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The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for April 11

Prep season for the GI Kentucky Oaks is over and we have a pretty good idea of who is going to be in the race and which ones are the horses to beat. With three major preps–the GI Ashland S., the GII Santa Anita Oaks and the GIII Gazelle S.–all run over the weekend, there was plenty of movement in our Top 10. But the very solid Tarifa (Bernardini) maintains the top spot for Brad Cox.

Here's a look at the latest installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top Ten:

Had someone done something spectacular in the GI Ashland S. at Keeneland, 'TDN Rising Star' Tarifa might have been knocked down a peg. It didn't happen that way. Tarifa's stablemate, Impel (Quality Road), who was getting all the hype prior to the Ashland ran third, but does not have enough points to get into the Oaks. There's just no knocks on Tarifa, who is four-for-five lifetime and is riding a three-race winning streak. She faced a tough bunch in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Presented by Fasig-Tipton and prevailed. She's more steady than spectacular, but you know she will show up on Oaks Day for trainer Brad Cox, who will be seeking his third win in this race.

2) LESLIE'S ROSE (f, Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) O-Whisper Hill Farm; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (Ky); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $1,150,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 'TDN Rising Star', GISW, 4-3-0-1, $467,800. Last start: WON GI Ashland S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 115. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3

The Ashland was easily the best Oaks prep run so far this year, so you have to give a lot of credit to the winner, 'TDN Rising Star' Leslie's Rose. She was bought by owner Mandy Pope at Keeneland September for $1.15 million and got her career off to a fast start, with two straight wins, including a 9 1/4-length romp in her debut. But she stubbed her toe when third at odds of 3-10 in the GII Davona Dale S. on a day when she had no excuses. The betting public all but gave up on her in the Ashland, sending her off at 9-1. It now looks like she may fulfill her potential after all. Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the race four times and will tie all-time leaders Woody Stephens and Wayne Lukas with a win.

Still another 'TDN Rising Star,' she sold for just $40,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Fall Yearling Sale. Trainer Kenny McPeek has a knack for finding good horses that didn't cost a lot and this is the latest example. She won her first two races by a combined margin of 17 1/2 lengths before finishing second in the GII Golden Rod S. as an odds-on favorite. But she was back at her best when scoring an easy four-length win in the GII Fantasy S. The Fantasy will be her only prep for the Oaks, but there's little doubt that McPeek willl have her tight enough and ready for the Kentucky Oaks.

4) JUST F Y I (f, Justify–Star Act, by Street Cry {Ire}) O/B-George Krikorian (Ky); T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly, GISW, 4-3-1-0, $1,433,250. Last start: 2nd in GI Ashland S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 90. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3.

All things considered, she didn't run badly in the Ashland, even if it was her first career defeat. Trainer Bill Mott had to play catch-up after she missed a start in the GII Davona Dale S. with a fever. That meant she had to run well in the Ashland to have enough points to make the Oaks. She had a good trip under Junior Alvarado and looked to be within striking distance at the top of the stretch, but couldn't deliver the knockout punch. Every reason to believe she will run better in the Oaks.

5) POWER SQUEEZE (f, Union Rags–Callmethesqueeze, by Awesome Again) O-Lea Farms, LLC; B-Forging Oaks Farm, LLC (Ky); T-Jorge Delgado. Sales history: $50,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-4-1-0, $337,450. Last start: WON GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, Mar. 30. Kentucky Oaks Points: 120. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3.

She flew in under the radar when winning the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks at odds of 11-1. It was her fourth straight win and her third straight in stakes company for high-percentage trainer Jorge Delgado. She originally sold for $50,000 at Keeneland September and then for $90,000 at OBS June. Has seemed to get better as the distances have gotten longer and is 2-for-2 around two turns.

6) WHERE'S MY RING (f, Twirling Candy–Mapit, by Tapit) O-Michael McMillan; B-Don Alberto Corporation (Ky); T-Val Brinkerhoff. Sales history: $100,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 8-1-3-1, $202,620. Last start: WON GIII Gazelle S., Apr. 6. Kentucky Oaks Points: 125. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3.

You have to give trainer Val Brinkerhoff a lot of credit. He could have stayed on the West Coast with this filly, but that would mean facing off against the Baffert monsters in the GII Santa Anita Oaks. So he shipped her across the country to run in the Gazelle at Aqueduct, where the competition would be lacking. In fact, Where's My Ring was a maiden after seven starts coming into the race, but still went off as the 5-2 favorite. The win was more than good enough to get her into the Oaks, but the competition will much tougher than what she faced last Saturday at the Big A.

7) WAYS AND MEANS (f, Practical Joke–Strong Incentive, Warrior's Reward) O/B-Klaravich Stables (Ky); T-Chad Brown. Lifetime Record: GISP, 'TDN Rising Star,' 3-1-2-0, $165,750. Last start: 2nd Mar. 30 GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3.

Is currently 16th on the leader board when it comes to her getting into the Oaks, so trainer Chad Brown is going to have to hope for some defections. But if she gets in, she can absolutely win. After romping by 12 3/4 lengths in her debut, she was second in the GI Spinaway S., but came out of that race with a chip in an ankle. That's why she didn't make her 3-year-old debut until the Mar. 30 GIIGulfstream Park Oaks. She had a tough trip that day, but managed to run second. Every reason to believe she will be better next time out, whether that's in the Oaks or not.

8) OUR PRETTY WOMAN (f, Medaglia d'Oro–Dazzletown, by Speightstown) O-Courtlandt Farms; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC & Godolphin; T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $900,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSP, 3-2-1-0, $150,200. Last start: 2nd Mar. 23 GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 3.

She's 17th on the points list, so is another one who is going to need a break to make it into the Oaks starting gate. Trained by Steve Asmussen, this $900,000 Keeneland yearling purchase won her first two starts and then faced the acid test when meeting Tarifa in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She ran a huge race that day, finishing second, losing by just three-quarters of a length. She's lightly raced and didn't make her debut until Jan. 18 of this year. So there's plenty of room for improvement.

9) WEST OMAHA (f, West Coast–Birthday Bash, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Gary and Mary West (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP, 6-2-3-1, $369,250. Last Start: 2nd GII Fantasy S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 90. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3.

After she won the Silverbulletday S. Presented by Fasig-Tipton, she looked like she'd be a major player in this division for Brad Cox. Instead, she ran third in the GIII Honeybee S. and second in the Fantasy S. It looks like the rest of the division has caught up to her and passed her. Will need to improve to contend in the Oaks.

10) LEMON MUFFIN (f, Collected–Pelt, by Canadian Frontier) O-Aaron Sones & Julie Gilbert; B-Mr & Mrs Theodore Kuster & Collected Syndicate (Ky); T-D W Lukas. Sales history: $20,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $140,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 7-1-4-0, $324,000. Last Start: 7th GII Fantasy S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3.

Sometimes the Wayne Lukas-trained horses run their best when it is least expected. Lemon Muffin was terrible in the Fantasy, losing by 10 3/4 lengths. She was a different horse in her prior start when winning the Honeybee by 3 1/2 lengths at odds of 28-1. She was still a maiden at the time and had never gone beyond seven furlongs. But instead of that race vaulting her forward, it seemed to have caused her to take a step in the wrong direction. Will be a big longshot in the Oaks, but you can never throw the cagey Lukas out.

The post The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for April 11 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for April 4

It's come down to the last few preps. An outstanding field will meet Friday at Keeneland in the GI Ashland S. Four horses on our Top 10 list will take part in that race. At Aqueduct, they'll be vying for a spot in the field for the GI Kentucky Oaks in the GIII Gazelle S. At Santa Anita, fillies will contest the GII Santa Anita Oaks, but the horse expected to be he heavy favorite, Kinza (Carpe Diem), is trained by Bob Baffert and is therefore ineligible to run in the Oaks. By Saturday evening, we should know who will be running in the Oaks and who the favorites will be.

Here's a look at the latest installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top Ten:

1) TARIFA (f, Bernardini–Kite Beach, by Awesome Again) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: 'TDN Rising Star', MGSW, 5-4-0-0, $518,925. Last start: WON Mar. 23 GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 150. Next Start:
GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 4.
If the Oaks were run today, Tarifa would be the favorite. She emerged this year for trainer Brad Cox and has won three straight races, including the GII Fair Grounds Oaks, Presented by Fasig-Tipton and the GII Rachel Alexandra S., Presented by Fasig-Tipton. She is good, seems to be getting better and no one is better with 3-year-old fillies than her trainer, Brad Cox. The only way she won't be the favorite is if stablemate Impel (Quality Road) puts on a show in the Ashland on Friday at Keeneland.
Tarifa's top Beyer, the 95 that she earned in the Fair Grounds Oaks is the best this year among all 3-year-old fillies.

2) IMPEL (f, Quality Road–Your Love, by Flatter) O/B-Juddmonte (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: 'TDN Rising Star' 2-2-0-0, $115,200. Last Start: WON Oaklawn AOC, Mar. 3. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GI Ashland S., KEE, April 5.
If Tarifa loses in the Oaks, it may only be because stablemate Impel is faster. She looked nothing less than sensational when winning a Mar. 3 allowance at Oaklawn by 8 1/2 lengths. She got a 91 Beyer that day. A Juddmonte homebred, she faces the acid test in the Ashland, which will be her stakes debut. She's the 2-1 morning-line favorite. But with just two starts under her belt, does she have enough seasoning? Is she ready to be tested by some of the best in the division? Those questions should be answered Friday and a win by Impel may make her the horse to beat on the first Friday in May.

3) THORPEDO ANNA (f, Fast Anna–Sataves, by Uncle Mo) O-Brookdale Racing, Inc., Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks & Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek); B-Judy Hicks (Ky); T-Kenneth McPeek. Sales history: $40,000 yrl '22 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-1-0, $584,363. Last Start: WON GII Fantasy S., Mar. 30. Kentucky Oaks Points: 105. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3.
This 'TDN Rising Star' cracks the list for the first time this year and lands on the No. 3 spot after her impressive win in the GII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn. A bargain buy at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling sale for $40,000, her breakthrough race was a Nov. 10 allowance at Churchill which she won by nine lengths, earning an 87 Beyer. She faltered a bit in her next start when finishing second in the GII Golden Rod S. as the odds-on favorite. But she roared back with the authoritative win in the Fantasy in what was her first start this year. Trainer Kenny McPeek has had a lot of success with yearling purchases in the neighborhood of $40,000. It looks like he has done it again.

4) JUST F Y I (f, Justify–Star Act, by Street Cry {Ire}) O/B-George Krikorian (Ky); T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo filly, GISW, 3-3-0-0, $1,317,750. Last start: WON Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. Next Start: GI Ashland S., KEE, April 5.
The champ is back. After being scratched from the GII Davona Dale S. because of a fever, she has been re-routed to the Ashland. With her coming off a five-month layoff and with the Oaks being the main goal, how ready will trainer Bill Mott have her? But the main question that remains is this: is she fast enough? Despite a 3-for-3 record last year, an Eclipse Award and a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, her Beyer numbers suggest she's not quite as good as she looks on paper. She needs to step up her game, but there's no reason she can't do just that.

5) JODY'S PRIDE (f, American Pharoah–Jody's Song, by Scat Daddy) O-Parkland Tbreds & Sportsmen Stable; B-Mr. Steve Weston (Ky); T-J Abreu. Lifetime Record: MSW & GISP, 4-3-1-0, $590,250. Last start: WON Mar. 2 Busher S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 65. Next Start: GI Ashland S., KEE, April 5.
She's a little like Just F Y I. She doesn't run particularly fast, but she just keeps on winning. After finishing second and losing by just a neck to Just F Y I in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, she returned with an easy win over outclassed rivals in the Busher Invitational S. at Aqueduct. Her connections were going to keep her in New York for the Gazelle, but changed their minds and have wound up instead in the Ashland. To show how tough the Ashland is, she is 8-1 on the morning line. She would have been an odds-on favorite in the Gazelle, so it's a bit puzzling that the connections wound up going to Keeneland instead of staying in New York.

6) POWER SQUEEZE (f, Union Rags–Callmethesqueeze, by Awesome Again) O-Lea Farms, LLC; B-Forging Oaks Farm, LLC (Ky); T-Jorge Delgado. Sales history: $50,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-4-1-0, $337,450. Last start: WON GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, Mar. 2. Kentucky Oaks Points: 120. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3.
She came into the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks riding a three-race winning streak, which included a pair of stakes races. But she was totally overlooked Saturday at Gulfstream, going off at 11-1. She beat the 1-2 favorite and much hyped Ways and Means (Practical Joke), winning by a neck. She was ridden in the Gulfstream Park Oaks by Daniel Centeno. It will be interesting to see if the journeyman keeps the mount. After sprinting earlier in her career, she is 3-for-3 around two turns. Don't go to sleep on this one.

7) KOPION (f, Omaha Beach–Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop) O-Spendthrift Farm; B-Tall Oaks Farm (Ky); T-Richard Mandella. Sales history: $270,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $116,600. Last start: 2nd Feb. 10 GIII Las Virgenes S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, April 6.
May be the only California-based filly to make it to the Kentucky Oaks. She goes Saturday in the GII Santa Anita Oaks and will once again face her nemesis, Kinza. If the race runs to form, Kinza will win and Kopion will be second. That would give Kopion enough points to make it into the field for the Oaks, where she could be in the neighborhood of 15-1. Then again, if Kinza is as good as some people think, doesn't Kopion deserve a lot of credit for finishing second behind her?

8) WAYS AND MEANS (f, Practical Joke–Strong Incentive, Warrior's Reward) O/B-Klaravich Stables (Ky); T-Chad Brown. Lifetime Record: GISP, 'TDN Rising Star,' 3-1-2-0, $165,750. Last start: 2nd Mar. 30 GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, May 3.
She romped in her maiden debut at Saratoga and then finished second in the GI Spinaway S., despite the fact she took a chip off her right ankle and was lame afterward. That meant a long trip to the sidelines before she launched her comeback in the Gulfstream Park Oaks where she did everything right but win. She was steadied going into the first turn, raced wide throughout and then made what appeared to be a winning move in the stretch. She just ran out of gas in the final sixteenth, which is perfectly understandable. Trainer Chad Brown is eyeing the Oaks, but says he's worried his filly won't have enough points to make it into the field of 14.

9) OUR PRETTY WOMAN (f, Medaglia d'Oro–Dazzletown, by Speightstown) O-Courtlandt Farms; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC and Godolphin; T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $900,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSP, 3-2-1-0, $150,200. Last start: 2nd Mar. 23 GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Kentucky Oaks Points: 50. Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, May 3.
A $900,000 yearling buy, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro gave divisional leader Tarifa all she could handle in the Fair Grounds Oaks. She battled every step of the way before finishing second by three-quarters of a length. It was only her third start and first in a stakes, so she has plenty of room for improvement. She's quick from the gate and may be the one setting the pace in the Oaks. If she gets a good trip, there's no reason why she can't win.

10) LESLIE'S ROSE (f, Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) O-Whisper Hill Farm; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (Ky); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $1,150,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 'TDN Rising Star', GSP, 3-2-0-1, $89,950. Last start: 3rd Mar. 2 GII Davona Dale S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: GI Ashland S., KEE, April 5.
A $1.15-million purchase at Keeneland September by Into Mischief, she is 2-for-3 lifetime. This Todd Pletcher trainee has the potential to be a very good horse. She just needs to prove it in stakes company. At odds of 3-10, she was third in the Davona Dale in her stakes debut and was beaten 2 1/4 lengths. It wasn't a terrible effort, but she was somewhat of a disappointment. She must run well in the Ashland and pick up some points in order to earn a spot in the Oaks field.

The post The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for April 4 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Reid Trio Target Wood Day Stakes

Trainer Butch Reid, Jr. has three sophomores aiming for stakes on Aqueduct's Apr. 6 Wood Memorial card. Michael Milam's Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion), aiming for the GII Wood Memorial, worked five furlongs in 1:02.09 (3/15) Saturday at Parx. It was the colt's first official work since winning the Feb. 3 GIII Withers S.

“The work went very well, we couldn't be any happier. He did it well and came out of it great this morning, ate up everything last night,” said Reid. “We had a horse in front of him to chase after and he went after him.”

Due to a now-lifted Equine Herpesvirus quarantine at Belmont Park, Uncle Heavy shipped to a farm in Pennsylvania following the Withers and returned to Reid's Parx base Feb. 25.

“The time off, believe it or not, actually did him a bit of good. He put his weight back on,” said Reid. “He's big and fat and healthy now, so we are very happy with the way he is going.”

Cash is King and LC Racing's Carmelina (Maximus Mischief), a last-out runner-up in the Mar. 2 Busher S., is expected to line up in the GIII Gazelle S.

“I think a mile and an eighth is the edge of how far she wants to go, but we will see how it comes up and she definitely could get involved,” Reid said. “Speed can be dangerous at a mile and an eighth, too.”

Reid, LC Racing and Cash is King's Maximus Meridius (Maximus Mischief), who earned 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points with his fourth-place effort in the one-mile GIII Gotham S., will ditch the Derby trail in pursuit of the seven-furlong Bay Shore S.

“We like a little bit of a turn back. He had to go from the one-hole last time and used a little bit out of the gate to not get swallowed up,” said Reid. “Right now, it doesn't look like he is going to be a Classic horse, so this race should be a nice turn back, to keep him going shorter.”

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NYRA Announces Spring Stakes Schedule

The stakes schedule for the 2023 spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, featuring 14 stakes worth nearly $2.8 million in total purses, was released Friday, Dec. 16

The 19-day spring meet will open Mar. 30 and continue through Apr. 30. Live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday except for Apr. 9, when live racing and pari-mutuel wagering is prohibited by New York State in observance of Easter Sunday.

The $150,000 GIII Distaff H., a seven-furlong contest for older fillies and mares, will kick off the spring meet graded stakes action Friday, Apr. 7 and a blockbuster Wood Memorial Day card Apr. 8 will feature four graded stakes, topped by the 98th running of the $750,000 GII Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino. The nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds will offer 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

Wood Memorial Day will also raise the curtain on Grade I racing on the NYRA circuit in 2023 with the $300,000 GI Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses as well as include the $250,000 GIII Gazelle S. at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies offering 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

For the complete Aqueduct spring meet stakes schedule, visit the NYRA website.

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