While several of the sport's best 3-year-old fillies have still yet to race this year, there were plenty of developments since we last checked in with our top 10 for the GI Kentucky Oaks. The biggest story came Sunday out of California, where Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) demolished the competition in the GIII Las Virgenes. A day earlier, Girl With a Dream (Practical Joke) won the GIII Forward Gal S. at seven furlongs at Gulfstream, upsetting 3-5 favorite Radio Days (Gun Runner). The runner-up appeared to be a serious Oaks candidate for Shug McGaughey, but she'll need to do more before cracking our top 10. At Aqueduct on Sunday, Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) won the Ruthless S. at seven furlongs and is on the bubble when it comes to making this list.
Here's a look at the top 3-year-old fillies who are aiming for the May 6 Oaks:
1) ECHO ZULU (Gun Runner–Letgomyecho, by Menifee) 'TDN Rising Star' O-L and N Racing LLC & Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Betz/J. Betz/Burns/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/ Ramsby (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $300,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 4-4-0-0, $1,480,000. Last Start: 1st GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies S. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: 30.
Echo Zulu had her first work this year on Tuesday when breezing three furlongs in 39.80. “She's doing good,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “I waited a few days after a lot of rain this week. We will continually pick it up with her.” With her first work coming on Feb. 8, it's clear Asmussen is in no hurry to get his soon-to-be-named champion back into the entries and he has not revealed yet where or when she will make her 3-year-old debut. Echo Zulu was nominated to the Triple Crown, but Asmussen has given no indication that he is thinking GI Kentucky Derby instead of the Oaks. After a stellar 2-year-old season, she deserves to be considered No. 1 until proven otherwise.
2) ADARE MANOR (Uncle Mo–Brooklynsway, by Giant Gizmo) O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $180,000 ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA ylg '20 FTKSEL; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-1-0, $56,600. Last Start: 1st GIII Las Virgenes S. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: N/A.
Unlike most of Bob Baffert's top horses, Adare Manor was anything but an overnight sensation. She didn't break her maiden until her third start, which was when Baffert sent her two turns for the first time. A 12-length winner that day, she followed it up with another explosive effort in the Las Virgenes. She won by 13 lengths and got a 94 Beyer, the best for any 3-year-old filly this year. The only knock is that she faced just three rivals. Had she been trained by anyone else, Adare Manor would have gotten 10 Kentucky Oaks points, but no horses trained by Baffert are eligible to be awarded points for the Oaks or the GI Kentucky Derby. How will that situation be resolved and will owner Michael Lund Peterson stick with Baffert? Stay tuned. Baffert has not said where she will run next, but the GII Santa Anita Oaks Apr. 9 seems like the logical spot.
3) KATHLEEN O. (Upstart–Quaver, by Blame) O-Winngate Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. & Bridlewood Farm (KY); T-Shug McGaughey. Sales History: $8,000 wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000 ylg '20 OBSOCT; $275,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: SW, 2-2-0-0, $104,760. Last Start: 1st Cash Run S. Next Start: GII Davona Dale. S, GP, Mar. 5. KY Oaks Points: 0.
There's a lot to like about this filly. She is undefeated in two starts, overcame a sluggish start to win the Cash Run S. on Jan 1 at Gulfstream and is trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. The problem is that she isn't fast. She ran a 67 Beyer when breaking her maiden in November at Aqueduct and then a 78 when winning the Cash Run. McGaughey's horses never peak early, so there is no doubt a lot of upside with a filly that was visually impressive when winning at Gulfstream. She must still prove she can go two turns, and will get that chance in the GII Davona Dale S.
4) JUJU'S MAP (Liam's Map–Nagambie, by Flatter) O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich III (KY); T-Brad Cox. Sales History: $190,000 ylg '20 KEEJAN; $300,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-2-2-0, $620,800. Last Start: 2nd GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: 18.
Trainer Brad Cox hasn't had much to say about his Grade I-winning filly who was second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies behind Echo Zulu. As of Wednesday, she had yet to have her first published breeze of the year. If she doesn't show up on the work tab soon, we'll drop her from the list. That said, she clearly has the talent to be a major player in the 3-year-old filly division this year. Her 4 1/4-length win in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. was one of the more impressive races turned in by any 2-year-old filly in 2021.
5) SECRET OATH (Arrogate–Absinthe Minded, by Quiet American) O-Briland Farm; B-Briland Farm, Robert & Stacy Mitchell (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. Lifetime Record: SW, 5-3-0-1, $285,167. Last Start: 1st Martha Washington S. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S., OP, Feb. 26. KY Oaks Points: 10.
The story here is D. Wayne Lukas. The 86-year-old Hall of Famer is back in the spotlight with a filly that has the talent to give him his fifth Oaks win and his first since Seaside Attraction way back in 1990. When she won the Martha Washington S. it was Lukas's first stakes victory since Apr. 7, 2018, when he won the GIII Commonwealth S. at Keeneland. Secret Oath didn't show much until blowing out an allowance field at Oaklawn on Dec. 31, winning by 8 1/4 lengths. She backed that up with a 7 1/4-length win in the Martha Washington, also at Oaklawn.
6) EDA (Munnings–Show Me, by Lemon Drop Kid) O-Baoma Corporation; B-Nathan McCauley (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $240,000 ylg '20 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-4-1-0, $370,000. Last Start: 1st GI Starlet S. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: N/A.
Eda was a late scratch from the Las Virgenes and Baffert has yet to announce any future plans for her. Baoma Corp. director Ed Nevins said there is nothing amiss with the filly and she is still on track for the Oaks. Like Adare Manor, her status for the Oaks is up in the air because of Baffert's situation. She hasn't been seen since winning the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos on Dec. 4. It was an important win for her as it proved she could go two turns after she began her career with five straight tries in sprint races.
7) GERRYMANDER (Into Mischief–Ruby Lips, by Hard Spun) O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Pollock Farms (KY); T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $375,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW & GISP, 4-2-2-0, $235,500. Last Start: 1st Tempted S. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: 4.
Gerrymander, the winner of the Tempted S., has been making steady progress in Florida for Chad Brown. Her latest work was a four-furlong breeze in :48.80 at Payson Park. Brown said he has yet to pick out a race fo her. Normally, the Tempted is not that important a race, but Gerrymander beat Magic Circle (Kantharos) and Nest (Curlin) that day. Magic Circle came back to win the Busanda S. and Nest returned with a win in the GII Demoiselle S. Gerrymander has never run beyond a mile or around two turns.
8) LA CRETE (Medaglia d'Oro–Cavorting, by Bernardini) O/B-Stonestreet Stables (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: SW, 2-2-0-0, $159,460. Last Start: 1st Silverbulletday S. Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S., FG, Feb. 19. KY Oaks Points: 10.
La Crete is a very interesting filly for the Steve Asmussen barn. A half-sister to GI Cotillion S. winner Clairiere (Curlin) out of MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini), she entered the conversation for the Kentucky Oaks with a determined win in the Silverbulletday S. at the Fair Grounds. Since her top Beyer number is just a74, it looks like she's going to have to improve to pull off a win in a race like the Oaks, but, with her breeding and her connections, there is a lot of upside here. For her, the Rachel Alexandra will be a big test.
La Crete | Coady Photo
9) NEST (Curlin–Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy) O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Michael House; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $350,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-0-1, $205,000. Last Start: 1st GII Demoiselle S. Next Start: Suncoast S., TAM, Feb. 12. KY Oaks Points: 10.
She will make her 3-year-old debut Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in the Suncoast S. for the white-hot Todd Pletcher stable. Her biggest win came in the Demoiselle, but she didn't beat a stellar field that day. She might have an easy time of it in the Suncoast and then will get a big test in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. After winning last year with Malathaat (Curlin), Pletcher is looking to become the first trainer to win back-to-back Oaks' since his old boss, Wayne Lukas, did it in 1989 and 1990.
10) MAGIC CIRCLE (Kantharos–Magic Humor, by Distorted Humor) O-J.W. Singer LLC; B-Manitou Farm, LLC (KY); T-Rudy Rodriguez. Sales History: $50,000 yrl '20 KEEJAN; $110,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP, 5-2-1-1, $194,000. Last Start: 1st Busanda S. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: 13.
Magic Circle failed in her first test in Grade I company, running a poor fourth in last year's Frizette S. But she's gotten better since then and picked up her first stakes win when taking down top honors in the Busanda S. on Jan. 23 ast the Big A. By Kantharos, her pedigree may not scream nine furlongs, but based on her win in the 1 1/8-mile Busanda, distance doesn't appear to be a problem. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez has yet to announce her next start.
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