Longines Kentucky Oaks | Horse Racing Free Tips

No Immediate Plans For Pretty Mischievous Following Oaks

'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) was none the worse for her tough-trip victory in Friday's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs as a group of onlookers congregated outside the barn of trainer Brendan Walsh Friday morning. It was a first win in America's premier race for the sophomore filly set for her owner/breeder Godolphin, Walsh, jockey Tyler Gaffalione and her all-conquering sire.

“We are very proud of what she has accomplished and it couldn't be more special winning this for Godolphin,” said Walsh, who spent many seasons working in Dubai for Sheikh Mohammed's team. “There are some big races that we'll look at coming up, but no decision has been made on her next start.”

Repole Stables' New York-bred Gambling Girl (Dialed In) covered herself in glory Friday afternoon, running on strongly to complete the Oaks exacta, the fifth filly to finish runner-up in the race for trainer Todd Pletcher to go along with his four winners.

“She was just excellent after the race,” Pletcher said. “She came out of it well.”

The post No Immediate Plans For Pretty Mischievous Following Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Rising Star’ Malathaat Favored For Oaks 147

'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin), undefeated in four career starts and winner of her seasonal debut in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland Apr. 3, was made the 5-2 favorite from gate 10 on Mike Battaglia's morning line for Friday's 147th running of the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

One of three in the race for her outstanding sire, Malathaat–a daughter of 2013 Oaks fourth Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy)–defeated Millefeuille (Curlin, gate 14) in the GII Demoiselle S. last December and was very game in the Ashland, where she outfinished Pass the Champagne (Flatter, gate 5) by a head, with GIII Honeybee S. winner Will's Secret (Will Take Charge, gate 11) a distant third. The $1.05-million Keeneland September grad has the services of John Velazquez, who won the 2004 Oaks aboard the Todd Pletcher-trained Ashado (Saint Ballado). Pletcher is a three-time winner of the race.

The last two horses pulled by Churchill racing secretary Ben Huffman were a pair of fillies that got to know one another very well over the winter. 'TDN Rising Star' Travel Column (Frosted) was allotted post position six for trainer Brad Cox, who sent out Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) to upset the COVID-delayed Oaks of 2020 last September. Travel Column defeated Clairiere (Curlin) by a length in last year's GII Golden Rod S. beneath the Twin Spires, but the Stonestreet runner exacted her revenge with a neck success over Travel Column in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. in February, but the latter reversed form comprehensively when last seen in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Florent Geroux, who was in the irons last year and for Monomoy Girl (Tapizar)'s tally in 2018, goes for a third win in four years on Travel Column, while Clairiere will leave from gate three for two-time Oaks-winning conditioner Steve Asmussen.

Chad Brown has yet to win an Oaks, but will have every chance to right that wrong with Klaravich Stables' Search Results (Flatter). The 3-1 morning-line second pick, also undefeated in three runs including a 2 3/4-length defeat of Maracuja (Honor Code) in the GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 3, will have to work out a trip from the 12 hole for Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Friday, Churchill Downs, post time: 5:51 p.m. ET

LONGINES KENTUCKY OAKS-GI, $1,250,000, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m

1 Pauline's Pearl (Tapit), Santana, Jr., Asmussen, 20-1

2 Maracuja (Honor Code), Carmouche, Atras, 20-1

3 Clairiere (Curlin), Gaffalione, Asmussen, 5-1

4 Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map), Ortiz, McPeek, 15-1

5 Pass the Champagne (Flatter), Castellano, Weaver, 15-1

6 Travel Column (Frosted), Geroux, Cox, 3-1

7 Ava's Grace (Laoban), Cohen, Diodoro, 50-1

8 Moraz (Empire Maker), Prat, McCarthy, 30-1

9 Coach (Commissioner), Saez, Cox, 50-1

10 Malathaat (Curlin), Velazquez, Pletcher, 5-2

11 Will's Secret (Will Take Charge), Court, Stewart, 30-1

12 Search Results (Flatter), Irad Ortiz, Jr., Brown, 3-1

13 Competitive Speed (Competitive Edge), Landeros, Gonzalez, 50-1

14 Millefeuille (Curlin), Rosario, Mott, 20-1

The post ‘Rising Star’ Malathaat Favored For Oaks 147 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Champion Vequist Tops 106 Early Nominees To Kentucky Oaks

Champion 2-year-old filly Vequist, winner of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1), tops the roster of 106 early nominations to the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), North America's premier race for 3-year-old fillies that will be staged at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Friday, April 30.

Owned in partnership by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Swillcan Stable and trained by Butch Reid Jr., Vequist was a dominant two-length winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist is based at Palm Meadows in South Florida and is entered in Saturday's $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Other top contenders that were nominated to the Longines Kentucky Oaks include Stonestreet Stables' $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) winner Clairiere and OXO Equine's runner-up Travel Column; Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing and Nehoc Stables' $350,000 Alcibiades (G1) winner Simply Ravishing; and Shadwell Stable's undefeated Malathaat.

Each of the 106 fillies nominated to the Oaks were made eligible by a $200 payment that was due Feb. 13. A complete list of nominations will be available at https://www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/stakes/nominations/.

Trainer Todd Pletcher led all conditioners with nine fillies nominated to the Oaks followed by Kenny McPeek who had eight.

Fillies not nominated to the Kentucky Oaks can be made eligible through a $1,500 late fee due April 10 or a $25,000 supplemental nomination due at the time of entry. The Oaks field is limited to 14 starters and up to four fillies can be designated as “also-eligible” to start. Eligibility to compete is determined by points amassed during the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” point series.

Like the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, the Longines Kentucky Oaks has been run each year without interruption since 1875. The lucrative race is the centerpiece of a spectacular day of racing and entertainment at Churchill Downs that celebrates fashion, food, celebrity and fun with a focus on women's health issues and outreach.

Klaravich Stables' millionaire Digital Age (IRE) is nominated to attempt a repeat bid in this year's $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (Grade 1) on Saturday, May 1 at Churchill Downs.

The Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, annually attracts some of the nation's top turf horses. This year's race has 75 horses that were nominated. Previous winners include 2019 Horse of the Year and Champion Turf Male Bricks and Mortar; two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan; and Eclipse Award winners Manila, English Channel, Sky Classic and Paradise Creek. Einstein (BRZ) a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf, won back-to-back renewals in 2008-09.

Digital Age is one of 17 horses from trainer Chad Brown's stable nominated to the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic.

Another accomplished turf specialist nominated to this year's race is Robert and Lawana Low's $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) winner Colonel Liam. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Colonal Liam joined six other stablemates on the nomination list.

In total, 13 Grade 1 winners were nominated to this year's Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic. The full list of nominations are available at https://www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/stakes/nominations/.

The winner of the March 20 Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2) at Fair Grounds will be granted an automatic berth to the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic as well as the Arlington Million (G1). The winner of the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic also will be granted an automatic berth to the Arlington Million.

Horses nominated to the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic were made eligible by a $100 payment that was due Feb. 13. Horses not nominated can qualify through a $1,000 late fee due April 10 or a $20,000 supplemental nomination due at the time of entry on April 27. The race is limited to 14 starters with preference given to winners of graded turf stakes and, after that, highest earnings in stakes races on turf in 2020-21.

The post Champion Vequist Tops 106 Early Nominees To Kentucky Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Early Kentucky Oaks Nominations Due Saturday

Early nominations for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks and GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, held annually on GI Kentucky Derby weekend at Churchill Downs, are due Saturday.

Early nominations to the 1 1/8-mile Longines Kentucky Oaks Friday, Apr. 30, cost $200. A payment of $100 must be paid to become eligible for the May 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic.

Owners and trainers can nominate by calling the Churchill Downs Racing Office at (502) 636-3806. Stakes nomination forms are available online.

A late nomination period, for both the Longines Kentucky Oaks and Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, will run through Sunday, Apr. 10. The late nomination fee for the Oaks is $1,500 and Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic is $1,000.

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

Source of original post