The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 – Feb. 2

With the runnings of the GIII Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita and the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn, there's now a bit more clarity to the division, particularly in California where Las Virgenes winner Faiza (Girvin) look like she is the best of that group. The Martha Washington was won by the Brad Cox-trained Wet Paint (Blame), but she didn't beat a stellar group and will have to wait for another day to make this list. This will be a quiet weekend for the 3-year-old fillies. Gulfstream does offer the GIII Forward Gal S., but it is a seven-furlong race and most of the entrants look to be sprinters.

 

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: MGISW, 5-4-1-0, $1,550,725. Last Start: Won GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Nov. 4. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. Next Start: Suncoast S., Tam, Feb. 11

The Eclipse Award-winning filly continues to progress while training at Mark Casse's training center. She worked five furlongs in 59 last week and is gearing up for what will be her 3-year-old debut in the Feb. 11 Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs. “After an easy breeze last week, Wonder Wheel is on course to run in the Suncoast Stakes.,” said DJ Stable General Manager Jon Green. “She may be a tad light from a fitness standpoint, but we prefer two-turn options over the other possible preps. Tyler Gaffalione will have the mount in the Suncoast.” The Suncoast will not be an easy spot as the race is also expected to include GII Demoiselle S. winner Julia Shining (Curlin), so it will be a good test for the champion. Wonder Wheel's Eclipse Award was the second in the juvenile fillies category for DJ Stable, which also won the award in 2018 with Jaywalk (Cross Traffic).

 

2) 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, 3-3-0-0, $432,610. Last Start: Won GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 26. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10
Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S., FG, Feb. 18

Hoosier Philly had her first published workout of the year last Saturday, breezing four furlongs in 47.40 at the Fair Grounds. “When she worked this past weekend I saw the same horse that I have been seeing since she first came to the track, which is good,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “I am really pleased that she is enthusiastic about her training. I like her development physically, as well.” The Into Mischief filly remains on target for the Feb. 18 Rachel Alexandra at the Fair Grounds. Should she win that day Amoss will need to make a decision about her future plans, which, he has said all along, could include a start in the GI Kentucky Derby. “We're running in the Rachel Alexandra and will see how she does,” Amoss said in regards to the Derby question. “I can't comment beyond that. I haven't thought that much about it.” A very exciting prospect who could ultimately land in the top spot in this poll, her 3-year-old debut will be a must-see event.

 

3) 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 KEESEP; $725,000 2yo '22 FTMMAY. Lifetime Record: GISW, 2-2-0-0, $222,000. Last Start: Won the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: To Be Determined.

With her win in the Las Virgenes, Faiza became the clear leader of the 3-year-old filly division in California. A member of the loaded Bob Baffert stable, she's done nothing wrong. A $725,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic 2-Year-Olds Sale, she's now 3-for-3 and her record includes a victory in the GI Starlet S. But while she's getting the job done, she's not blowing anyone away. She won the Starlet by a head and the Las Virgenes by a half-length, each time beating Pride of the Nile. Also, she hasn't been running particularly fast as her 77 Beyer in the Las Virgenes equaled her career best. Then again, she's undefeated, a Grade I winner, cost $725,000 at the sales and is trained by Bob Baffert, all of which makes her a formidable member of this division. Was ridden by Ramon Vazquez in the Las Virgenes, after Flavien Prat was the pilot in her two prior starts.

 
4) ICE DANCING (f, Frosted–Welcome Dance, by Henny Hughes) O-Perry R Bass, II & Ramona Bass. B-Bass Stables, LLC (Ky). T-Richard Mandella. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 5-2-0-2, $219,600. Last Start: Won GIII Santa Ynez S. at Santa Anita Jan. 8. Kentucky Oaks Points: 12. Next Start: To Be Determined

Ice Dancing | Benoit Photo

After winning the GIII Santa Ynez S. on Jan. 8, she sat out the Las Virgenes because trainer Richard Mandella wanted to space her races apart. Still, she's been busy in the mornings, having had two four furlong works since her last race. She's been a completely new horse after finishing fourth, beaten six lengths, in the GII Chandelier S. in October. Mandella regrouped and put her in a maiden race, which she won by a length. Next up was a convincing 3 1/4 length win in the Santa Ynez. If she doesn't progress from here, her connections can always try her on the turf. She is out of Welcome Dance (Henny Hughes), a two-time stakes winner on the grass who started just once on the dirt.

 

5) MUNNYS GOLD (f, Munnings–Haraawa, by Medaglia D'Oro) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Robert E. and Lawana L. Low; B-Nicksar Farms; T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $300,000 ylr '21 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. Last Start: Won an Allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 4 or Any Limit S., GP, Mar. 18

After turning in an eye-catching performance in June at Monmouth, where she won by 14 ½ lengths and earned a 101 Beyer figure, Munnys Gold disappeared, only to return last week at Gulfstream in a six-furlong allowance race for Florida-breds. Sent off at 1-20, she won by 6 1/4 lengths and this time got an 88 Beyer. We know she's fast, but is she a two-turn horse, an Oaks candidate? Trainer Todd Pletcher is waiting to find out. “She's a bit headstrong so she'll have to convince me that she wants to stretch out,” Pletcher said. The GII Davona Dale S. at a mile on March 4 is a possibility, but so is the six-furlong Any Limit S. On March 18. If Pletcher chooses the shorter race that would be a pretty good sign that he doesn't think this one is Oaks material.

 
6) 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 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Nov. 4.Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 4.

Gearing up for the Davona Dale S., Leave No Trace has had three published workouts this year for trainer Phil Serpe. The GII Gulfstream Parks Oaks will be next and then, if she continues to progress, a run in the Kentucky Oaks. She's come quite a long way after being purchased out of the Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic 2-Year-Olds Sale for just $40,000. Before that, she sold for $8,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February Mixed Sale. After winning the GI Spinaway S., she finished second in the GI Frizette S. and then second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Leave No Trace was the first graded stakes winner for sire Outwork. She was the first Grade I winner for trainer Phil Serpe since Birdonthewire (Proud Birdie) won the 1994 Vosburgh S.

 

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, 2-2-0-0, $194,075. Last Start: Won the GII Demoiselle S. at Aqueduct Dec. 3. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10
Next Start: Suncoast S., Tam, Feb. 11

Curlin has been on quite a run, one that includes being the sire of three of 2022's Eclipse Awards winners. In Julia Shining, he has another horse with a world of potential. A full-sister to Eclipse Award winner Malathaat (Curlin), she's 2-for-2 and coming off a win in the GII Demoiselle S. It's hard to know what to make of that race. She won by just a neck and, as the 55-100 favorite, didn't exactly square off against stellar competition. But with her pedigree and her late-running style, she has looked like a horse who will only get better at three. How good is she? We'll find out soon as she is scheduled to take on champion Wonder Wheel in the Feb. 11 Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

 
8) THE ALYS LOOK (f, Connect–Foul Play, by Harlan's Holiday) O-Ike and 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 the Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds Jan. 21. Kentucky Oaks Points: 24. Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 25

The Alys Look | Hodges Photography / Jamie Newell

Brad Cox has several Oaks candidates, though none that, at least so far, are regarded as among the best in the division. The Alys Look fits that bill. Just a $60,000 yearling buy, she outran stablemate and beaten Juvenile Fillies favorite Chop Chop (City of Light) to win her 3-year-old debut in the Silverbulletday S. at the Fair Grounds. She will no doubt need to improve in order to be able to knock off the best of her division, but one of Cox's strengths is his ability to get horses to peak at the most opportune time.

 

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 & GSP, 3-2-0-1, $132,000. Last Start: 3rd in the GIII Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita Jan. 28. Kentucky Oaks Points: 9. Next Start: To Be Determined.

The John Shirreffs-trained filly has run four times and has looked sensational twice and rather ordinary twice. The latest disappointment came in the Las Virgenes where she was a third-place finisher and lost by three lengths. The other sub-par effort came in the Chandelier, where she was a non-threatening third. The connection is that both those races were around two turns where her better starts came around one turn. So is she just a one-turn horse? Maybe. Yet that doesn't make a lot of sense. By Justify out of a Bernardini mare, she's bred to go long and her late-kick closing style also suggest a horse who should like a distance. She missed a scheduled start in the Santa Ynez when sick, so maybe she needed the start in the Las Virgenes. But she still has to prove that she can get a distance. The jury remains out.

10) OCCULT (f, Into Mischief–Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker) O-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC. B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (Ky). T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $625,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $107,450. Last Start: Won the Busanda S. at Aqueduct Jan. 14. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: To Be Determined

Looks like the best of the bunch when it comes to 3-year-old fillies training in New York. After breaking her maiden in her second career start, she was a handy winner of the Jan. 14 Busanda S. at Aqueduct for trainer Chad Brown. Brown is shopping for a spot for her next start. Don't get caught up on the fact that she's a New York winter horse. She's obviously got some quality and Brown has used the New York route in the past with a number of good horses.

The post The Kentucky Oaks Top 10 – Feb. 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10

It's early in the season, but not too early to get excited about the group eyeing the GI Kentucky Oaks. In Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) you have a standout 2-year-old and a deserving Eclipse champion. Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) has so impressed trainer Tom Amoss that he said the GI Kentucky Derby is under consideration. Justique (Justify) has been ultra-impressive at times. They're the Top 3, but numbers four through 10 make up a group filled with potential.

At least two prominent members of the division will not make it to the Oaks. Trainer Todd Pletcher reports that GI Frizette S. winner Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) is behind schedule and will need some more time before returning to the races. Raging Sea (Curlin), who finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, has yet return to training and is not currently on target for the Oaks, reports trainer Chad Brown.

 

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: MGISW, 5-4-1-0, $1,550,725. Last Start: Won GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Nov. 4. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. Next Start: Suncoast S., Tam, Feb. 11

Even though she won the GI Alcibiades S., Wonder Wheel was a bit overlooked when sent off at 6-1 in the Juvenile Fillies. Winning by three lengths that day, she proved she was the best of her division and a worthy 2-year-old filly champion. Everyone is jumping on the Hoosier Philly bandwagon, and with good reason, but based on what she accomplished at two, Wonder Wheel deserves to be considered, at least at this point, the No. 1 contender for the Oaks. This is a good horse with no apparent flaws. She has been training at Mark Casse's facility in Ocala and has, through Tuesday, had works of three furlongs and four furlongs. DJ Stable General Manager Jon Green reports that the filly will have one more work before it is decided where she will make her 3-year-old debut, but said the Feb. 11 Suncoast S. at Tampa is the most likely spot. That could set her up for a run in the GI Ashland S.

 

2) 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, 3-3-0-0, $432,610. Last Start: Won GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 26. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S, FG, Feb. 18

Trainer Tom Amoss believes that Hoosier Philly is a once-in-a-lifetime horse. “If she stays healthy, she is going to wow the world,” he said. Amoss, who won the 2019 Kentucky Oaks with Serengeti Empress (Alternation), has also called her the best horse he has ever trained. He's even contemplating running her in the Kentucky Derby. That the trainer has talked in such glowing terms about the filly has definitely made her stock rise and has led to many rating her as the best of her group. It's easy to see what Amoss likes about Hoosier Philly. She's 3-for-3 and absolutely demolished the competition in the Rags to Riches S. and the GII Golden Rod S., both at Churchill Downs. So far as her road to the Oaks goes, here's what Amoss had to say: “She is back at the track and training daily. We are tentatively pointing towards the Rachel Alexandra, but we are not married to that spot.” A very exciting filly.

 

3) 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 & GSP, 3-2-0-1, $132,000. Last Start: Won Desi Arnaz S. at Del Mar Nov. 19. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GIII Las Virgenes S., SA, Jan. 28

Justique | Benoit

She has to prove a lot, lot, lot more before she can be compared to Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), but she definitely has a few things in common with the 2010 Horse of the Year, starting with the fact that both come from the John Shirreffs barn. Then there's her running style. She sits far back early and then closes with an eye-catching and explosive late kick, just like the great Zenyatta. She was scratched from the GIII Santa Ynez S. earlier this month with a temperature, but looks ready for this Saturday's GIII Las Virgenes S. Her three-race career has not exactly been perfect. Though everything about her suggests she will thrive around two turns, her worst race came in the GII Chandelier S. The only time she went a distance, she was a non-threatening third in the mile-and-a-sixteenth race and got a Beyer figure of just 66. That race is likely an outlier, but it also means she has some questions to answer.

 

4) ICE DANCING (f, Frosted–Welcome Dance, by Henny Hughes) O-Perry R Bass, II & Ramona Bass. B-Bass Stables, LLC (Ky). T-Richard Mandella. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 5-2-0-2, $219,600. Last Start: Won GIII Santa Ynez S. at Santa Anita Jan. 8. Kentucky Oaks Points: 12. Next Start: To Be Determined

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella showed early on how much confidence he had in this filly, running her as a maiden in the GI Del Mar Debutante and the Chandelier S. She was third in the Del Mar race and fourth in the Chandelier. After that race, Mandella went back to square one and found a maiden race for her. Since then, everything has gone right. She broke her maiden on Nov. 25 and then romped in the GIII Santa Ynez S. on Jan. 8. Mandella is never one to rush a horse and it's a safe bet that we have yet to see this filly's best. She will not run Saturday in the Las Virgenes S. “We're not going to run her this weekend,” Mandella said. It's too quick back. I don't have a plan yet. There is the Santa Ysabel Stakes here, but I might look around.” Could emerge as the clear leader of the Southern California division.

 

5) 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 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Nov. 4. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 4

A $40,000 purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale, she's been an overachiever ever since bought that day by owner Dr. Robert Vukovich. Trainer Phil Serpe doesn't get many opportunities with Grade I level horses, but he's pushed all the right buttons with this filly, winning the GI Spinaway S. before finishing third in the Frizette and second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Wonder Wheel beat her by three lengths in the Juvenile Fillies, so she may need to improve this year, but there's no reason why that can't happen. Blue-collar or not, she shows up every time. She has breezed twice after being given a break over the winter, the most recent work a four-furlong move in 49.31 at Gulfstream.

 

6) 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, 2-2-0-0, $194,075. Last Start: Won the GII Demoiselle S. at Aqueduct Dec. 3. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. Next Start: Suncoast S., Tam, Feb. 11

Julia Shining | Sarah Andrew

Give Todd Pletcher a filly by Curlin and good things happen. Pletcher finished second in last year's Oaks with Nest (Curlin) and won the 2021 Oaks with Malathaat (Curlin); the latter won an Eclipse Award. The latest to come around is Julia Shining, a full sister to Malathaat. She turned a lot of heads when winning her debut at Keeneland. She was climbing early in the race, but exploded once she leveled off. Next out, she won the GII Demoiselle, the same race won by Nest and Malathaat. There's a lot to like, but she needs to prove more before ascending on this list. As the 1-2 favorite, she won the Demoiselle by just a neck and had to work hard to do so and her best Beyer figure is a 71, which she produced in her debut. Looks like she'll face Wonder Wheel in the Suncoast, a $150,000 ungraded race that has attracted two of the best fillies in the division.

 

7) 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 KEESEP; $725,000 2yo '22 FTMMAY. Lifetime Record: GISW, 2-2-0-0, $222,000. Last Start: Won the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GIII Las Virgenes S., SA, Jan. 28

Considering how high the bar is set, Bob Baffert is relatively light when it comes to 3-year-old fillies. For now, it looks like Faiza is his best hope. A $725,000 purchase from the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-

Year-Olds in Training Sale, she looked every bit worthy of that price tag when breaking her maiden by 3 1/2 lengths at Del Mar in November. Baffert wheeled her back in the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos and got a win, but she had to work awfully hard to get the job done. She won a stretch battle with the 12-1 shot Pride of the Nile (Pioneer ofthe Nile). It's dangerous to underestimate any horse in the Baffert stable, but this is another one who needs to show more before being considered among the top threats for the Oaks.

 

8) THE ALYS LOOK (f, Connect–Foul Play, by Harlan's Holiday) O-Ike and 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 the Silverbulletday S. at Fair Grounds Jan. 21. Kentucky Oaks Points: 24. Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 25

While Brad Cox doesn't have nearly the depth in this division that he does with his 3-year-old colts, he's got some interesting prospects, among them The Alys Look. Just a $60,000 yearling purchase, the filly kicked off her 3-year-old campaign last Saturday with a one-length win over stablemate Chop Chop (City of Light) in the Silverbulletday S. presented by Fasig-Tipton. It wasn't the best field, but she looked good in the victory and might be on the improve. She has been a much different horses since Cox took the blinkers off after her second career start, where she was beaten 15 3/4 lengths in a maiden at Churchill.

 

9) OCCULT (f, Into Mischief–Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker) O-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC. B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (Ky). T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $625,000 yrl '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $107,450. Last Start: Won the Busanda S. at Aqueduct Jan. 14. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: To Be Determined

Occult won in her stakes debut when capturing the Jan.14 Busanda S. at Aqueduct. But if she is that good, why isn't she with Chad Brown's first string in Florida? The answer is that Brown has no problem developing good horses in New York during the winter months. His Kentucky Oaks runner-up Search Results (Flatter), as well as his two winners of the GI Preakness S., Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music) and Early Voting (Gun Runner), all used the Big A road to the Oaks and Derby. A $625,000 yearling buy by Into Mischief whose in the hands of Chad Brown and is now a stakes winner, Occult checks a lot of boxes. Brown said he's not sure where Occult will run next and that he will look for a race in early March for her.

 

10) CHOP CHOP (f, City of Light–Grand Sophia, by Giant's Causeway) Selective, LLC. B-Cobra Farm & MRJ Thoroughbreds, LLC (Ky). T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $230,000 yrl '21 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: GISP, 5-2-0-0, $455,450. Last Start: 2nd in the Busanda S. at Aqueduct Jan. 14. Kentucky Oaks Points: 12. Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S, FG, Feb. 18

Was simply second best behind stablemate The Alys Look in the Silverbulletday S. presented by Fasig-Tipton as the 4-5 favorite. So her 3-year-old campaign did not get off to the best of starts. But she still ran well enough for her to be considered at least a mid-level threat for the Kentucky Oaks. This remains the filly that lost to divisional leader Wonder Wheel by just a nose in the GI Alcibiades S. and went off as the 2-1 favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, where she finished 13th.

 

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

Source of original post

Ice Dancing Skates Clear Late To Take Santa Ynez

Finally out from under And Tell Me Nolies's (Arrogate) shadow, ICE DANCING (Frosted) broke through for her first graded-stakes win in two prior tries and earned 10 points on the road to the Kentucky Oaks with a 3 1/4-length closing performance in the rescheduled GIII Santa Ynez S. Third behind the daughter of Arrogate when debuted at Del Mar Aug. 14, she rebounded with another third second-time out in the GI TVG Del Mar Debutante S. but had to settle for fourth in her first try at the Great Race Place in the GII Chandelier S. Brought back to Del Mar Nov. 25, Ice Dancing led gate-to-wire to break her maiden in maiden special weight company before returning to Arcadia, CA for the Santa Ynez.

The 1-2 post-time favorite given the Friday scratch of 'TDN Rising Star' Justique (Justify), Ice Dancing, breaking widest of the field, took back to let a trio of horses from the Bob Baffert barn go by on her inside. Paced up the backstretch run by a dueling Parody (Distorted Humor) and Fast and Shiny (Bernardini), the grey sat two and then three wide up the backstretch run. Fast and Shiny, already on the lead, kicked on into the far turn, gaining separation from Parody as the remaining quartet grouped up behind her. Ice Dancing, still three wide, loomed from last and came with a sweeping move to engage the pacesetter past the quarter pole. The top pair turned for home together but Ice Dancing had more to give and overtook her rival with a furlong to run. Satin Doll, the longest shot on the board at 12-1, ran up the rail to pass Parody for second but Ice Dancing was already home.

“She jumped well out of there and it felt like the pace was really strong, so I kind of kept myself off of the pace a little bit and it felt like she was traveling well,” said winning jockey Favien Prat, who was aboard for the maiden win at Del Mar.  “She responded well when I asked her to make her move.”

“She's a big, strong filly, so the GIII Las Virgenes is a big possibility,” said trainer Richard Mandella when asked about her next engagement.  “More than likely…We'll have a look.”

Pedigree Note:
With Sunday's victory, Ice Dancing becomes the fifth graded winner for her sire, MGISW Frosted. A half-sister to MGSP Fredericksburg (Speightstown), SW Dancing To Town (Speightstown) and GSP Goliad (War Front), dual stakes winning Welcome Dance failed to produce a live foal in the last two seasons.

Sunday, Santa Anita
SANTA YNEZ S.-GIII, $200,000, Santa Anita, 1-8, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:22.78, ft.
1–ICE DANCING, 120, f, 3, by Frosted
              1st Dam: Welcome Dance (MSW, $164,442),
                                by Henny Hughes
              2nd Dam: Choreograph, by Dynaformer
              3rd Dam: Dance for Vanny, by Sovereign Dancer
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Perry R
Bass II & Ramona Bass; B-Bass Stables, LLC (KY); T-Richard E.
Mandella; J-Flavien Prat. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-2,
$219,600. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk
   Nick Rating: A.
   Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Satin Doll, 120, f, 3, Congrats–Cliff's Secret, by The Cliff's
Edge. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($60,000 Ylg
'21 KEESEP). O-The Del Mar Group; B-Upson Downs Farm (KY);
T-Doug F. O'Neill. $40,000.
3–Fast and Shiny, 120, f, 3, Bernardini–Spotted Heart, by Lion
Hearted. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($150,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Michael Pegram, Karl Watson &
Paul Weitman; B-Douglas Scharbauer (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
$24,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, HD, 7. Odds: 0.50, 12.50, 11.10.
Also Ran: Parody, Huntingcoco. Scratched: Justique.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Ice Dancing Skates Clear Late To Take Santa Ynez appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights