Hoosier Philly | Horse Racing Free Tips

Louisiana Derby Caps Prep Season At Fair Grounds

While the first Saturday in May is still six weeks away, the trail to the GI Kentucky Derby reaches its boiling point in New Orleans Saturday with the conclusion of the Fair Grounds prep series–the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. One of a pair of Derby points races happening within 20 minutes of one another Saturday, the Louisiana Derby offers 100-40-30-20-10 points and all but guarantees the winner a slot in the gate at Churchill Downs May 6.

Currently 10th on the leaderboard–the highest of the runners in the field–Instant Coffee (Bolt d'Oro) took the win in the second local prep race of the season–the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 21–after ending his juvenile campaign with a victory under the Twinspires in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. for trainer Brad Cox.

Cox has swept the Fair Grounds prep races thus far with Jace's Road (Quality Road), winner of the Gun Runner S. Dec. 26. The Louisiana Derby will the his first start since a fifth in the GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Jan. 28.

Making just his second start since being named a 'TDN Rising Star' at Saratoga last fall, Disarm (Gun Runner) makes his stakes debut Saturday off a second against allowance/optional claiming company at Oaklawn Feb. 19.

“He needed that race and he needs this,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “He's a talented horse playing catch up. From where we were at, I only felt we could get two runs in him (before a possible start in the Kentucky Derby), and the mile-and-three-sixteenths distance will move him forward. He's a horse who will stay on nicely but he needs some racing. He has a high talent level and deserves this chance.”

Undefeated in a pair of starts, Spendthrift Farm color-bearer Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) also makes his stakes debut for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Turfway Serves Up 'Well Done' Derby Prep

Bolt d'Oro has another potential leading contender on the trail in Turfway's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. with GIII Kitten's Joy S. heroine Major Dude also flying the Spendthrift Farm colors. Having contested his last four races on the turf, including another graded-stakes win last fall in Belmont's GII Pilgrim S., the colt tries the tapeta for the first time for a chance at the 100-40-30-20-10 points on offer.

An experienced dirt horse, Two Phils (Hard Spun) leaves Fair Grounds for Turfway after contesting the last two preps in New Orleans-coming in second to Instant Coffee in the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 21 and third when last spotted behind Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) in the GII Risen S. Feb. 18.

“At one point the horse did a two-minute lick for me one time over a synthetic surface and it was almost an eye-opening move,” said trainer Larry Rivelli of Two Phil's. “I've been trying to think of the easiest spot for the money and I think this will be the spot. If he absolutely hates the surface, that's on me. I'm sort of putting myself out there saying that I think he will run well over it. Working a half-mile or five-eighths is a lot different than running a race. That's when you find out if a horse doesn't like a surface. I'm pretty confident he will like it but like anything else in racing there could be a chance he doesn't like it. I didn't think he'd like the mud at Churchill (in the Street Sense) until he did.”

One contender who has experience over the surface is Congruent (Tapit), who faded to sixth behind Major Dude in the Kitten's Joy but rebounded with a win over the tapeta in the local prep, the John Battaglia Memorial S.

Art Collector Looks To Stay On Top

The newly-crowned GI Pegasus World Cup winner, Art Collector (Bernardini) looks to keep rolling into New Orleans in the GII New Orleans Classic S.

He'll face another son of the late Darley great in Gary and Mary West's West Will Power, entered off a pair of runner-up efforts in the GI Clark S. and the GII Razorback H.

The field also includes GSW Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile) and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner Rattle N Roll (Connect).

Hoosier Philly Right Back At It

Already sitting in eighth place on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, Tom Amoss's Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) cares more about redemption than points in Saturday's GII Fair Grounds Oaks.

“I still think she's the best horse I have ever had in my barn,” Amoss said after his filly was a well-beaten third last time out in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 18.

She'll be challenged by a formidable pair in the Rachel Alexandra winner, 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), and Silverbulletday S. victor The Alys Look (Connect), who defeated GISP Chop Chop (City of Light).

While all three fillies are in the top 10 in points standings, the Fair Grounds Oaks does award a further 100-40-30-20-10 points towards the GI Kentucky Oaks.

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Amoss Remains High on Hoosier Philly

At odds of 2-5 and so highly regarded that she was the only filly included in Round 4 of the Derby Future Wager, Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) was a well-beaten third in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds Feb. 18. It was the last thing trainer Tom Amoss expected from a filly he had called the best horse he ever trained and who was 3-for-3 going in.

But as Hoosier Philly prepares for a start in the Mar. 25 GII Fair Grounds Oaks, Amoss said everything he has seen tells him that his filly is about to show everyone what all the hype was about.

Has he lost any confidence in the horse? “Zero,” he replied. “I still think she's the best horse I have ever had in my barn.”

Amoss spoke shortly after Hoosier Philly worked five furlongs at the Fair Grounds Thursday morning in 1:00. It was her third work since the Rachel Alexandra.

“I've had her since June of her 2-year-old year,” said Amoss, who confirmed that Edgar Morales has retained the mount. “I know her personality. The way she has trained and the way she has worked out since her last race gives me a lot of confidence going into this next race.”

Yet, he was saying pretty much the same thing before the Rachel Alexandra and he knows that Hoosier Philly did not back up his high expectations. So what happened? Amoss believes that she was compromised by a less than perfect trip.

“You have to be honest with yourself. It was not a good race,” Amoss said. “Then you have to figure out why it was not a good race. What was behind it? Nine times out of 10 when a horse has a bad trip in a race it starts right out of the gate. That's exactly what happened. She left the gate fine. She almost broke a little too hard. Then she stumbled and lost her balance a bit and found herself in a bad spot. The way to race ride, especially when there is a big favorite in the race, is to take advantage of something like that. The riders riding against her very alertly made her trip a very difficult one. The next thing you know she's last. She's eager and wanting to go. The pace wasn't very fast and there's no place for her to go. The pace was not only slow but look at chart of the race. Nobody changed positions except for her. Those things hurt in a race. She found herself in a position she wasn't used to being in.”

At the top of the stretch and very much within striking position, Morales wheeled Hoosier Philly to the outside and she had a clear run. She didn't respond, losing even more ground on the leaders in the stretch, losing by 8 1/2 lengths.

“I thought even after tough trip, turning for home she would show some punch and she did not,” Amoss admitted. “That was a concern.”

It was a major blow not just for those who bet Hoosier Philly in the Rachel Alexandra but for anyone who wagered on her in the Derby Future Wager. She went off at 11-1, third choice behind the “all others” option and Forte (Violence). A total of $16,956 was bet on her. Amoss has ruled out a start in the Derby and wishes she had not been included in the wager in the first place. Along with Julia Shining (Curlin), Hoosier Philly was one of only two fillies nominated to the Triple Crown.

“I'm not the guy who decided to put her in the future pool,” he said. “Nobody ever came to me and said we want to put her in the Derby Future pool, are you good with that? I don't know what determines what goes into that. I can't worry about that. I'm just trying to do right by my horse. I never wanted the public to be led in the wrong direction. Had they asked me, I wouldn't have been comfortable putting her in the Derby Future Pool. I don't think it was fair to have people betting on something that may not occur.”

Hoosier Philly went off at 7-1 in the one round of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which closed last Sunday. Should she win the Fair Grounds Oaks impressively that will look like a bargain. But will she? There are too many unknowns this time for her to be a heavy favorite. Amoss knows that and knows that this is the most important race thus far in her career. Was the Rachel Alexandra for, whatever reason, a race that you can throw out? Or did Hoosier Philly not make the all important transition from two to three? Or maybe she just isn't as good as everyone thought. Every one of those questions should be answered in her next start.

“I'll be nervous when she goes to the gate,” Amoss said. “Leading into the race I'm just trying to concentrate on the things I can control and I think we've done a good job taking care of those things. I would love to think that last race was a one off. There is enough evidence to suggest it will be. This race coming up will determine whether that's true or not. I know that.”

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Champion Wonder Wheel Tops Kentucky Oaks Nominations

D J Stable's Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) is the marquee name among 103 sophomore fillies that were nominated at the first entry stage for the $1.25-million GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, to be run beneath the Twin Spires Friday, May 5, 2023.

The first stage of nominations closed Feb. 18, with a $200 payment. Any 3-year-old filly not among the original entries can become eligible with a fee of $1,500 due no later than Saturday, Apr. 15.

Wonder Wheel was four-for-five during her championship season in 2022, scoring in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. before prevailing by three lengths on Breeders' Cup Friday. The strapping dark bay made her seasonal debut in the Feb. 11 Suncoast S. at Tampa, where she missed by a neck to longshot and fellow Oaks aspirant Dreaming of Snow (Jess's Dream).

Others that figure prominently among the entries include 'TDN Rising Star' Julia Shining (Curlin), the full-sister to champion Malathaat who won last year's GII Demoiselle S. and was third in the Suncoast; Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief), winner of Churchill's GII Golden Rod S. last November; 'Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), upset winner of last weekend's GII Rachel Alexandra S.; recent G3 UAE Oaks victress Mimi Kakushi (City of Light); and the progressive GIII Forward Gal S. winner Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance).

A complete list of the Oaks nominees will be available here in due course.

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The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for Feb. 23

Doesn't anyone want to be No. 1?

At the beginning of the month, the 3-year-old filly picture looked pretty set. There were two big stars in Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) and Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) and then there was everyone else. Surely, one, if not both, would cruise through their preps and enter the GI Kentucky Oaks ready to finish the job. Then Wonder Wheel was defeated in the Suncoast S. as the 1-2 favorite, losing to 38-1 shot Dreaming of Snow (Jess's Dream). And then, a week later, Hoosier Philly threw in a dud, finishing a well-beaten third in the GII Risen Star S. in her 3-year-old debut. She was 2-5.

Within the span of a week, the division went from clear-cut to completely scrambled, with no clear leader. With 10 weeks to go, the Kentucky Oaks is anyone's race.

The GIII Honeybee S. at Oaklawn will be the lone highlight among Oaks preps this weekend. The GIII Santa Ysabel S. was scheduled for Saturday, but will now be run the following week as Santa Anita has canceled its races this weekend due to the forecast of heavy rain.

1) WONDER WHEEL (f, Into Mischief–Wonder Gal, by Tiz Wonderful) O-D. J. Stable LLC. B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC & Clearsky Farm (Ky). T-Mark Casse. Sales history: $275,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly & MGISW, 6-4-2-0, $1,570,725. Last Start: 2nd Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 11. Kentucky Oaks Points: 48.

She lost the top spot to Hoosier Philly after finishing second in the Suncoast, but is back on top because, well, someone has to be No. 1. Certainly, after her loss in the Suncoast, she deserves another chance. One would have expected that with her class she should have gotten by Dreaming of Snow. She had the entire length of the stretch to do so and couldn't get past her. But trainer Mark Casse didn't seem disappointed with the race and has said his filly will move forward off the effort. It's entirely possible and a win in the GI Ashland S. might cement her spot as the top threat for the Oaks. Next Start: GI Ashland S., Kee, Apr. 7.

2) FAIZA (f, Girvin–Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Michael L. Petersen. B-Brereton C. Jones (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $90,000 yrl '21 FTKJUL; $725,000 2yo '22 FTMMAY. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-3-0-0, $342,000. Last Start: Won GIII Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita Jan. 28. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0.

With most of the attention in this division focused on Wonder Wheel and Hoosier Philly, the Southern California contingent has been largely overlooked, which could be a mistake because there's a lot of depth to that group. For now, Faiza looks to be the best of the bunch, a status she can solidify in the Santa Ysabel. Faiza has yet to do anything wrong. A $725,000 purchase at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, she's 3-for-3, won the GI Starlet S. and then beat the likes of Justique (Justify) and Pride of the Nile (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GIII Las Virgenes S. But she's yet to turn in the sort of powerful performance that earns a big speed figure that you would expect from a leading contender for the Kentucky Oaks. Maybe she will in the Santa Ysabel. Next Start: GIII Santa Ysabel S., SA, TBD.

3) HOOSIER PHILLY (f, Into Mischief–Tapella, by Tapit) O-Gold Standard Racing Stable, LLC. B-Candy Meadows, LLC (Ky). T-Thomas Amoss. Sales history: $510,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-1, $462,610. Last Start: 3rd GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 18. Kentucky Oaks Points: 25.

Hoosier Philly | Coady

What happened to Hoosier Philly in the Rachel Alexandra? She looked nothing like the filly who was so impressive in her three starts at two. Trainer Tom Amoss was her biggest fan and proclaimed her to be the best horse he has ever trained. She just didn't have it in the Rachel Alexandra, finishing third, beaten 8 1/2 lengths. Her Beyer figure was a 70, nowhere close to what is needed to win at the Grade I level. “I was very disappointed because we had such high expectations,” Amoss said. “She broke well and then in her third or fourth stride the ground came out underneath her and she stumbled. That was a contributing factor in her effort.” Hoosier Philly returned to the track on Wednesday and Amoss will take his time before figuring out the next step. The GII Fair Grounds Oaks on March 25 looks like a logical spot, but the trainer said he is not ready to commit to any one race. “She came back to the track today and is healthy,” he said. “I anticipate a start with her within the next four or five weeks.” She stays among the top three in this poll only because there's some chance the Rachel Alexandra was an outlier and she will be back to her old self in her next start. Next Start: To Be Determined.

4) LEAVE NO TRACE (f, Outwork–Tanquerray, by Good Journey) O-WellSpring Stables. B-Red Cloak Farm, LLC (Ky). T-Philip Serpe. Sales history: $8,000 yrl '21 FTFFEB; $40,000 yrl '21 FTMOCT. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-2-1-1, $598,650. Last Start: 2nd GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Nov. 4. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15.

When it comes to preparing the GI Spinaway S. winner for her 3-year-old debut in the GII Davona Dale S. on March 4, trainer Phil Serpe continues to take an unconventional route. Concerned about the condition of the main track at Gulfstream after a rainy period, he worked his filly twice on the Tapeta surface. He followed that up with a one-mile work on the dirt at Gulfstream on Feb. 19. Leave No Trace went in 1:47.81. “Those mile works are something I have done with a lot of horses going back to my Monmouth Park days,” Serpe said. “My concern with her was her fitness level. It seems like everybody works fast on the Tapeta course. As I thought about it more I thought we needed to get a good work into her on the dirt after having the last two works on Tapeta, which is why I worked her a mile. The works we do are slow mile works where we don't press on the horse. She did it pretty easily. She's a smart filly. She knows what she is doing out there and is an aggressive horse when she trains. So far so good.” Her biggest attribute is her consistency. While competing in the Spinaway, the GI Frizette S. and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, she's never been worse than third. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 4.

5) RED CARPET READY (f, Oscar Performance–Wild Silk, by Street Sense) O-Ashbrook Farm & Upland Flats Racing; B-Lynn B. Schiff (Ky); T-Rusty Arnold. Sales history: $180,000 ylr '21 FTSAUG; $100,000 RNA 2yo '22 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $265,470. Last Start: Won GIII Forward Gal S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 4. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20.

She's got a lot of ability, but does that mean she's a top Kentucky Oaks contender? It's a tough call. The daughter of Oscar Performance is three for three and is coming off an impressive win in the GIII Forward Gal S. But she's never run beyond seven furlongs or around two turns, so she has to prove that she can stretch out. Her pedigree certainly says that she can. The Davona Dale will be an important test. For Red Carpet Ready, a win there, at a mile, would mean she's very much a top contender for the Oaks. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 4.

6) PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS (f, Into Mischief–Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Godolphin (Ky). T-Brendan P. Walsh. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-4-0-1, $421,310. Last Start: Won GII Rachel Alexandra S. at Fair Grounds Feb. 18. Kentucky Oaks Points: 63.

Pretty Mischievous | Photo by Hodges Photography

She came into the Rachel Alexandra with decent credentials, three wins from four starts and a victory in the Untapable S. But she was totally overshadowed by Hoosier Philly. But she proved she belonged among the top names in the division with a three-quarter length win. The race got an 83 Beyer which, in a year where no one in this division has been posting big numbers, puts her in the mix. She's by Into Mischief, which means three of the top six in this poll are by the super sire. The dam, Pretty City Dancer (Tapit) won the 2016 Spinaway before selling for $3.5 million at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale. Next Start: GI Ashland S., Kee, Apr. 7 or GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 25.

7) JULIA SHINING (f, Curlin–Dreaming of Julia, by A.P. Indy) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Stonestreet Stables LLC. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (Ky). T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-0-1, $204,075. Last Start: 3rd Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 11. Kentucky Oaks Points: 16.

Her big sister, Malathaat (Curlin), was undefeated when she won the 2021 Kentucky Oaks. That's not going to happen with Julia Shining as she suffered her first career defeat when third in the Suncoast S. Even with her fast start, Malathaat kept on improving, winning an Eclipse Award as the champion 3-year-old filly in 2021 and another as the champion older mare last year. Is Julia Shining as good? Probably not. She had no excuse when third in the Suncoast. Her best Beyer figure to date is the 81 she got in the Suncoast. Malathaat got a 95 when winning the Oaks. There's a lot of upside with this filly but she will need to show more in the Ashland in order to look like a top threat for the Oaks. Next Start: GI Ashland S., Kee, Apr. 7.

8) THE ALYS LOOK (f, Connect–Foul Play, by Harlan's Holiday) O-Ike & Dawn Thrash. B-G. Watts Humphrey (Ky). T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $60,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 5-2-1-1, $150,528. Last Start: Won Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds Jan. 21. Kentucky Oaks Points: 24.

Trainer Brad Cox sat out the Rachel Alexandra with this one and will await the Fair Grounds Oaks. “She breezed (on Feb. 19) and is on target for the Fair Grounds Oaks,” Cox said. “We just didn't want to dance all the dances. Wanted to have some horse left for the spring and the rest of the year and we just thought it would be the right time to give her some time between races.” Cox's lineup for the Oaks isn't as deep as his Derby contingent, but he's got a few serious threats and this may be the best of them. She defeated stablemate Chop Chop (City of Light) to win the Silverbulletday S. It's worth noting that Chop Chop was fifth when last seen in the Rachel Alexandra. Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 25.

9) JUSTIQUE (f, Justify–Grazie Mille, by Bernardini) 'TDN Rising Star' O-C R K Stable, LLC. B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock (Ky). T-John A. Shirreffs. Sales history: $725,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP, 4-2-0-2, $156,000. Last Start: 3rd GIII Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita Jan. 28. Kentucky Oaks Points: 9.

The Santa Ysabel should answer every question there is about this filly. It could even be a must-win race for her as she needs to prove that she can win around two turns. That's the question that has been dogging her since she finished third in the Las Virgenes and never seriously threatened. Trainer John Shirreffs says he's confident that distance is not a problem. We'll see. There's nothing wrong with having a stakes quality sprinter in the barn. Next Start: GIII Santa Ysabel S., SA, TBD.

10) PRIDE OF THE NILE (f, Pioneerof the Nile–Inny Minnie, by Hard Spun) O-West Coast Stables, LLC. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (Ky). T-Doug F. O'Neill. Sales history: $140,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISP, 5-2-2-0, $185,800. Last Start: 2nd GIII Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita Jan. 28. Kentucky Oaks Points: 12.

If Faiza is the best 3-year-old filly on the West Coast, then Pride of the Nile is likely the second best. She has turned in a couple of big efforts in her last two starts, but hasn't been able to beat Faiza. She was second, beaten a head, in the Starlet and second again, beaten a half-length, in the Las Virgenes. Can she turn the tables on her rival? That will be answered in the Santa Ysabel. A consistent filly who has finished out of the money only once in her career, the question is whether or not she is good enough. Seeks to give two-time Derby winning trainer Doug O'Neill his first win in the Oaks. Next Start: GIII Santa Ysabel S., SA, TBD.

The post The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for Feb. 23 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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