2011 Bluegrass Oaks
The 2011 Bluegrass Oaks features 20 outstanding sophomore fillies running for a history-making Grade I win. The stakes record is owned by Swift Kick; the filly ran the 9f distance in a stellar 1:47.3 in 2005. It will take a hugeeffort to eclipse that mark, but any filly here is capable of the feat.
Reporting for the Black Type Bugler are four veteran players: Spinround is a long-time Bugler staffer and is known for her great coverage of Empire State Racing events. Hawkz presents the view from Down Under and is wellknown for his exploits in the Bargain Bred Racing Series. Roxyken has been playing the game for a couple of years but has quickly become a go-to Bugler reporter on the major racedays. Emmyrhys is very new to the gamebut has quickly established herself as a topnotch reporter and presents a unique perspective on the game’s graded stakes ranks.
| 1 | Hard Secret | Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Sportoking
|
NWRC
|
101
|
10:3-0-0
|
$294,994
|
16/1
|
110
|
|
|
Spinround: Hard Secret is a daughter of Hard Spun x Secretariat x Ribot. A young sire, this would be Hard Spun’s first representative to hit the board in the Oaks, but somewhat surprisingly Secretariat has not had a representative as damsire. Hard Secret was a Grade Two winner at two but has not had much success at three, finishing off the board in all three of her starts. |
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| 2 |
La Farsante
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
3mstable
|
Hispano Parlante
|
100
|
9:5-2-0
|
$287,490
|
13/1
|
22
|
|
| Spinround: La Farsante is a daughter of Medicean based on the f-grade Awesome Again x Carson City horse Truhan. Awesome Again is damsire of last year’s Oaks show horse Union Jack Flyer. La Farsante won four straight races at the beginning of her career but was winless in four stakes attempts. She turned that around on the fifth try, taking the Ashland Stakes last time out by a nose with a 100sp. Hawkz: Strongly bred filly who has won 5 from 9 so far. Never far from the winner circle her poorest races have been on wet tracks. Finds a dry track here and on the back of a fine mile win in the G2-ASHLAND Stakes in a 100sp suggest she will be in this finish. Roxynken: In the Ashland Stakes, La Farsante pulled out a win by a nose and set her career best of 100, beating out a few rivals who will go against her in this race. This was her first graded win in three tries. She was well off the board in the other two, but they were on wet tracks and that may not be her thing. Could be a bit under-rated but could find favorable positioning near the lead which may pay off. Emmyrhys: La Farsante started off her career hot and comes in to the Oaks hot. After four straight wins in Australia and Japan to start her career, the daughter of Medicean finished second in a couple of stakes to end her career, but she saw her speed figures improving. After a couple of major falls in the Atlantic City Race Course Stakes and the Lousiana Oaks, La Farsante threw a 100 speed figure in her last outing, the 8F Ashland where she beat a couple of these she’ll see here Saturday. Look out, La Farsante is back, and she’s hot. |
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| 3 |
Lana Turner
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
 Street Cry x Giantiano (Giant’s Causeway) |
Super11
|
DelPenn
|
97
|
10:4-1-2
|
$438,360
|
12/1
|
13
|
|
| Spinround: Lana Turner is a daughter of Street Cry out of the e-grade Giant’s Causeway x Fappiano mare Giantiano. This is her only stakes winner from four foals. Lana Turner would become the first Oaks runner to hit the board both for Street Cry as a sire and Giant’s Causeway as a damsire. A stakes winner at two, Lana Turner also won a stakes in her three year old debut. She was grade one placed in her next start but has been off the board in two subsequent races. Hawkz: Filly trained by the mighty super team she has proven a good money spinner with earning approaching $500,000. Proven at the distance her last few runs in Graded company has seen her fail to fill a dividend bearing position. Roxynken: Lana Turner has four graded race starts and still seeks her first win and this would be one heck of a race to get it. She finished second in the December running of the Mother Story Handicap, missing by over 2 strides. In the Vermont is 4 Lovers, she came out on the short end of a three-way photo finish being posted as third with a speed of 97, which is her top speed and she’s hit it three times now. Her last two outings don’t lend a lot of promise as she finished off the board in the California Oaks and was a well-back forth in the Lool Oaks. Chances don’t look to promising to me. Emmyrhys: Lana Turner had a pretty brilliant two year old career, but so far in her three year old campaign, she’s only won once, and that was her first start of the year in 9 F Expenditure Stakes. She’s seen this Oaks distance a couple of times in her career, so no problems with distance for this filly. Has thrown 97 speed figures in three of her last four starts, so that bodes well for her chances in the Oaks. She might be due to get back to her winning form as a two year old. |
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| 4 |
Indy By Sea
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
Pick6king
|
Empire State Racing
|
103
|
10:8-2-0
|
$670,855
|
12/1
|
4
|
|
| Spinround: Indy By Sea is by Sea The Stars out of the b-grade A.P. Indy x Fappiano mare Kangaroo A.P. The two-time grade three winner has produced two graded winners and two additional stakes winners from eight foals to race. Second crop sire Sea The Stars is making his debut as an Oaks sire. Indy By Sea has won four straight races including the Vermont Is 4 Lovers and the Fantasia Handicap with a 103sp. Hawkz: By the gun sire of the moment SEA THE STARS (IRE). She has been handled astutely by her trainer running through the allowance classes as a 2yo winning 5 times. As her 3yo year has evolved her performances have also grown culminating in two great graded wins in the G1-Vermont Is 4 Lovers 9f 97sp and the G2-Fantasia Handicap 8.5f 103sp. Looks one of the best chances in a strong line up. Roxynken: B-rated game-dam Kangaroo A.P. was used for Indy by Sea and the children have been highly successful. Eight have raced and combined have a 38% winning percentage with two stake winners and another pair of graded winners. Indy by Sea has won her last four races, with the last two being graded wins in the Vermont is 4 Lovers and Fantasia Handicap, with the later being a career best 103. She’s in great form and has never finished lower than second. Emmyrhys: Filly by Sea The Stars out of an A.P. Indy mare has plenty of class running through her veins. She’s only chosen to run in two stakes preps coming into the Oaks, and she won them both. Indy By Sea won the Grade 1 Vermont Is 4 Lovers Stakes in February, and she won the Grade 2 Fantasia in Arkansas. Her trainer has kept the preps down to a minimum, and you always like to see that coming into a race like this, especially for a filly who oozes class. |
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| 5 |
Destined To Blaze
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
 A.P. Indy x Unforgettable Blaze (Seeking The Gold) |
Lslcrew
|
Blazing Saddles
|
100
|
9:3-2-1
|
$333,590
|
11/1
|
3
|
|
| Spinround: Destined To Blaze is a daughter of A.P. Indy based on the g-grade Seeking the Gold x Deputy Minister horse Unforgettable Blaze. A.P. Indy has only sired one filly to hit the board in the Bluegrass Oaks and that was last year’s third place finisher Union Jack Flyer. DDS Deputy Minister sired two winners of the Oaks in 2002 with Rosella and 2004 with Texas Tornado. Destined To Blaze took the Los Vinegrette Stakes earlier this year before running into some bad luck. She was third by less than a length in the California Oaks and second by a nose in the Ashland Stakes with a 100sp. Hawkz: The winner of 3 of her 9 races. She loves racing in the classic distances and has a graded win under her belt in the G1-Los Vinegrette Stakes 8f 99sp. Has also been placed in the G1-California Oaks 8.5f 98sp and G2-ASHLAND Stakes 8f 100sp. Always runs on in races and will be powering home again. Roxynken: Destined to Blaze put in a fine effort in her last start, the Ashland Stakes where she lost out in a photo finish by a nose. Still, she hit a speed of 100 for the first time and it was accomplished over this track going a mile. She has gone 9 furlongs before in the Sell the Queen where Fortunes of War was able to run her down late and forced to settle in for second. Capable and gets some benefit in not needing to travel. Emmyrhys: Won the Los Vinegrettes two races back and finished top three in her last three starts with SF’s of 99, 98 and 100, the top three SF’s of her career. Although she lost by a nose last time out in the Ashland to La Farsante, Destined to Blaze is peeking at the right time here. Daughter of A.P. Indy could give this field all they can handle here in the Oaks. She is really dangerous in this spot, and could be one to keep your eye on. |
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| 6 |
Lindy Hop
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
Super13
|
Delpenn
|
97
|
11:4-2-1
|
$1,498,375 |
11/1
|
1
|
|
| Spinround: Lindy Hop is a daughter of Awesome Again based on the g-grade Street Cry x Nijisnky II horse Dance Mania. Awesome Again was represented as damsire of last year’s Oaks show finisher Union Jack Flyer (by A.P. Indy). Lindy Hop was fourth against the boys last time out in the Wooden Indian Stakes but she previously won the Miss Bonnie Stakes with a 101sp against the girls. Hawkz: Another super runner this one a million dollar winner. She has won 4 from 11 to date. Her wins include the G2-The Miss Bonnie 9f 101sp two starts ago. At her best she will take all the beating in the world. Roxynken: Game-dam Dance Mania won only 3 races and has been surpassed by offspring Lindy Hop. She tried for a Derby Lock-in running in the Wooden Indian in her last start, finishing forth, which is not at all bad considering she was the only girl in the field. She’s won three grade races which includes the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Filly last fall, which was contested over this Kentucky track. She has proven capable of popping speeds over 100 and to me looks to be a serious contender in this race. Emmyrhys: Top-ranked filly in the division, Lindy Hop was seriously entertaining Derby hopes when she took on the boys last time out in the Wooden Indian. Only a fourth place finish there, but a strong finish against some pretty brilliant colts. Two races back, she owned the Miss Bonnie Stakes field, with the highest speed figure of her career at the same distance she’ll see here in the Oaks. She chose not to take an easy prep coming in here, but should have plenty left in the tank here in the Oaks. |
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| 7 |
Unspoken Horror
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
Lenny7
|
GR Simsters
|
92
|
8:4-0-1
|
$80,306
|
33/1
|
96
|
|
| Spinround: Unspoken Horror is a daughter of Special Week out of the e-grade A.P. Indy x Deputy Minister mare Insincere. This is her only foal. As damsire A.P. Indy produced 2007 Oaks third place runner Zarallana (by El Prado). Deputy Minister sired two Oaks winners and as DDS was represented by 2008 third place runner Equivocations (by Dynaformer). Unspoken Horror was riding a three race win streak before finishing unplaced in her most recent start, the Lool Oaks. Hawkz: A switch from turf to dirt has worked an oracle for this girl. Won well in stakes company two starts ago. Only battle last time out in graded company. Roxynken: Unspoken Horror has won four of six dirt starts which includes a third place finish. She has a win in the non-grade Cecil Launch Special back in February and followed by her only graded start in the Lool Oaks, where she finished eleventh. This race will be a huge task for this Special Week bred mare to win. She’ll need to run the race of her life to light up the tote board and I feel she’s up against a wall in this race. Emmyrhys: Two starts on the turf didn’t render much for this daughter of Special Week, so off she went to the dirt, where she has reeled off 4 wins in 6 starts. She won the Cecil Launch Special Stakes in Tasmania, which was just enough to get her in this field. In fact, she did all her racing overseas, before she was shipped into the states for the lool Oaks, where she managed to beat a couple of these, although she didn’t finish well. She’ll be a longshot here, of course, but she has thrown 90-plus SF’s in her last two starts. |
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| 8 |
Empire Of Fire
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
 Empire Maker x Rakharo (A.P. Indy) |
Salamander
|
GR Simsters
|
99
|
8:5-1-0
|
$378,060
|
13/1
|
14
|
|
| Spinround: Empire of Fire is a daughter of Empire Maker out of the c-grade A.P. Indy x Storm Cat mare Rakharo. She is the only stakes winner from three foals for that mare, but second dam Mother of Dragons produced four graded winners and two additional stakes winners from six foals. Empire of Fire took four straight wins to start her career before entering graded company and finding it somewhat more difficult. She did win the Louisiana Oaks two starts back with a 99sp. Hawkz: Nice win two starts back in the G2-Louisana Oaks 8.5f 99sp on a wet track. Has won 5 from 8 so far. Will need to improve on her best effort to figure in this finish. Roxynken: This daughter of Empire Maker has one graded win, and that came on a good track in the Louisana Oaks. She won this by just shy of two lengths and a career best of 99 this past March. She had a tough time in the Lool Oaks last month, falling to the rear of the field early on and never able to make much headway later in the race. Empire of Fire enjoys running in the middle of the field and I expect that she’ll get a better journey this time around. She’ll have to bring her “fire” with her in this race if she wants to burn this field. Emmyrhys: Daughter of Empire Maker started off her career with four straight wins and had “star” stamped all over her immediately, and why not? She was brilliant. Then she hit the stakes trail and ran into a wall in the Gr. 2 Mother where she finished sixth. She bounced back with a win in the Lousiana Oaks and a second place in the Davola Dane South, both mile events. Last time out she was seventh in the Gr. 1 lool Oaks. Her speed figures as a three year old have all been in the mid 90’s. The big question is the stretch out to 9 F for the first time. |
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| 9 |
Eclipse Failure
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
Lenny8
|
GR Simsters
|
96
|
9:4-2-1
|
$241,930
|
17/1
|
19
|
|
| Spinround: Eclipse Failure is a daughter of Unbridled’s Song out of the f-grade Danehill Dancer x Mr. Prospector mare Electric Company. This is her only foal. Second dam Admiral’s Projects produced two stakes winners from seven foals. Amazingly Unbridled’s Song has never produced a top-three finisher in the Oaks. Eclipse Failure was Grade One placed as a two year old but is only stakes placed at three. She has won two allowance races, including last time out at six furlongs with a 96sp. Hawkz: Winner of 4 from 9.all best efforts to date have been in sprint races save a good 2nd on a wet track in the G1-The Darley 8.5 89sp. Still its hard to like her in this race. Roxynken: In her first two career starts, Eclipse Failure had an easy time winning both races over this Kentucky track, showing a liking for the premises. However, she would return to the oval in November to contend in the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Filly and her love for the track would turn sour as she finished 13th. She has one other graded start, The Darley where she finished 2nd on a good track. This looks to be a tough race for her as she has yet to pick up a stakes win of any kind. Looks overmatched to me in this race, at least at this point in time in her career. Emmyrhys: After finishing second to Rockchucker in the Gr. 1 Darley behind Rockhucker, this daughter of Unbridled’s Song hasn’t won a stakes race yet coming into the Oaks, but she’s coming off an extremely impressive allowance win last outing where she threw a 96 SF, the highest of her career so far. She did finish third in the Tubia (KY) stakes three starts back, and her speed figures keep getting better and better each time out. She’ll need to step up her game here against this Oaks field, and if she stays on the improve as she has been, you may not want to totally discount this one. |
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| 10 |
Fear The Silent
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
 Ghostzapper x Silent Screem (Kingmambo) |
Stupor1
|
GR Simsters
|
101
|
9:4-2-0
|
$89,690
|
14/1
|
84
|
|
| Spinround: Fear The Silent is a daughter of Ghostzapper out of the b-grade Kingmambo x Seattle Slew mare Silent Screem. This is her only foal. As a sire Kingmambo was represented by 2002 Oaks runner-up Adana. Seattle Slew has appeared in the pedigrees of two Oaks top-three finishers. Fear The Silent has one win on the year, the Exbourne’s Asia Special with a 101sp, but in her two most recent starts she has finished off-the-board in Grade One races. Hawkz: Consistent GHOSTZAPPER filly who has success at stakes level in the St-The EXBOURNE’S ASIA Special 8.5f 101sp. This is the best pointer to her chances but she will need to repeat this again. Roxynken: This gal was red hot when she won the non-graded Exbourne’s Asia Special in February, rolling off to a two stride victory with a 101 speed. She then jumped to into the graded level, closing well to finish forth in the California Oaks, with a tad slower 97. The Lool Oaks was next, and she showed no fire, finishing last with an 89 speed. I think the jockey gave her a bad run in that race and look for improvement in this race and this one could surprise. Emmyrhys: Her dam, Silent Screem, ran in the Oaks. But this daughter of Ghostzapper will be trying to improve on her mom’s fourteenth place finish in this race. After some really nice allowance wins early in her career, she won her first stakes try in the Exbourne’s Asia Special. She broke the 100 SF barrier with that win, and came back after that with a fourth place finish in the California Oaks and a fourteenth place finish last time out in the lool Oaks. She’s been 9 furlongs only once, which is once more than most of these, and that was in an allowance race just before her first stakes win, where she threw down a 93 speed figure to open her 3 YO campaign. She’s got enough front end speed to help set the tempo early. |
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| 11 |
Fortunes Of War
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
Super21
|
Delpenn
|
105
|
10:4-2-0
|
$373,860
|
22/1
|
5
|
|
| Spinround: Fortunes of War is by Malibu Moon based on the e-grade Montjeu x Blushing Groom horse Mt. Doom. None of the three main sires in her pedigree has been represented in the Oaks winner’s circle. Fortunes of War is seeking her first win on the year but was a multiple graded winner in 2010. Hawkz: The winner of 4 races at 2yrs including the G1-Walnut Tree Stakes 8.5f 87sp she has struggled to find her best form as a 3yrold and will need a big effort for another graded win. Roxynken: Since winning the Sell the Queen in November, Fortunes of War has seen nothing but misfortune. She finished 10th in both the Mother Story Handicap and Vermont is 4 Lovers. She dropped to non-grade stakes Sister Sweet Dirt Filly (9.5f) and finished forth in a five horse field. Hard to see a turn around in this big race. Emmyrhys: Malibu Moon filly has run in stakes events in nine of her ten starts coming into the Oaks. Pretty tough schedule to prep for this event. She hasn’t won since she was a two year old (won the Grade 2 Sell The Queen Stakes in NY). If stakes seasoning were all that counted here, then this would definitely be your Oaks winner. The tough schedule coming in here could work to her advantage, or to her disadvantage. Is she burnt out? Maybe she’ll jump up and surprise here. |
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| 12 |
Desk Jockey
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
Sicko2
|
Blazing Saddles
|
97
|
9:5-2-0
|
$180,520
|
30/1
|
40
|
|
| Spinround: Desk Jockey is a daughter of Street Cry based on the f-grade Medaglia D’oro x Deputy Minister horse Administrator. Of the three major sires, only Deputy Minister has made his presence known on Oaks day, siring two winners and as DDS of a third. Desk Jockey won three straight races to conclude 2010 and begin 2011, including a victory in the Davola Dane South Stakes with a 97sp. Last time out she was unplaced in the Lool Oaks. Hawkz: Winner of 5 from 9 she was taken along with patients by her trainer at 2yrs her best win was two starts ago in the G3-Davola Dane South 8f 97sp. Struggled home for 13th in the G1-lool Oaks last time out. Roxynken: This daughter of Street Cry has two graded race tries, having success in her first (winning Davola Dane South) and failure in her second (13th in Lool Oaks). Her best speed was in the Davola Dane South with a recorded 97 speed. Other than her maiden race, all other starts were in allowance bid races where she did not finish worse than second. This filly likes to run near or on the lead an will have to notch it up a bit to have a shot at the win. Emmyrhys: Desk Jockey won the Davola Lane in her first stakes try two races ago but comes in here off an pretty hard crash in the lool Oaks. She threw a 97 speed figure in the Gr. 3 Davola Lane, but regressed just a tad with a 90 SF in the lool Oaks. She’s won 5 of her 9 starts coming in, with a couple second place finishes and over $180,000 in the bank. She’s run 8.5 furlongs three times in her career, two of them wins, so it’ll be interesting to see what the daughter of Street Cry will do with the extra half furlong on Saturday. She’s got tons of early speed, and she’ll probably try to get to the front early in this field. |
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| 13 |
Terminal Velocity
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
 Awesome Again x Seattle Slew |
Younggroup
|
Unversal Racing Club
|
101
|
7:6-0-0
|
$489,320
|
8/1
|
8
|
|
| Spinround: Terminal Velocity is a scratch-bred daughter of Awesome Again x Seattle Slew x Buckpasser. Awesome Again has not sired an Oaks winner but Seattle Slew was damsire of 2008 winner Sabbath Point. Terminal Velocity won her first six starts including the SilverBulletBeer Stakes and the California Oaks before being beaten by the boys in her last start, finishing fourth in the Florida Derby with a 101sp. Hawkz: This filly won her first 5 races including 4 from 4 as a 2yrold. This year she has won the G1-California Oaks 8.5f 99sp storming home from well back. Powered home again from well back against the boys in the G1-Florida Derby — Derby Lock Prep when 4th 9f 101sp. What beat this filly wins the race. Roxynken: Terminal Velocity was a perfect 6 for 6 until she tried to get a pass into the Bluegrass Derby when running in the Floridy Derby lock-in race. She was one of two girls in the race and performed well, finishing forth with a career best speed of 101. She’s a strong late closer and has already a pair of graded wins in the Silverbulletbeer and California Oaks. If the front runners don’t get too far ahead, this one definitely will have a shot. Emmyrhys: She did the southern version of Lindy Hop last time out, when she finished fourth in the Florida Derby against the boys. Terminal Velocity had a three-stakes win streak snapped there, but ever since her maiden, her speed figures have continued to rise, which is always a good sign coming into the Oaks. Wins in the California Oaks and the Silverbulletbeer speak volumes about this filly’s ability. You’ve got to love her chances coming in here to the Oaks. |
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| 14 |
One Iota
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
Dixiedotx2
|
Pastures Of Green
|
105
|
12:4-2-5
|
$526,360
|
9/1
|
9
|
|
| Spinround: One Iota is a daughter of Omega Code out of the f-grade Ghostzapper x Seeking the Gold mare Tropical Spirits. She is the second graded winner from three foals for the mare, and watch out for two year old sister Vicenza by Bernardini, a winner in her only start. Omega Code and his sire Elusive Quality have not yet been represented by top three finishers in the Oaks. One Iota was a graded winner at two, a feat she matched in her last start taking the Meadow Breeze Handicap with a 105sp in her last start. This consistent filly has never been off the board in eleven starts. Hawkz: It not very often an Oklahoma breed runner gets into the oaks let alone be one of the favourite to win. She has hit form at the right time to take it out with good wins in her last two starts in the St-Seattle Dixie Dirt Filly Mile 8f 97sp and then a stunning win in the G2-Mellow Breeze Handicap 8f in a whopping 105sp. that’s good enough to win this for Dixiedotco Racing. Roxynken: Bred out of rarely used sire Omega Code, One Iota has turned out to be a gem. She’s been on the board in every one of her 11 starts collecting four wins in the process. Eight of her starts have been in graded stakes and she picked up her second win in early April taking the Mellow Breeze Handicap with a popping 105 speed going a mile. Her first graded win was last July in the Whisky Tango in a sprint distance of 6f. This will be her toughest race since the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Filly where she was third. She has lots of spunk and could be a bit overlooked, but I wouldn’t totally discount her chances. She also draws post 14 which has won this race a record three times. Emmyrhys: 11 starts, never worse than third in her career, One Iota comes into the Oaks off wins in the Seattle Dixie Dirt Mile and the Gr. 2 Mellow Breeze in New York. She’s never been over a mile in her career, and hopefully the extra furlong she’ll see here in the Oaks won’t make that much of a difference to this daughter of Omega Code out of a Ghostzapper mare. She gained ground late in each of her last two outings at a mile, so the feeling is the extra furlong on Saturday could work in her favor. Threw a 105 speedball last time out in New York. She’s about as ready as she can get here. |
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| 15 |
Tex Tornado
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
fatattack
|
Delpenn
|
98
|
9:6-1-0
|
$596,775
|
15/1
|
10
|
|
| Spinround: Tex Tornado is a daughter of Any Given Saturday out of the a-grade Deputy Minster x Gone West mare Texas Tornado. Herself a Bluegrass Oaks winner, Texas Tornado has produced one other stakes winner from seven foals to race. Any Given Saturday is a son of last year’s Oaks-winning sire Distorted Humor. Tex Tornado was a Grade One winner as a two year old. She’s had two starts this year, winning the Rachel Alexandra Stakes with a 98sp at seven and one half furlongs and finishing fourth in the Ashland Stakes with a 97sp at one mile. Hawkz: On racing to date this filly has shown real class. The big question is the distance as her to races past a sprint distance have not produced a win. Other are preferred here. Roxynken: Game-dam Texas Tornado (grade A) has 7 children racing who have won better than 20% of their starts and Tex Tornado is the first to be a grade winner. Tex is currently ranked #1, but in sprint races, otherwise she is ranked 10th for this distance. She loves to run on the lead and was unable to hold off some late closers in the Ashland in her last start after getting a comfy lead. She had similar problems in the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile in November and she will need to fight off her foes. Emmyrhys: Won five of six going into the BB Juvy Fillies last November, where she finished seventh. After a long winter rest, Tex Tornado bounced back with a very stylish performance in winning the Gr. 3 Rachel Alexandra in February. The Any Given Saturday daughter finished fourth last time out in the Ashland, against a few of these she’ll be facing today. Should have no trouble with the 9 F Oaks distance here on Saturday. Had a couple of 97 and 98 SF races last two times out, so this one will certainly be one to keep your eye on Saturday. |
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| 16 |
The Long Hammer
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
Checkmate1
|
GR Simsters
|
101
|
7:4-2-1
|
$76,405
|
20/1
|
81
|
|
|
Spinround: The Long Hammer is a scratch-bred daughter of Monsun x Seattle Slew x Northern Dancer. Seattle Slew was damsire of 2006 third place finisher Whip Smart (by Stravinsky) and of 2008 Oaks winner Sabbath Point (by Seeking the Gold). The Long Hammer has won three of her four starts since switching to dirt, while running second in the only other race. Two of those races were solid allowance scores but in her last start she showed brilliance winning the Hancock Pond Dirt Filly Route with a 101sp. |
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| 17 |
Rockchucker
|
Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
|
Italst6
|
Blazing Saddles
|
92
|
10:4-0-1
|
$417,180
|
23/1
|
12
|
|
| Spinround: Rockchucker is by A.P. Indy out of the b-grade Tabasco Cat x Mr. Prospector mare Hot Teacher. This is her only foal. A.P. Indy daughter’s best finish in the Oaks was a third last year with Union Jack Flyer. Inexplicably dropped into a $2500 claiming race midway through her two year old season, Rockchucker was claimed out of that start and promptly won two graded races. She was off the board in the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Filly and has not hit it again in three subsequent starts. Hawkz: Interesting runner who has already won 4 races and nearly $500,000 won the G1-The Darley in the wet at 2yrs over 8.5f in a 92sp. Yet to win this year but is always running on in races and if her jockey gets a clear run in stretch she could get in the photo at the wire. Roxynken: Claimed for $2500 last July, Rockchucker was immediately entered into the G3 Dr. Shut-Yer-Lips Juvenile. She won this race with a huge speed burst ascending from 68 to 90. She followed this with another win in the G1 The Darley with a career best of 92 on a good track. She’s been pretty dull since this win, finishing off the board in her last four starts, all graded races. A great “Cinderella” story, coming out of the low claiming ranks to be here for the big race. She made it to this race, but needs to break out of her recent slump and that won’t be an easy task against the best of the best. Emmyrhys: If you wanted an Oaks contender, but you found your cupboard bare last season, you could have had this A.P. Indy daughter for a mere $2,500 in a claimer. East Coast Racing, master of the claim game, pounced on Rockchucker in the claim and immediately turned her into a two-time graded stakes winner in her next two races. After a fourth place finish in the Movieland Starlet, Rochucker hasn’t fared so well as a three year old, but she’s still an A.P. Indy daughter. Loves to come from way back in her races, but it would be the story of they year, if this filly should win it all. |
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| 18 |
Fleetwood Funny
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Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
 Distorted Humor x Fleetwood Hillery (Awesome Again) |
Fleetwood
|
Northwest Racing Circuit
|
91
|
10:2-2-2
|
$1,929,000
|
24/1
|
16
|
|
| Spinround: Fleetwood Funny is a daughter of Distorted Humor out of the g-grade Awesome Again x Gone West mare Fleetwood Hillery. She has one other foal, a two year old of 2011 by Forestry who is already a stakes winner. Distorted Humor sired last year’s Oaks winner Taylor’s Story and Awesome Again was damsire of last year’s third place finisher Union Jack Flyer (by A.P. Indy). A stakes winning two year old, Fleetwood Funny was second in the Los Vinegrette Stakes to start her three year old season but was unplaced in two subsequent Grade One starts. Hawkz: Best run at 3yrs was a 2nd in the G1-Los Vinegrette Stakes 8f 97sp two starts since in G1 company have been disappointing. Cant see her having improvement needed to get in the finish Roxynken: In ten starts, Fleetwood Funny has two wins. Those came in a maiden race a good year back and in a non-graded stakes race this past December, taking the Minsky Memorial. She has tried the graded level six times, finishing on the board twice, with the best effort being a second in the mile Los Vinegrette Stakes where she was outrun by a length and a half and established her career high speed of 97. She looks like an outsider in this race as she’s been beat by others in this race in the recent California Oaks (finished last) and Lool Oaks (finished 10th). Emmyrhys: Fleetwood Funny had almost as many starts as a two year old as most of these in the Oaks have their entire careers. The daughter of Distorted Humor then took a long winter break and bounced back with a second place finish in the Los Vinegrettes. The rest helped her immensely in that race. Since then, though, she has finished far back in the California Oaks and the lool Oaks. Not quite sure if those are the kinds of finishes you want to see right before the Oaks, but if Fleetwood Funny can regain her Los Vinegrettes form, she could figure prominently in this spot. |
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| 19 |
Vivrant Thing
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Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
|
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Bpsisking
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Blazing Saddles
|
99
|
7:3-3-0
|
$109,610
|
14/1
|
66
|
|
| Spinround: Vivrant Thing is a daughter of Street Sense out of the g-grade Pulpit x Storm Cat mare Sudden Moves. She is the only stakes winner from four foals for the mare. Pulpit sired last year’s Oaks runner up Diocese and Storm Cat has been represented as DS or DDS by six Oaks on-the-board finishers. Vivrant Thing has been very consistent in 2011, running sps of 96, 96 and 97. Her most recent race was a win in the Chopping Hill Dirt Filly Route Stakes. Hawkz: 7 starts for 3 wins and 3 places for this consistent filly. Improving all the time and another jump in effort will see her go close. Roxynken: After being the beaten favorite in non-graded Granny Exalted Challenge and the Midnight Special, Vivrant Thing came through (as favorite) in the Chopping Hill Dirt Filly Route (9.5f). She established her career best speed rating of 97 in her length and a half victory. She takes an aggressive jump into this G1 race and I’m felling it may be too much too soon for this horse. But I’ve been wrong before. Emmyrhys: The daughter of Street Sense out of a Pulpit dam who had four sprint wins in her career, Vivrant Thing definitely has shown early speed in her career. She’s only raced 7 times, quite a bit less than most of these, but she’s throwing some pretty high speed figures. She comes into the Oaks off a win in the 8.5F Chopping Hill Dirt Filly Route, after a nice second place finish in the Granny Exalted Challenge to start her 3 YO campaign. Should be among those early leaders in the Oaks, if her 3 YO form has anything to say about it, and those upper 90 SF’s certainly don’t hurt either. |
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| 20 |
Reconnected Again
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Trainer | Residency | Top SP | Record | Earnings | Odds | Div Rank |
 A. P. Arrow x So We Meet Again (Mountain Cat) |
fabman2
|
Pastures Of Green
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95
|
10:3-2-2
|
$217,079
|
20/1
|
20
|
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| Spinround: Reconnected Again is a daughter of A.P. Arrow out of the f-grade Mountain Cat x Awesome Again mare So We Meet Again. This is the only stakes winner from three foals for the mare. This would be the first top-three finisher for both sire A.P. Arrow and damsire Mountain Cat. Reconnected Again ended her two year old season with a win in the Gold Red Stakes. She has not hit her stride yet in 2011, finishing third in her first start back and off-the-board in her two most recent runs. Hawkz: Consistent filly whose wins are few and far between. Always in the finish a minor place looks her best chance. Roxynken: With three lifetime graded races, Reconnected Again has one win to her credit which came in November in the Golden Red Stakes stealing the race at 9-1. Most recently, she didn’t have much to offer in the Louisana Stakes, finishing 10th nor the Fantasia Handicap where she was 7th and recorded her best speed to date of 95. She’s the only graded winner out of A. P. Arrow and there is always a possibility that this one could surprise again. Emmyrhys: The daughter of A.P. Arrow has had it pretty tough as a three year old. She was zooming right along after a second in the Guitar Neck Challenge Stakes and a very impressive win in the Gr. 2 Golden Red Stakes and after another good showing in the Expenditure Stakes, her Oaks chances were looking pretty good. Then she ran into some monsters in the Louisiana Oaks and the Fantasia as a three year old. She’s still throwing mid-90’s SF’s, though. |
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Spinround’s Selections:
From a pedigree standpoint this is a very intriguing Oaks field. The possibility of Tex Tornado following in her mother’s footsteps is too great a story not to cheer for. Terminal Velocity is a deserving favorite and will be tough to beat. We’ll root for Empire of Fire to snag third.
Hawkz Selections:
1st: TERMINAL VELOCITY(KY)
2nd: ONE IOTA(OK)
3rd: INDY BY SEA(IRE)
Roxynken’s Selection’s:
Terminal Velocity has already won some big races and performed extremely well in the Florida Derby against the boys…my top pick.
Indy By Sea is out of a highly successful game-dam and should have good positioning in the race, becoming my second choice.
I believe that Tex Tornado will set the pace and she may actually find a way to hold off the closers this time so I’ll take that chance and include her as my third selection.
Emmyrhys’ Selections:
Picks: Indy By Sea / Lindy Hop / Destined To Blaze
Longshot: Hard Secret
Good luck!