Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who will saddle Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's formidable multiple Grade 1 winner Forte in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6, will also bring a strong contender for Repole Stable to the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the New York-bred Gambling Girl.
The entries of Gambling Girl in the Oaks and the trio of the reigning champion 2-year-lld male Forte, Blue Grass (G1) winner Tapit Trice, and Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Kingsbarns in the Run for the Roses will give Pletcher a chance to become the first trainer since Ben Jones [1952] to sent out both the Derby and Oaks winner in the same year.
Bred by Gallagher's Stud, the multiple graded stakes-placed Gambling Girl finished second in the nine-furlong Gazelle (G3) on April 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack, awarding her 40 points towards the Kentucky Oaks and guaranteeing her a spot in the starting gate.
Gambling Girl added to the 21 points she earned for on-the-board efforts here in the Demoiselle (G2) and Busanda and a fourth in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Jockey Jose Ortiz engineered a rallying trip in the Gazelle, guiding her from 4 1/2 lengths off the pace to show a strong turn-of-foot and finish a half-length back of the victorious longshot Promiseher America.
Pletcher said Gambling Girl, by Darby Dan Farm resident sire Dialed In, will head to Churchill Downs to make her final preparations for the Oaks.
“She's shipping to Louisville today and we're pointing to the Oaks,” said Pletcher. “She always tries hard and I thought we had dead aim at the winner, but we just couldn't quite get there. It was another good effort from her.”
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