kentucky oaks | Horse Racing Free Tips

Early Oaks Nominations Due Saturday

Early nominations for the May 6 GI Longines Kentucky Oaks are due by Saturday. Early nominations to the Kentucky Oaks cost $200. Fillies that are not nominated during the early phase may nominate from Feb. 20-April 16 with a $1,500 payment. A supplementary nomination of $25,000 may be made at the time of entry.

Last year, 105 fillies were nominated during the early phase to the Oaks with five late nominations.

In recent years, nominations to the $1-million GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic ran concurrently with the Oaks. This year, nominations to the Turf Classic will close Apr. 16.

For more information about nominations to the Longines Kentucky Oaks, visit www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen.

The post Early Oaks Nominations Due Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for Feb. 10

While several of the sport's best 3-year-old fillies have still yet to race this year, there were plenty of developments since we last checked in with our top 10 for the GI Kentucky Oaks. The biggest story came Sunday out of California, where Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) demolished the competition in the GIII Las Virgenes. A day earlier, Girl With a Dream (Practical Joke) won the GIII Forward Gal S. at seven furlongs at Gulfstream, upsetting 3-5 favorite Radio Days (Gun Runner). The runner-up appeared to be a serious Oaks candidate for Shug McGaughey, but she'll need to do more before cracking our top 10. At Aqueduct on Sunday, Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) won the Ruthless S. at seven furlongs and is on the bubble when it comes to making this list.

Here's a look at the top 3-year-old fillies who are aiming for the May 6 Oaks:

1) ECHO ZULU (Gun Runner–Letgomyecho, by Menifee) 'TDN Rising Star' O-L and N Racing LLC & Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Betz/J. Betz/Burns/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/ Ramsby (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $300,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 4-4-0-0, $1,480,000. Last Start: 1st GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies S. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: 30.

Echo Zulu had her first work this year on Tuesday when breezing three furlongs in 39.80. “She's doing good,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “I waited a few days after a lot of rain this week. We will continually pick it up with her.” With her first work coming on Feb. 8, it's clear Asmussen is in no hurry to get his soon-to-be-named champion back into the entries and he has not revealed yet where or when she will make her 3-year-old debut. Echo Zulu was nominated to the Triple Crown, but Asmussen has given no indication that he is thinking GI Kentucky Derby instead of the Oaks. After a stellar 2-year-old season, she deserves to be considered No. 1 until proven otherwise.

2) ADARE MANOR (Uncle Mo–Brooklynsway, by Giant Gizmo) O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $180,000 ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA ylg '20 FTKSEL; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-1-0, $56,600. Last Start: 1st GIII Las Virgenes S. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: N/A.

Unlike most of Bob Baffert's top horses, Adare Manor was anything but an overnight sensation. She didn't break her maiden until her third start, which was when Baffert sent her two turns for the first time. A 12-length winner that day, she followed it up with another explosive effort in the Las Virgenes. She won by 13 lengths and got a 94 Beyer, the best for any 3-year-old filly this year. The only knock is that she faced just three rivals. Had she been trained by anyone else, Adare Manor would have gotten 10 Kentucky Oaks points, but no horses trained by Baffert are eligible to be awarded points for the Oaks or the GI Kentucky Derby. How will that situation be resolved and will owner Michael Lund Peterson stick with Baffert? Stay tuned. Baffert has not said where she will run next, but the GII Santa Anita Oaks Apr. 9 seems like the logical spot.

3) KATHLEEN O. (Upstart–Quaver, by Blame) O-Winngate Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. & Bridlewood Farm (KY); T-Shug McGaughey. Sales History: $8,000 wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000 ylg '20 OBSOCT; $275,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: SW, 2-2-0-0, $104,760. Last Start: 1st Cash Run S. Next Start: GII Davona Dale. S, GP, Mar. 5. KY Oaks Points: 0.

There's a lot to like about this filly. She is undefeated in two starts, overcame a sluggish start to win the Cash Run S. on Jan 1 at Gulfstream and is trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. The problem is that she isn't fast. She ran a 67 Beyer when breaking her maiden in November at Aqueduct and then a 78 when winning the Cash Run. McGaughey's horses never peak early, so there is no doubt a lot of upside with a filly that was visually impressive when winning at Gulfstream. She must still prove she can go two turns, and will get that chance in the GII Davona Dale S.

4) JUJU'S MAP (Liam's Map–Nagambie, by Flatter) O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich III (KY); T-Brad Cox. Sales History: $190,000 ylg '20 KEEJAN; $300,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-2-2-0, $620,800. Last Start: 2nd GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: 18.

Trainer Brad Cox hasn't had much to say about his Grade I-winning filly who was second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies behind Echo Zulu. As of Wednesday, she had yet to have her first published breeze of the year. If she doesn't show up on the work tab soon, we'll drop her from the list. That said, she clearly has the talent to be a major player in the 3-year-old filly division this year. Her 4 1/4-length win in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. was one of the more impressive races turned in by any 2-year-old filly in 2021.

5) SECRET OATH (Arrogate–Absinthe Minded, by Quiet American) O-Briland Farm; B-Briland Farm, Robert & Stacy Mitchell (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. Lifetime Record: SW, 5-3-0-1, $285,167. Last Start: 1st Martha Washington S. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S., OP, Feb. 26. KY Oaks Points: 10.

The story here is D. Wayne Lukas. The 86-year-old Hall of Famer is back in the spotlight with a filly that has the talent to give him his fifth Oaks win and his first since Seaside Attraction way back in 1990. When she won the Martha Washington S. it was Lukas's first stakes victory since Apr. 7, 2018, when he won the GIII Commonwealth S. at Keeneland. Secret Oath didn't show much until blowing out an allowance field at Oaklawn on Dec. 31, winning by 8 1/4 lengths. She backed that up with a 7 1/4-length win in the Martha Washington, also at Oaklawn.

6) EDA (Munnings–Show Me, by Lemon Drop Kid) O-Baoma Corporation; B-Nathan McCauley (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $240,000 ylg '20 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-4-1-0, $370,000. Last Start: 1st GI Starlet S. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: N/A.

Eda was a late scratch from the Las Virgenes and Baffert has yet to announce any future plans for her. Baoma Corp. director Ed Nevins said there is nothing amiss with the filly and she is still on track for the Oaks. Like Adare Manor, her status for the Oaks is up in the air because of Baffert's situation. She hasn't been seen since winning the GI Starlet S. at Los Alamitos on Dec. 4. It was an important win for her as it proved she could go two turns after she began her career with five straight tries in sprint races.

7) GERRYMANDER (Into Mischief–Ruby Lips, by Hard Spun) O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Pollock Farms (KY); T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $375,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW & GISP, 4-2-2-0, $235,500. Last Start: 1st Tempted S. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: 4.

Gerrymander, the winner of the Tempted S., has been making steady progress in Florida for Chad Brown. Her latest work was a four-furlong breeze in :48.80 at Payson Park. Brown said he has yet to pick out a race fo her. Normally, the Tempted is not that important a race, but Gerrymander beat Magic Circle (Kantharos) and Nest (Curlin) that day. Magic Circle came back to win the Busanda S. and Nest returned with a win in the GII Demoiselle S. Gerrymander has never run beyond a mile or around two turns.

8) LA CRETE (Medaglia d'Oro–Cavorting, by Bernardini) O/B-Stonestreet Stables (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: SW, 2-2-0-0, $159,460. Last Start: 1st Silverbulletday S. Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S., FG, Feb. 19. KY Oaks Points: 10.

La Crete is a very interesting filly for the Steve Asmussen barn. A half-sister to GI Cotillion S. winner Clairiere (Curlin) out of MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini), she entered the conversation for the Kentucky Oaks with a determined win in the Silverbulletday S. at the Fair Grounds. Since her top Beyer number is just a74, it looks like she's going to have to improve to pull off a win in a race like the Oaks, but, with her breeding and her connections, there is a lot of upside here. For her, the Rachel Alexandra will be a big test.

La Crete | Coady Photo

9) NEST (Curlin–Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy) O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Michael House; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $350,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-0-1, $205,000. Last Start: 1st GII Demoiselle S. Next Start: Suncoast S., TAM, Feb. 12. KY Oaks Points: 10.

She will make her 3-year-old debut Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in the Suncoast S. for the white-hot Todd Pletcher stable. Her biggest win came in the Demoiselle, but she didn't beat a stellar field that day. She might have an easy time of it in the Suncoast and then will get a big test in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. After winning last year with Malathaat (Curlin), Pletcher is looking to become the first trainer to win back-to-back Oaks' since his old boss, Wayne Lukas, did it in 1989 and 1990.

10) MAGIC CIRCLE (Kantharos–Magic Humor, by Distorted Humor) O-J.W. Singer LLC; B-Manitou Farm, LLC (KY); T-Rudy Rodriguez. Sales History: $50,000 yrl '20 KEEJAN; $110,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP, 5-2-1-1, $194,000. Last Start: 1st Busanda S. Next Start: TBD. KY Oaks Points: 13.

Magic Circle failed in her first test in Grade I company, running a poor fourth in last year's Frizette S. But she's gotten better since then and picked up her first stakes win when taking down top honors in the Busanda S. on Jan. 23 ast the Big A. By Kantharos, her pedigree may not scream nine furlongs, but based on her win in the 1 1/8-mile Busanda, distance doesn't appear to be a problem. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez has yet to announce her next start.

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

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Uncle Mo Filly All Alone in Las Virgenes

Adare Manor dominated the four-horse GIII Las Virgenes S. at Santa Anita Sunday, strolling home to an effortless 13-length victory and giving trainer Bob Baffert his sixth win in the race. Second and fourth in two sprint tries to kick off her career, the $375,000 OBS June acquisition put it all together and then some when airing by a dozen lengths over this track and trip Jan. 7, good for a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. Her odds dropped even further with the scratch of GISW stablemate Eda (Munnings), and the dark bay was off at prohibitive 2-5 odds. Away on top, she was headed by Gracelund Gray (Goldencents) into the first turn, but was content to share pacesetting duties with that foe down the backside before opening up into a :46.66 half. Queen of Thorns attempted to make a race of it from there, but Adare Manor never looked back and galloped home.

“Today I engaged her right from the gate and she got a little bit strong at the first turn, so I had to grab her a little bit, try to slow her down a bit the first part of the race,” said winning jockey John Velazquez. “Once we got to the half-mile pole, I kind of put my hands down on her and her long stride just kept going just like that. I just left her alone and let her get into her rhythm, and she just showed up today. Obviously, she stepped it up from one race to another one and she did it very nicely today.

Velazquez continued, “I looked back a couple of times and I slowed it down, I looked up saw they were pretty far [back] and I backed up thinking, I should save something here although she was breathing fire up front, I didn't want to ask her down the lane then Bob would get mad at me. I definitely wanted to save something.”

The dazzling victory would normally make Adare Manor a major GI Longines Kentucky Oaks contender, but Baffert's current Churchill ban made the filly ineligible to earn the Las Virgenes' 10 qualifying points to that Classic.

Baffert's sixth Las Virgenes tally broke a tie with fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. The trainer's most recent previous Las Virgenes winner (in 2018) was also a pricey 2-year-old sales grad by Uncle Mo in Dream Tree.

Adare Manor, bred by Town and Country Horse Farms and Gary Broad, was purchased by Broad for $180,000 as a short yearling at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton February sale. She RNA'd for $190,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase that September before selling for $375,000 following a :10 1/5 work at last year's OBS June sale.

She missed by just a neck when second after contesting the pace in her six-furlong unveiling Oct. 31 at Santa Anita. She was fourth over 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 20 before her eye-catching 12-length maiden score over one mile in Arcadia Jan. 7.

“She duplicated her last race, you know, she's got that big, long stride on her,” said Baffert. “I sprinted her twice and I thought she'd win each of those times and then I thought, well she wants to go long…She's like an amazon, she's got that big, powerful [way of moving]. She's got that big frame, but she's quick. She relaxed nicely today…I think that time [1:37.11] is pretty serious on this track. Just gotta keep 'em healthy. I've run her twice now, I don't want to come back too quick with her.”

Pedigree Notes:

Adare Manor is the first foal out of multiple stakes winner Brooklynsway, who was four times graded placed. Town and Country Horse Farms purchased the mare, in foal to Into Mischief, for $95,000 at the same 2020 Fasig-Tipton February sale at which Adare Manor sold. That in-utero Into Mischief foal died, but the 10-year-old mare has a yearling filly by the Spendthrift stallion and she was bred back to Ghostzapper.

Adare Manor is the 42nd graded winner for Uncle Mo. In addition to Dream Tree, other daughters of the stallion who have found graded success at Santa Anita include multiple Grade I winner Bast, Harvest Moon, Mopotism, and Donna Veloce.

Sunday, Santa Anita
LAS VIRGENES S.-GIII, $196,000, Santa Anita, 2-6, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:37.11, ft.
1–ADARE MANOR, 120, f, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Brooklynsway (GSW-USA, MSW & GSP-Can, $724,597), by Giant Gizmo
2nd Dam: Explosive Story, by Radio Star
3rd Dam: Maya's Note, by Editor's Note
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($180,000
Ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $375,000 2yo
'21 OBSOPN). O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country
Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R.
Velazquez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $176,600.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A+.
2–Queen of Thorns, 120, f, 3, Violence–Royale Paradise, by
Unbridled's Song. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($50,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR).
O-Exline-Border Racing LLC, Richard Hausman, William Dan
Hudock, Aaron Kennedy & Susanna Wilson; B-Pollock Farms
(KY); T-Peter Eurton. $40,000.
3–Miss Everything, 120, f, 3, Tiznow–Wynning Is Sweet, by
Candy Ride (Arg). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($40,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $40,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Don't
Tell My Wife Stables & J. Keith Desormeaux; B-TNIP LLC &
Tiznow Syndicate (KY); T-J. Keith Desormeaux. $24,000.
Margins: 13, 1 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 2.50, 15.20.
Also Ran: Gracelund Gray. Scratched: Eda. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Baffert Stablemates Top Field For Sunday’s Las Virgenes

A rousing 12 length maiden special weight winner going a flat mile in her most recent start, Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor looms a short price favorite versus four sophomore fillies at the same distance in Sunday's Grade 3, $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.

An important steppingstone to both the G2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 9 and the Kentucky Oaks May 7, the Las Virgenes winner will be awarded 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, with four, two and one point awarded to the next three finishers. However, fillies trained by Bob Baffert (Adare Manor and Eda) are not eligible for Oaks points due to Churchill Downs' ban of the Hall of Fame trainer.

A disappointing fourth as the 3-5 favorite in her second start going 6 ½ furlongs two starts back on Nov. 20 at Del Mar, Adare Manor, a filly by Uncle Mo, put it all together when she stretched out for the first time in a thoroughly dominant gate to wire performance here on Jan. 7.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Adare Manor, who earned a Las Virgenes best last-out Beyer Speed Figure of 92, will be ridden back by John Velazquez in what will be her fourth career start.

Owned by Baoma Corporation, Baffert will also send out Eda, who pressed the pace throughout en route to a hard fought half length win in the G1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos Dec. 4. A winner of a pair of ungraded sprint stakes, the Anoakia on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita and the Desi Arnaz on Nov. 13 at Del Mar, Eda tried two turns for the first time in the Starlet and earned a 76 Beyer with Juan Hernandez up, who will ride back on Sunday.

The leading money earner in the field with $370,000 and a winner of four out of her six starts, Eda will likely stalk her well fancied stablemate Adare Manor and hope that she can run her down late.

Off as the 4-5 favorite in her first start here on Jan. 1, Peter Eurton's Queen of Thorns ran to the betting, as she galloped by eight lengths going six furlongs while earning a 73 Beyer. A bay filly by Violence, Queen of Thorns, who is owned by Exline-Border Racing, LLC, Richard Hausman, William Hudock and Susanna Wilson, was purchased for $300,000 out of a Florida 2-year-old in training sale last April. With leading man Flavien Prat back aboard, Queen of Thorns should be well supported in her second career start.

Unbeaten in two starts on dirt by a combined 37 ¼ lengths in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada, Gracelund Gray made a favorable impression in her U.S. debut for veteran trainer Howard Zucker, as she rallied to finish second, beaten one length in a six furlong turf allowance here on Jan. 16. Although she raced very greenly, Gracelund Gray more than tipped her hand and with Tyler Baze back aboard, she looms a live longshot in a short field.

Owned by John and Kelley Gravenslund, this Kentucky-bred daughter of Goldencents elicited this pre-race comment from Zucker on Jan. 16: “Santa Anita is a long way from Lethbridge, and I'm not just referring to the mileage (1,423 mi)!”

Although she gave a good account of herself, Gracelund Gray will no doubt be getting a major class test in the Las Virgenes.

THE GRADE 3 LAS VIRGENES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 3 of 9 Approximate post time 1:30 p.m. PT

Miss Everything—Drayden Van Dyke—120
Gracelund Gray—Tyler Baze—120
Adare Manor—John Velazquez—120
Queen of Thorns—Flavien Prat—120
Eda–Juan Hernandez–124

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday, which will also include the Grade III, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.

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