Kopion | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘TDN Rising Star’ Kinza Goes Gate To Wire In Las Virgenes

Looking every bit a 'TDN Rising Star', Kinza (Carpe Diem) stepped up in class, posted a second-consecutive 96 Beyer and took home her first graded win with a professional gate-to-wire performance at 'The Great Race Place' on Saturday afternoon.

To kick start her career over the same surface Dec. 29, the chestnut became a meteoric star when she won by an eye-catching 7 1/2 lengths for trainer Bob Baffert. Putting in quality workouts since, the filly was well-supported at the windows as the 1-1 choice over rival Kopion (Omaha Beach). The Richard Mandella trainee at odds of 6-5 here, arrived with a pair of wins under her belt, one of which was a 5 1/4-length score last out in the GIII Santa Ynez S. Jan. 7.

Kinza took the opening round of the Kentucky Oaks points race by wrangling the lead from the bell, which gave her the upper hand into the first turn. Holding the rail position up the backstretch, the 3-year-old remained committed to the pace as the far turn arrived. Though Kopion was called upon to pull even with her mark just before the top of the lane, she could not muster the speed to catch Kinza, who went on to win by two lengths.

“She acts like a filly that can handle (two turns),” said assistant to Bob Baffert, Jimmy Barnes. “You don't know until you do it, but she had shown in the morning, in her workouts that she could go further. I was more concerned there was so much speed, with the small field and a lot of speed. Unfortunately, our other filly (Nothing Like You {Malibu Moon}) she's got speed, but she was on the rail and she doesn't have that kind of speed, so she had to kind of take back and make some kind of trip and she probably doesn't want to do that.”

Pedigree Notes:

Kinza is the 237th winner and third Western Hemisphere graded/group stakes winner for her Louisiana-based sire. The first to the races for her dam, the winner counts as a half-sister a 2-year-old by Instagrand. A $100,000 purchase by MTC at the 2014 Keeneland September Sale, Secret Wonder visited Honest Mischief for this season.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
LAS VIRGENES S.-GIII, $100,000, Santa Anita, 2-10, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:37.03, ft.
1–KINZA, 120, f, 3, by Carpe Diem
1st Dam: Secret Wonder, by Quality Road
2nd Dam: Maxinkuckee Miss, by Langfuhr
3rd Dam: Wini Jones, by Seeking the Gold
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($17,000 Wlg '21 FTNMIX; $30,000 Ylg '22 OBSOCT; $350,000 2yo '23 EASMAY). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-JD Business Ventures LLC, Brushy Hill Stable & Carpe Diem Syndicate (NY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $99,000. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Kopion, 120, f, 3, Omaha Beach–Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop. ($270,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Tall Oaks Farm (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $20,000.
3–She's a Tempest, 120, f, 3, Connect–Hurricane Tiz, by Tiznow. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Beerman Family Trust and Sayjay Racing LLC; B-SAYJAY Racing, LLC & Beerman Family Trust (KY); T-Steve R. Knapp. $12,000.
Margins: 2, 1HF, 9 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 1.30, 16.40.
Also Ran: Nothing Like You, Great Forty Eight.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

#3 KINZA ($4.00) goes wire to wire as the favorite in the $100,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) at @santaanitapark. The three-year-old Carpe Diem filly is 2 for 2 for trainer Bob Baffert. @JJHernandezS19 was in the irons. pic.twitter.com/QhBB9tLVGm

— TVG (@TVG) February 10, 2024

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Agate Road Back To The Dirt For Sam F. Davis

The Tampa Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up Saturday afternoon, as a full field of 12 sophomore males is set to face the starter for the $250,000 GIII Sam F. Davis S., with 42 Kentucky Derby qualifying points (20-10-6-4-2) up for grabs.

When Litigate (Blame) took out the 2023 renewal, he was giving trainer Todd Pletcher a seventh victory in the Davis, having won the race for the first time in 2006 with Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat). 'TDN Rising Star' Agate Road (Quality Road) will be the more-fancied of Pletcher's two runners as he returns to the dirt for the first time since missing by a nose in a rained-off maiden at Saratoga last August. A had-to-see-it-to-believe-it winner of his turf debut at the Spa the following month, the $650,000 Keeneland September purchase found his best stride late to take out the GIII Pilgrim S., but he was done no favors by the one-mile trip of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, running on belatedly to finish fifth. Agate Road's seasonal debut is best taken with a grain of salt, as Tocayo (Always Dreaming) set a leisurely tempo in the Jan. 6 Dania Beach S. and was never threatened, with Agate Road chipping away late to be second. He certainly fits on class and figs, but he would be dodgy at a skinny number with Jose Ortiz in the irons. Pletcher also sends out Tireless (Not This Time), a local maiden winner over an extended mile Jan. 14.

Iowa-bred No More Time (Not This Time) broke his maiden impressively going a mile at Gulfstream in October, but was off slowly from the inside gate in the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man and loomed a wide threat at the head of the lane before fading into fifth. The dark bay tries the two-turn game for the first time, with Paco Lopez taking over from Ortiz for trainer Jose D'Angelo.

Courtlandt Farms' Change of Command (Into Mischief) blew the doors off a field of Gulfstream maidens going seven furlongs Dec. 17 and gutted out a neck victory trying a route of ground for the first time in Hallandale Jan. 5. Shug McGaughey elects to puts blinkers on the $1.05-million KEESEP acqusition.

Elysian Meadows (City of Light) is perfect in two starts to date, both over three-quarters of a mile at Aqueduct, and the form of his first-level state-bred allowance victory Dec. 15 was franked when the runner-up Mischief Joke (Practical Joke) returned to win the Rego Park S. It'll be up to Junior Alvarado to work out a trip from the 12 hole for trainer Bill Mott. That combination teamed to win the 2021 Davis with Candy Man Rocket (Candy Ride {Arg}).

Small, But Select Field For Rescheduled Las Virgenes

Saturday's GIII Las Virgenes S., postponed due to impending rains last Sunday, has lured a field of five, but what the race may lack in numbers, it appears to make up for in terms of quality.

Michael Lund Petersen's 'TDN Rising Star' Kinza (Not This Time) steps up in class and up in trip for this second go after earning a towering 96 Beyer Speed Figure in annexing her racecourse debut by 7 1/2 lengths going six furlongs Dec. 29. The $17,000 FTNOCT weanling, $30,000 OBSOCT yearling and $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer will try to give trainer Bob Baffert an eighth Las Virgenes and third straight for Petersen following Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) in 2022 and Faiza (Girvin) last year.

Kopion (Omaha Beach) holds an experience edge over Kinza and exits a front-running, 5 3/4-length success in the seven-furlong GIII Santa Ynez S. Jan. 7. The $270,000 KEESEP graduate had previously defeated She's a Tempest (Connect) into second to open her account at first asking at Del Mar in late November, and She's a Tempest did her part to validate the effort with a tenacious victory over next-out maiden winner Ultimate Authority (Practical Joke) over this track and distance Jan. 5.

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TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for Feb. 8

Churchill Downs' ban of Bob Baffert and the decision by his owners to keep their horses with the trainer, even though that means they cannot run at Churchill, will affect not just the Derby. Though Baffert's group of 3-year-old fillies is not as deep or as impressive as his collection of 3-year-old colts, he does have some fillies that, in a normal year, would be Oaks candidates. He has GII Starlet S. winner Nothing Like You (Malibu Moon). But his best filly may be Kinza (Carpe Diem), who rocketed to a 7 1/2-length win in her debut, earning a 96 Beyer figure. Both Baffert fillies were entered in the GIII Las Virgenes S., which has been rescheduled due to the rains in California. It is now set to be run this Saturday.

Here's a look at the second installment of our Kentucky Oaks Top 10:

1) JUST F Y I (f, Justify–Star Act, by Street Cry {Ire}) O/B-George Krikorian (Ky); T-Bill Mott. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-3-0-0, $1,317,750. Last start: WON Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2.

It's well known that winners of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile have had a difficult time winning the Kentucky Derby. It's happened only twice in the 40 years that the Breeders' Cup has been around. The record of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winners in the GI Kentucky Oaks is just as bad. Only two have turned the trick–1999 Oaks winner Silverbulletday and 1989 Oaks winner Open Mind. Can Just F Y I become the third? That remains to be seen, but she still deserves to be No. 1 in this poll or any similar polls. It looks like she will get an early test as trainer Bill Mott reports that she will make her 3-year-old debut in the GII Davona Dale S. Mar. 2 at Gulfstream. She didn't exactly blow away the competition last year, but her win in the Juvenile Fillies showed that she was the best of her division.

2) CANDIED (f, Candy Ride {Arg}–Toni Tools, by Roaring Fever) O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Buck Pond Farm, Inc. (Ky); T-Todd A Pletcher. Sales history: $165,000 yrl '22 FTJUL. Lifetime Record: GISW, 3-2-0-1, $595,800. Last start: 3rd Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filles. Kentucky Oaks Points: 19. Next Start: TBD.

Sold for the bargain price of $165,000 at Fasig-Tipton July, GI Alcibiades winner Candied just missed in the Juvenile Fillies, finishing third, beaten just three quarters of a length. It looks like trainer Todd Pletcher may have to play a game of catch-up with her as, through Wednesday, her only published workout was a three-furlong breeze on Feb. 2 in which she went in :39.73 at Palm Beach Downs. Owner Aron Wellman explained the strategy, which will likely include just one prep for the Oaks. “We wanted to freshen her up after the Breeders' Cup,” Wellman said. “It was a huge performance and she was unlucky not to win it. In her work, she went an easy three-eighths by herself and that should move her forward. She doesn't necessarily need two preps to get ready. She tends to get herself fit pretty quickly.”

3) JODY'S PRIDE (f, American Pharoah–Jody's Song, by Scat Daddy) O-Parkland Thoroughbreds & Sportsmen Stable; B-Mr. Steve Weston (Ky); T-Jorge R Abreu. Lifetime Record: SW & GISP, 3-2-1-0, $480,250. Last start: 2nd Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Kentucky Oaks Points: 15. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2.

Trainer Jorge Abreu has confirmed to the Daily Racing Form that his Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up will make her 2024 debut in the Davona Dale, which would produce a rematch of the first two across the wire in the Juvenile Fillies. He told the DRF that one of the reasons he chose the Davona Dale is that he has lined up Irad Ortiz, Jr. for the mount. So far as Jody's Pride's run in the Juvenile Fillies, here is what Abreu had to tell the DRF: “Great effort, especially going from six furlongs to two turns. It didn't faze her at all, needed one more jump.” Interesting that the connections originally wanted to turn her into a turf horse, which makes sense since she is by American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile). Her first two races, a Saratoga maiden and the Matron S., were washed off the turf. She won both before her solid effort in the Breeders' Cup.

4) INTRICATE (f, Gun Runner–Complex Analysis, by Distorted Humor) O-Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Scot Estes & Cambron Equine, LLC; B-LBD Stable, LLC (Ky); T-Brendan Walsh. Sales history: $200,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-0-0, $302,180. Last start: WON Nov. 25 GII Golden Rod S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S., FG, Feb. 17.

If you believe in the Beyer figures, this may be the horse for you. She earned an 85 when winning the GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill. That's better than Just F Y I, whose career best was the 79 she ran winning the Juvenile Fillies. It looks like trainer Brendan Walsh is starting to turn the screws on her as her Feb. 3 workout, five furlongs in 1:00.20 at the Fair Grounds, was her best so far this year. Walsh has her on the same path that he had 2023 Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) on, the GII Rachel Alexandra S. followed by the GII Fair Grounds Oaks. The last trainer to win back-to-back runnings of the Kentucky Oaks is Wayne Lukas, who won in 1989 with Open Mind and in 1990 with Seaside Attraction.

5) KOPION (f, Omaha Beach—Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop) O-Spendthrift Farm; B-Tall Oaks Farm (Ky); T-Richard Mandella. Sales history: $270,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $96,600. Last Start: WON Jan. 7 GIII Santa Ynez S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. Next Start: GIII Las Virgenes S., SA, Feb. 10.

She has had to wait a week, but Kopion will get the biggest test of her career when she goes in Saturday's rescheduled Las Virgenes S. She's coming off a win in the GIII Santa Ynez S., in which she scored a 5 3/4-length wire-to-wire win. She still has to prove she can win when stretching out and around two turns. But if she can carry speed for nine furlongs she will be very dangerous. She is a half-sister to Ami's Flatter (Flatter), the Canadian champion 3-year-old male in 2016. Has been so highly regarded by the bettors that she went off at 3-10 when winning her debut and at 1-5 in the Santa Ynez.

6) LIFE TALK (f, Gun Runner–Touchy Feely, by Bernardini) O-Repole Stable; B-Gun Runner Syndicate, Mulholland Springs, LLC & Tom Grether Farms, Inc. (Ky); T-Todd A Pletcher. Sales history: $160,000 wnlg '21 KEENOV; $335,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 5-2-1-1, $364,250. Last start: WON Dec. 2 GII Demoiselle S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 19. Next Start: Suncoast S., Tam, Feb. 10.

Will owner Mike Repole win a Kentucky Oaks before he wins a Kentucky Derby? Life Talk could make that possible. We'll know more after this weekend's Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs, a race that Pletcher often points for with 3-year-old fillies making their first start of the year. It doesn't appear that the competition will be that stiff, so expect this filly to kick off her 3-year-old season with a win. She didn't show a lot when third in the Frizette and fourth in the Juvenile Fillies, but a different horse showed up for the GII Demoiselle at Aqueduct. Sent off at even-money, she led every step of the way on her way to a 3 3/4-length win.

7) LESLIE'S ROSE (f, Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Whisper Hill Farm; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (Ky); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $1,150,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $89,950. Last start: WON Jan. 11 AOC at Gulfstream Park. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2.

Say this much about Mandy Pope, she's not afraid to spend her money in search of a good horse. Leslie's Rose was a $1,150,000 purchase at Keeneland September. She's earned just $89,950, but there's little doubt that the best has yet to come. She's 2-for-2 with her last win coming in a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream. Slated to go next in the Davona Dale, that race will give her the chance to prove that she is an upper echelon filly. She's had five half-mile works since mid-December.

8) ALPINE PRINCESS (f, Classic Empire–Le Moine, by Curlin) O-Full of Run Racing, LLC & Madaket Stable LLC; B-Betz/DJ Stable/Peter Lamantia/Classic Empire Syndicate (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Sales history: $190,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 5-3-0-1, $210,810. Last Start: WON Dec. 23 Untapable S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. Next Start: TBD.

The Brad Cox-trained filly is coming off a win in the Untapable S., which has turned into a key race. Runner-up West Omaha (West Coast) went on to win the Silverbulletday S. and fifth-place finisher Band of Gold (Preservationist) won last Saturday's Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park. She was beaten 28 1/4 lengths in the Alcibiades after acting up at the gate. Since then, she's been perfect, winning an allowance and the Untapable. Florent Geroux is the rider. He and Cox have teamed up to win the 2020 Oaks with Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) and the 2018 Oaks with Monomoy Girl (Tapizar).

9) WEST OMAHA (f, West Coast–Birthday Bash, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-2-0, $203,000. Last start: WON Jan. 20 Sillverbulletday S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 25. Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S, FG, Feb. 17 or GIII Honeybee S., OP, Feb. 24.

She won the Silverbulletday, but will still have to answer some questions as the field for that race came up light. She was the 9-10 favorite. Cox will surely try to keep her and Alpine Princess apart, choosing between the Oaklawn and Fair Grounds routes to the Oaks. Cox also has Busanda S, winner Gin Gin (Hightail), who will take the New York-route to the Oaks. West Omaha will try to give owner-breeder Gary and Mary West their first Oaks win.

10) BAND OF GOLD (f, Preservationist–Play for Gold by Cairo Prince) O-Dixiana Farms LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (Ky); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Sales history: $70,000 wnlg '21 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-2-0, $206,000. Last start: WON Feb. 3 Martha Washington S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. Next Start: GIII Honeybee S., OP, Feb. 24.

The only newcomer to the list this week, she scored an upset win in the Martha Washington at odds of 24-1. Just a $70,000 purchase at Keeneland September, she rebounded off a poor effort in the Untapable where she was fifth. “In the Untapable, she never really figured out what she was supposed to do out there,” trainer Ken McPeek said. She got an 86 Beyer in the Martha Washingon. Will need to improve to take the next step, but trainer McPeek is never afraid of a challenge.

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The TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 For Jan. 24

Last year, no one seemed prepared to head to the head of the class when it came to the group of 3-year-old fillies heading to the GI Kentucky Oaks. Eclipse Award winner Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) was defeated in her two preps for the Oaks and finished out the year at 0-for-4 before being retired. Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) failed to live up to the considerable hype and never even made it to the Oaks. The regally bred Julia Shining (Curlin) went 0-for-2 in her preps and also failed to make the Oaks. And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) went on a seven-race losing streak after winning the GII Chandelier S.

This year didn't get off to a good start when Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella reported that 'TDN Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), the beaten favorite in the Juvenile Fillies and a daughter of the great Beholder (Henny Hughes), won't make the Oaks after coming out of the Breeders' Cup with a crack in a splint bone. What's left, however, looks like a solid and deep group.

Here's a look at our first Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for 2024:

The daughter of Justify is a pretty obvious number one. She went 3-for-3 last year, ending her season with a narrow win in the Juvenile Fillies for trainer Bill Mott and is likely to be named champion 2-year-old filly at Thursday's Eclipse Awards. The only knock on her at this point is that she's not particularly fast. On the Beyer scale, her best number was the 79 she ran in the Breeders' Cup. By way of comparison, Pretty Mischievous (into Mischief) ran a 92 when winning the Oaks last year. That she is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott is a plus as Mott is not known for pushing his 2-year-olds. So look for this one to get even better. Mott will be seeking his first win in the Oaks. He has not mapped out a schedule for Just F Y I yet, but says it's likely she'll make her 3-year-old debut in early March. She had her first work of 2024 on Jan. 15, breezing three furlongs at Payson Park in :37.20.

Sold for the bargain price of $165,000 at Fasig-Tipton July, she showed her class when winning the GI Darley Alcibiades S. by a length in just her second career start. “I thought it was super impressive,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of the Alcibiades win. “It's not only a lot to do for any horse, but when you factor in that she was running against some really seasoned fillies that had multiple starts like Brightwork (Outwork) and (Kenny) McPeek's filly, V V's Dream (Mitole). Those fillies had quite a bit of an experience edge on Candied. For her to stretch out from six furlongs and go to a mile and a sixteenth against those fillies in only her second start that was a tall order, and she delivered an impressive performance.” She followed that up with a good effort in the Juvenile Fillies, where she finished third, beaten just three-quarters of a length. She ran a 78 Beyer in the Juvenile Fillies and will obviously have to improve off of that.

Was one of the biggest surprises of the day when second in the Juvenile Fillies at odds of 17-1. With Flavien Prat aboard, she missed by just a neck and was gaining on Just F Y I at the end. She proved a lot that day, as it was her first start beyond six furlongs, the distance of the Matron S., which she won by 3 1/4 lengths. She is by American Pharoah and her connections evidently thought she'd turn out to be a grass horse. Both the Matron and her maiden win at Saratoga came in races that were originally scheduled for the grass. In the days leading up to entry day for the Breeders' Cup, her connections were still debating whether or not she should run in the Juvenile Fillies of in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Has had two published workouts this year, the most recent on Jan. 20 when she went five furlongs in 1:02.05.

Trainer Brendan Walsh will try to win his second straight Kentucky Oaks after scoring last year with Pretty Mischievous. Like Pretty Mischievous, Intricate will take the Fair Grounds route to the Oaks. She showed little in her debut when sprinting, but was a different horse when Walsh stretched her out for a mile-and-a-sixteenth maiden at Keeneland, which she won by 3 1/2 lengths. She was even better when capturing the GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill on Nov. 25, posting an easy 5 1/4-length win. She earned an 85 Beyer in the Golden Rod, which puts her ahead of the Juvenile Fillies horses. Preparing for her 3-year-old debut, she's had two half-mile works at the Fair Grounds.

5) KOPION (f, Omaha Beach–Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop) O-Spendthrift Farm; B-Tall Oaks Farm (Ky); T-Richard Mandella. Sales history: $270,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $96,600. Last Start: WON Jan. 7 GIII Santa Ynez S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 10. Next Start: GIII Las Virgenes S., SA, Feb. 10.

The Mandella barn suffered a setback when Tamara was injured in the Juvenile Fillies, but they have a worthy replacement in Kopion. Like Tamara, she is owned by Spendthrift Farm. She was an easy winner of her maiden voyage in November at Del Mar and then came back to win the GIII Santa Ynez S. at odds of 1-5. In the process, she became the first graded stakes winner for sire Omaha Beach. She was the easiest sort of winner in the Santa Ynez, but faced off against only three rivals. “I love (Omaha Beach),” Mandella said after the Santa Ynez. “He was such a class horse, a good horse, and this filly (Kopion) has just been a star ever since she came back.” She earned an 86 Beyer in her win.

She didn't show a lot when third in the Frizette and fourth in the Juvenile Fillies, but a different horse showed up for the GII Demoiselle S. at Aqueduct. Sent off at even-money, she led every step of the way on her way to a 3 3/4-length win. You might want to downgrade that effort a bit because she hugged the rail on a day when the inside and speed dominated. Owner Mike Repole deals mainly with colts and his goal every year is to win the Derby. But his team wasn't afraid to go after a good filly prospect, plunking down $335,000 to purchase this one at Keeneland September.

7) LESLIE'S ROSE (f, Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Whisper Hill Farm; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (Ky); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $1,150,000 yrl '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $89,950. Last start: WON Jan. 11 AOC at Gulfstream Park. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: GII Davona Dale S., GP, Mar. 2.

A $1.15-million Keeneland September purchase by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm, Leslie's Rose has been brought along slowly by trainer Todd Pletcher. She didn't debut until Nov. 19 when she romped by 9 1/4 lengths in a maiden at Aqueduct, earning the 'TDN Rising Star' badge. Rather than rushing her into a stakes race, Pletcher picked out a Jan. 11 allowance at Gulfstream, which she won by a length, earning an 88 Beyer. Has never gone beyond seven furlongs, so will have to pass that test before climbing too high in these rankings. Has an interesting pedigree. Is by Into Mischief out of an unraced daughter of Galileo (Ire).

What would the road to the Kentucky Oaks be without a good Brad Cox-trained horse or two? Cox has a handful of contenders and Alpine Princess may be the best. After breaking her maiden, she ran dismally in the Alcibiades, but acted up at the gate that day. She redeemed herself with an allowance win at Churchill and followed that up with a two-length win over stablemate West Omaha (West Coast) in the Untapable S. at the Fair Grounds. West Omaha came back to score an easy win in the Silverbulletday S., also at the Fair Grounds.

9) WEST OMAHA (f, West Coast–Birthday Bash, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Gary and Mary West Stables (Ky); T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-2-0, $203,000. Last start: WON Jan. 20 Sillverbulletday S. Next Start: GII Rachel Alexandra S, FG, Feb. 17 or GIII Honeybee S., OP, Feb. 24.

After losing to Alpine Princess, this Cox-trainee made amends when scoring an easy five-length win in the Silverbulletday. She was sent off at 9-10 odds in a six-horse race that didn't come up that strong. Cox also has Busanda S, winner Gin Gin (Hightail), who will take the New York-route to the Oaks. West Omaha ran an 84 Beyer in the Busanda. Kentucky Oaks Points: 25.

10) NOTHING LIKE YOU (f, Malibu Moon–Miss Derek, by Brother Derek) O-Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio & John Rogitz; B-Notch Hill Farm, Wolverton Mountain Farm & Spendthrift Stallions LLC (Ky); T-Bob Baffert. Sales history: $67,000 wnlg '21 KEENOV; $20,000 yrl '22 KEESEP; $190,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-1-0, $237,160. Last start: WON Dec. 9 GII Starlet S. Kentucky Oaks Points: 0. Next Start: TBD.

The only reason this filly doesn't have any points is because when she won the GII Starlet S. at Los Alamitos she was trained by Bob Baffert. It remains to be seen whether or not she'll be transferred to another barn so that she can run in the Oaks. She's 2-for-2 in races at a mile or more and is riding a three-race winning streak. Co-owner John Rogitz purchased the filly for $190,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. That was the third time Nothing Like You had gone through a sale. She was bought for $67,000 as a weanling at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and just $20,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

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