into mischief | Horse Racing Free Tips

Into Mischief’s General Jim Sweeps to Swale Win

Charting a consistent if unremarkable course heading into Saturday's GIII Claiborne Swale S. at Gulfstream, Courtlandt Farms' General Jim (Into Mischief) turned things up a notch, exploding from off the pace to collar favored Super Chow (Lord Nelson) late en route to a one-length score. Sent off the 8-5 second choice behind 4-5 choice Super Chow, already a three-time stakes winner, the Shug McGaughey trainee broke awkwardly from his inside draw, but was quickly straightened out by regular pilot Luis Saez as Super Chow ran up to contest the early pace with Two of a Kind (Overanalyze). As the duo cut out a legitimate opening quarter in :22.69, Super Chow spurted clear of Two of a Kind, and was three lengths ahead of that rival through a :45.31 half. Meanwhile, General Jim moved up on even terms with Two of a Kind around the 5/16ths, but began to unfurl his long legs approaching the quarter pole. Gaining quickly on a wide-cornering Super Chow turning for home, the $850,000 Keeneland September graduate bore down on the pacesetter in the final furlong, took over late to earn his first taste of black-type by a length. Super Chow was a clear second over Two of a Kind.

“Definitely the race came up perfect for him,” said Saez. “We know we have plenty of speed. We just tried to break from there running and find a great spot. We had a pretty good trip and, man, when we came to the top of the stretch, I had a lot of horse and he just kept going.”

In regard to getting blinkers for the first time Saturday, Saez added, “I know Mr. Shug was saying he was going to put on the blinkers, and we've been working in the morning with the blinkers, and he was magnificent. Today, the plan was to have a target in front and just wait to the end and let him run. He did it by himself, so it was pretty good.”

According to McGaughey, the Mar. 4 GII Fountain of Youth S. “is not out of the question.”

“He's developing now,” he said. “He's grown and kind of filled out. He's gained weight. He's got a little bit more weight to go, so I'm going to let him do that.”

Third in his career bow sprinting six panels on the dirt at Saratoga last August, General Jim appreciated the extra yardage and the move to the turf next time, scoring by a neck going 8 1/5 furlongs in September. Back in the winner's circle following a Keeneland allowance in October, he finished third in the one-mile Central Park S. at the Big A Nov. 26 before coming home fourth last time in Gulfstream's Mucho Macho Man S. Jan. 1.

Pedigree Notes:
Pedigree wise, General Jim has a lot going for him, a point underscored by his $850,000 price tag at the 2021 Keeneland September. By the nation's leading sire Into Mischief, he is out of a SP Inspired by Grace (Curlin), who is a full-sister to GI Mother Goose S. heroine Off The Tracks and a half to dual graded stakes winner Concord Point (Tapit). Adding further padding to the page, granddam Harve de Grace (Boston Harbor) is a half to MGSW and GISP Tasha's Miracle (Harlan's Holiday). The 2021 foal out of the 12-year-old dam subsequently died, however, she produced a filly by Authentic last season and was bred back to the champion.

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
CLAIBORNE FARM SWALE S.-GIII, $125,000, Gulfstream, 2-4, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.34, ft.
1–GENERAL JIM, 120, c, 3, by Into Mischief
               1st Dam: Inspired by Grace (SP, $138,984), by Curlin
               2nd Dam: Harve de Grace, by Boston Harbor
               3rd Dam: Ms. Cuvee Napa, by Relaunch
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($850,000
Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Courtlandt Farms, LLC (Donald Adam);
B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock & Centerline Breeding (KY);
T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-Luis Saez. $77,500. Lifetime
Record: 6-3-0-2, $231,533. Werk Nick Rating: A.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Super Chow, 120, c, 3, Lord Nelson–Bonita Mia, by Warrior's
Reward. ($70,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $75,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR).
O-Lea Farms, LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Jorge
Delgado. $25,000.
3–Two of a Kind, 120, c, 3, Overanalyze–Freud's Irish Miss, by
Freud. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-K and R Racing Stable and
Town Branch Racing; B-C. W. Swann & Wetherbee Holdings,
LLC. (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $12,500.
Margins: 1, 11, 3HF. Odds: 1.60, 0.80, 5.10.
Also Ran: Keanu, Aaraj. Scratched: King Sparrow.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Into Mischief’s General Jim Sweeps to Swale Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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2023 Mating Plans, Presented by Spendthrift: Machmer Hall

As we approach the opening of the 2023 breeding season, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we spoke with Carrie Brogden at Machmer Hall.

We mate by physical mostly–negative traits to positive traits and vice versa. We try to add speed where there is none and we do not believe in like-to-like matings. We do not use nicks, but we do like successful crosses like Twirling Candy with Unbridled's Song. This is a sample of our matings planned for our 82 foaling mares and 32 maiden and barren mares.

ASTRAY (m, 9, Bernardini – Away, by Dixieland Band) to be bred to Life Is Good

This young stakes producer's Into Mischief filly sold for $720,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. She is about the prettiest Bernardini mare you will ever see. I am a big fan of her pedigree and we currently own her niece, too!

She is currently in foal to Hard Spun and we figured that now that we have bred her to several proven stallions, we could revert back to a first-year. She is booked to Life Is Good for 2023. Life Is Good is an absolute stunner and has a heart the size of Texas.

BECCA'S ROCKET (m, 5, Orb – Idoitmyway, by Unbridled's Song) to be bred to Jackie's Warrior

Becca's Rocket was one of the prettiest and fanciest yearlings we had the year we sold her even though her sire was fast falling out of favor. I watched her hit the board in 13 of her 20 starts, including multiple stakes, and she won over $250,000. We bought her back privately as a broodmare prospect to rejoin Machmer Hall as a broodmare.

For her first foal she is booked to the super good-looking, super talented horse Jackie's Warrior. As Mark Toothaker said to me when I sent her over, “Well, this is a no brainer.” And that is exactly how I felt!

CAMPAIGNING (m, 4, Nyquist – Azalea Belle, Dixie Union) to be bred to Upstart

We bought this Nyquist filly carrying her first foal by Classic Empire at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale. She was a $500,000 yearling herself, so her looks match her sales price.

Since she is only a half-sister to a stakes-placed filly [GIII Iowa Oaks runner-up Aurelia Garland (Constitution)], but she has a nice family, we wanted to be mindful of the stud fee we put in her. She is booked back to Upstart, who only had 19 named 2-year-olds for 2022 and STILL held his own big time. We are thinking that with his bigger and better crops coming down the pipeline, he seems like great value to start a young mare off right.

Heidi Maria, the dam of last year's GII Sorrento S. winner Vegas Magic, will go back to Good Magic in 2023 | Benoit

CLAIRE'S SONG (m, 15, Unbridled's Song – Chimichurri, by Elusive Quality) to be bred to Medaglia d'Oro

Claire's Song is currently in foal to Essential Quality and we have booked her back to Medaglia d'Oro for 2023. We sold her Medaglia d'Oro colt in Saratoga for $625,000 last year and the yearling full-sister is just as nice of a physical as he was. It's hard to not go back to him with this three-time stakes-producing Unbridled's Song mare considering her half-sister produced Canadian Horse of the Year Wonder Gadot and Grade II-placed Solemn Tribute, both by Medaglia d'Oro.

DISTURBINGLY HOT (m, 17, Unbridled's Song – Diablo's Blend, by Diablo) to be bred to Sharp Azteca

Disturbingly Hot is currently in foal to Kantharos and is booked back to Sharp Azteca. We were lucky enough to be his yearling consignor, so I knew what a gorgeous horse he was at that point in his life. We took a breeding right from that faith and honestly I think he has shocked everyone. He was a very fast horse and his progeny seem to be good minded and sound, much like him!

FISCAL LITERACY (m, 4, Uncle Mo – City Sister, by Carson City) to be bred to Twirling Candy

Fiscal Literacy is currently in foal to Maxfield, who is just a ten physical. With a first dam that fills an entire page of horses that run and sell great, we bought this mare as a yearling with some significant vetting issues eyeing to keep her as a broodmare.

If there are two sires that have made Machmer Hall, one would be Twirling Candy (the other is Into Mischief), so we booked this big, fancy girl back to Twirling Candy. She has strong hocks like he needs and we love the idea of alternating between proven and unproven stallions in these types of mares. We hope it will turn out for the long run.

HEIDI MARIA (m, 15, Rockport Harbor – Third Street, by Salt Lake) to be bred to Good Magic

Heidi Maria is a stakes winner that we bred and sold as a yearling only to buy her back privately as a broodmare prospect. She is currently in foal to Collected, who just had a lovely first-time starter [Cuvier] of Pletcher's win at Gulfstream Park that we bred, so fingers crossed! She is the dam of Good Magic's Grade II-winning filly Vegas Magic, so it only made sense to book her back to this exciting son of Curlin.

LADY BELLAMY (m, 9, Bellamy Road – Hot Spell, by Salt Lake) to be bred to Aloha West

We bought this mare in foal to Good Magic along with her West Coast colt at foot in 2020. She is currently in foal to Tiz the Law, who I am a HUGE fan of and am taking a punt on him throwing the talent he had by his brilliant sire Constitution.

This mare has a Gift Box yearling (we have 5 yearlings by our homebred stallion) and we have booked her back to GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West. Aloha West is a very pretty, mid-sized horse. He's light on his feet and correct. Lady Bellamy is a massive mare with bone like tree trunks.

I am hearing great reports about her Good Magic colt with Boomer Bloodstock, so hopefully by the time he runs we will have a lovely Aloha West! This is the first mare owned in partnership with some of our best friends who have never had a Thoroughbred. So far she has had great luck!

LAID BACK LADY (m, 11, Hold Me Back – Sheena's Gold, by Fast Gold) to be bred to Early Voting

Laid Back Lady is currently in foal to Twirling Candy. The only reason we own this mare is because I bought her from a client who had to liquidate his entire broodmare band due to a family illness. and we took her over. We did the mating on her first foal who she was in foal to when we acquired her and that Twirling Candy filly, Always At Ease, just became stakes placed in California–just missing the stakes win!

She is booked back to Early Voting, a first-year stallion and the Grade I-winning son of emerging supersire Gun Runner.

LADY FALCON (m, 5, Super Saver – Sluice, by Seeking the Gold) to be bred to Epicenter

We just purchased this mare in November in foal to her second baby by Practical Joke. I am a huge fan of her family. I have drooled over the progeny of her dam, Sluice, and her half-sister, Mushka (Empire Maker), over the years. She's a big, coarse, plain mare with a lot of substance and she has my favorite thing from her female family–that walk!

We booked her to first-year sire Epicenter, a Grade I-winning son of Not this Time. She will have two proven-sire foals ahead, so we like to change it up with a new sire.

LAYREEBELLE (m, 17, Tale of the Cat – Voodoo Lily, by Baldski) to be bred to Jack Christopher

Layreebelle is currently in foal to one of the greatest values of our time in my mind, Candy Ride (Arg). She is the dam of two graded stakes winners and her daughter is also a graded stakes producer. She is a Machmer Hall homebred and was named after my children (Layne- Reece- Isabelle). She has been so good to us since she injured her shoulder in a paddock accident as a yearling.

Her dam, Voodoo Lily, died of old age after being a retired baby sitter on our farm for many years. She was the grandmother of up-and-coming sire Justify. I am hearing great reports of Layreebelle's Into Mischief 2-year-old colt who is down in Ocala after selling at the Saratoga Sale to Bradley Thoroughbreds.

We have exclusively bred this mare to proven sires her entire life and since we have now retained one of her daughters, who is booked to Tapit for her first foal, we decided to take a shot on a first-year stallion with Jack Christopher, who was bought by one of my favorite people in the industry and a great judge, Liz Crow.

Special Me's daughter and future Grade I winner Gina Romantica practicing her conformation pose as a yearling | courtesy Carrie Brogden

LINE OF VISION (m, 8, Court Vision – Gold Lined, by Numerous) to be bred to Bolt d'Oro

Line of Vision is a small-but-mighty stakes winner by Court Vision. We ended up having so many big mares with our Unbridled's Song crew that we added a few of the 15'1 to 15'2 types this year. We got them for good value because they could really run but did not have the height a lot of buyers want.

We bought this mare in foal to Tiz the Law and while that might not be the physical mating I would have chosen, we were very happy with the price and both parents' racetrack accomplishments.

We have booked her back to champion freshman sire Bolt d'Oro, who seems to throw size and stretch no matter what mare he is bred to. His 2-year-olds were impressive at all the sales I attended in 2022 and they came through in their performances. I would certainly think with how they are built that they would stretch out and it also bodes very well for his half-brother Global Campaign, who we were lucky enough to sell as a yearling for WinStar!

MISS SHOP (m, 20, Deputy Minister – Shopping, by Private Account) to be bred to Authentic

Miss Shop was a grand old Grade I-winning, graded stakes-producing girl when we bought her. Her Into Mischief filly we sold last year at Keeneland September was one of my most favorite yearling fillies of the year, so we decided to repeat that breeding. Miss Shop is currently in foal to Into Mischief, but with his stud fee going out of our farm's comfort zone and us still being his biggest fan, we figured to book her back to the next-best thing: his gorgeous, well-priced son Authentic.

I tell you, those Authentic babies I saw at the sales were just beautiful! We have four yearlings by him and I am delighted with every single one. Miss Shop is one of three mares we have booked back to Authentic.

SPECIAL ME (m, 17, Unbridled's Song – Delta Danielle, by Lord Avie)

Special Me is currently in foal to Twirling Candy and is due in March. This little lady is the foundation of Machmer Hall. She has produced Grade I winners Gift Box (Twirling Candy) and Gina Romantica (Into Mischief), plus Grade II winners Special Forces (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Stonetastic (Mizzen Mast). She was our first mare to produce a homebred million-dollar yearling. She has a yearling full-brother to Gina Romantica this year. She is 17 years old now and this is one mating that is TBD. She has proven that she can go to a plethora of sire lines and have success. We figure that we will wait until she foals safely to make the decision for her next mating. It is a big choice!

Interested in sharing your own mating plans? Email garyking@thetdn.com.

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More Maker in Pegasus World Cup Turf

Trainer Mike Maker had already saddled the first three finishers in the GIII William L. McKnight as well as the winner of the GIII Fred W. Hooper S. earlier on Gulfstream Park's card, and he added his second $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. trophy Saturday as well-backed Atone (Into Mischief) kicked home impressively from midpack to best GISW Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) by 3/4 of a length. Speaking Scout (Mr Speaker), a last-out winner of the GI Hollywood Derby, was third.

The winner, bet down to 7-2 off a 12-1 morning line, most recently took an Aqueduct optional claimer going this distance Nov. 10. Acquired for $130,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July HRA sale after originally racing for his breeder Godolphin, the bay was fourth in this race last year amidst four other graded stakes placings. He was second in the GIII WinStar Mint Million S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10, and was eighth two back in Keeneland's GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. Oct. 8. Ivar was second in that race.

With 2022's Eclipse-winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. seeking a fourth win (third graded and second for Maker) on the card, Atone found a good midpack spot along the fence behind solid splits of :23.26, :47.30 and 1:11.36 with Ivar on his right flank. Ivar moved first as Atone had to wait for clear sailing, but Ortiz seemed unconcerned as he eased his mount to the outside as noses pointed for home. Ivar briefly looked the winner as he struck the front in midstretch, but Atone gobbled up ground to reel him in late.

“It was perfect, every step of the way,” Ortiz said of his trip. “I was so happy. I was following a live horse, Wit (Practical Joke), and then by the three-eighths pole the horse that I had to beat was outside of me, so I had to take two or three strides to let him move before I made my move. I waited, but at the same time I tipped my way out so when I hit the clear my horse was there. All the credit goes to the horse.”

The 30-year-old added, “I'm just enjoying the moment and what is happening in my career right now. I have to thank my agent Steve Rushing for doing a great job and thanks to all the owners and trainers for supporting me. They make me the happiest man in the world to be honest. I'm living the dream.”

Maker won the second running of this race in 2020 with Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}), and for good measure, just minutes before Atone's victory, took a state-bred Aqueduct maiden special weight with sophomore colt Maker's Candy (Twirling Candy).

“It feels great to win. It doesn't get old,” said Maker. “Irad looked like he wanted to be forwardly placed out of the gate and it looked like a couple of others had the same idea. He settled in nice, saved some ground and got lucky to get some racing room when it counted… He was a hard-luck horse last year. He's always been right there, and today was his day.”

He added, “It's been a great day, and I've got two more tonight at Turfway.”

Carl Fiebig, a partner in Three Diamonds Farm, said “All the credit goes to Mike and his staff. Irad is an Eclipse Award winner for a reason. It was flawless execution. Most importantly, for the Wycoffs, this win is for them. We're glad to be a small part of this. For myself and my family to be a part of this, I just want to thank Jordan and Kirk [Wycoff] who put a lot of energy, money and everything into this business and I'm glad to see them rewarded on days like this.”

Pedigree Notes:

A product of two of the most important stallions of the last few decades, Atone is his sire's 59th Northern Hemisphere graded winner, but just the second from that group out of an A.P. Indy mare. A.P. Indy is the broodmare sire of 121 graded/group winners worldwide.

Atone's dam, a daughter of GISP Folk, was a stakes winner and graded-placed routing on the dirt. She has a 3-year-old filly named Rekindled (Nyquist) who has been working towards a debut at Tampa Bay Downs, and Captivativ Lass sold to Mark Dodson at KEENOV '21 for $50,000 carrying an English Channel colt. She was bred back to Good Magic. Douglas Arnold bought Atone's 4-year-old half-sister Way of Life (Street Boss) for $11,000 at the recent Keeneland January sale in foal to Astern (Aus).

Saturday, Gulfstream
PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL S. PRESENTED BY QATAR RACING-GI, $981,400, Gulfstream, 1-28, 4yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:46.19, fm.
1–ATONE, 123, g, 6, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Captivating Lass (SW & GSP, $133,225), by A.P. Indy
                2nd Dam: Folk, by Quiet American
                3rd Dam: Polish Style, by Danzig
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN,
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($130,000 4yo '21 FTKHRA). O-Three
Diamonds Farm; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael J. Maker;
J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $558,000. Lifetime Record: 23-7-4-4,
$1,179,146. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ivar (Brz), 123, h, 7, Agnes Gold (Jpn)–May Be Now,
by Smart Strike. O-Bonne Chance Farm, LLC & Stud R D I, LLC.;
B-Stud Rio Dois Irmaos (BRZ); T-Paulo H. Lobo. $186,000.
3–Speaking Scout, 123, g, 4, Mr Speaker–Miss Scout,
by Pleasant Tap. ($10,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $3,000 Ylg '20
OBSOCT). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Mike Abraham
(KY); T-H. Graham Motion. $93,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, NK. Odds: 3.80, 3.70, 24.00.
Also Ran: Lady Speightspeare, One More Bid, King Cause, Master Piece (Chi), Wit, Good Governance (GB), Hurricane Dream (Fr), Decorated Invader, City Man. Scratched: Steady On, Who's the Star. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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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.

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