Early Speed: Waki Slam, Yankee Roots, Urban Gold Mine
Late Speed: Sisson’s Chant, Pravda, Katherineofaragon
Timmn’s: Sisson’s Chant, Waki Slam, Katherineofaragon