Travel Column | Horse Racing Free Tips

Clairiere and Travel Column Face Off Once Again in FG Oaks

Blue-blooded Clairiere (Curlin) and pricey yearling purchase Travel Column (Frosted) boast one win each from their two prior match-ups and one will break the tie Saturday in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks.

Clairiere came out on top by a gutsy neck in their last meeting in NOLA in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 13. Out of MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini), the Stonestreet Stables homebred won on debut going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs Oct. 25 and was second to Travel Column next out in that track's GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 28.

“The trip worked out perfectly for us in the Rachel Alexandra,” trainer Steve Asmussen told the Fair Grounds notes team. “At a mile-and-a-sixteenth, I think the fillies are competitive. It's the same distance on Saturday. We feel really good about our prospects going forward.”

Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' off her impressive career bow beneath the Twin Spires Sept. 4, Travel Column checked in third in Keeneland's GI Darley Alcibiades S. Oct. 2. Rallying from well back to take the Golden Rod, the $850,000 FTSAUG buy stalked from second early in the Rachel Alexandra and took control on the backstretch, but was run down by Clairiere in the final strides.

“I think she should get a good stalking trip from our post,” conditioner Brad Cox said. “There's no pace in the race. We're not going to sit back there and give someone the race. We didn't win [the Rachel Alexandra], but we were very, very pleased with the comeback and we expect her to move forward off that return. She's a very, very good work horse and she's been training great since that race.”

Undefeated Zaajel (Street Sense) takes on those rivals for the first time here. Charging home a 7 1/4-length winner in her seven-panel unveiling at Gulfstream Dec. 20, the Shadwell homebred scored a facile victory in the GIII Forward Gal S. in Hallandale Jan. 30. The bay tries two turns for the first time here, but her pedigree suggests that distance should not be a problem.

'TDN Rising Star' Souper Sensational (Curlin) takes another crack at NOLA's leading ladies here after finishing sixth behind the top two in the Rachel Alexandra. A decisive debut winner on the Woodbine synthetic in September, the $725,000 FTSAUG purchase took the Glorious Song S. there Oct. 17 and rallied to be second when trying dirt at Fair Grounds in the Jan. 16 Silverbulletday S., but failed to fire last time after being bumped and clipping heels.

Rounding out the field are Rachel Alexandra third Moon Swag (Malibu Moon); Juddmonte homebred Obligatory (Curlin), who graduated at second asking at Gulfstream Feb. 7; two-time winner Li'l Tootsie (Tapiture); and Suncoast S. third Il Malocchio (Souper Speedy).

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Clairiere, Travel Column Renew Rivalry In Fair Grounds Oaks

The score is tied at one apiece. Something will have to give when Clairiere and Travel Column meet for the third time in a row, this time with a lot more than the $400,000 that's on the line in Saturday's TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at Fair Ground Race Course & Slots. The tremendously talented 3-year-old fillies meet again, with a berth into Churchill Downs' April 30 Kentucky Oaks Presented by Longines waiting in the balance, along with 170 qualifying points for the race, on a 100-40-20-10 scale.

The Oaks is a deserving supporting feature to the $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) and adds plenty of intrigue to a 14-race card that features eight stakes. Long on history, six of the last 16 winners of the Fair Grounds Oaks have gone on to double at Churchill Downs, with the last being Untapable in 2014.

Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Oaks drew a field of eight, though all eyes will be on Stonestreet Stables' homebred Clairiere (post 6 at 5-2 on Mike Diliberto's morning line, with Joe Talamo to ride) and OXO Equine's Travel Column (post 8 at 2-1 with Florent Geroux).

Clairiere pulled off a slight upset when she beat Travel Column in the local February 13 Rachel Alexandra (G2), winning a stretch duel by a neck for trainer Steve Asmussen, who has won the local Oaks three time and has pulled off the Oaks double twice, with Summerly in in 2005 and again with Untapable. Clairiere, a regally-bred daughter of Curlin out of the multiple grade 1 winner Cavorting, was making her seasonal debut and first start since running second to Travel Column in Churchill's Golden Road (G2) in November, in what was just her second lifetime start. Clairiere has closed from at or near the back in all three career starts, and in an Oaks without a lot of early pace, she will once again have to make up ground on Travel Column. Regardless, Asmussen is looking forward to renewing the rivalry.

“Rubber match, right, with two qualities fillies,” Asmussen said. “The trip worked out perfectly for us in the Rachel Alexandra. At a mile-and-a-sixteenth, I think the fillies are competitive. It's the same distance on Saturday. We feel really good about our prospects going forward.”

Travel Column lost nothing in defeat as the even-money favorite in the Rachel Alexandra for trainer Brad Cox, who won his first local Oaks last year with Bonny South and has won two of the last three Kentucky Oaks as well. Travel Column has every right to turn the tables on Clairiere, as she was forced to make first run and tired only slightly in what was also her first start since the Golden Road. It was in that 1-length win at Churchill that the Frosted filly came to national attention, as she encountered plenty of trouble early and late yet won going away in what was clearly a coming-out performance. Travel Column is 2-for-4 lifetime and Cox is expecting another forward move with a filly who should have a tactical edge on her main rival.

“I think she should get a good stalking trip from our post,” Cox said. “There's no pace in the race. We're not going to sit back there and give someone the race. We didn't win (the Rachel Alexandra) but we were very, very pleased with the comeback and we expect her to move forward off that return. She's a very, very good work horse and she's been training great since that race.”

Joel Politi's Li'l Tootsie (post 4 at 4-1 with Luis Saez) is 2-for-3 in her career for trainer Tom Amoss, with all three starts coming at Fair Grounds. The daughter of Tapiture aired at 6 furlongs in her second start then stretched out to 1 1/16 miles and again looked good, settling early then finding room along the rail to win a February 21 optional-claimer in the slop. Amoss and Politi teamed in 2019 with Serengeti Empress, who starred locally and went on to win the Kentucky Oaks. Li'l Tootsie has yet to show she can play on a stage like that, but Amoss still enters with plenty of confidence.

“To say that we are in deep water is probably true, but at the same time this is a filly who can handle deep water; she might be in the deep end of the pool but she's doing the backstroke,” Amoss said. “She's a good horse and she's one that can hold her own with any of the fillies in this country. That's not only a trainer's opinion, but it shows in the speed figures. The Ragozin number is very, very good.”

A pair of Gulfstream Park invaders add to the depth of what is the best Oaks prep to date. Shadwell Stable's homebred Zaajel (post 1 at 8-1 with Irad Ortiz Jr.) in undefeated in two starts for Todd Pletcher. The daughter of Street Sense won twice at 7 furlongs at Gulfstream, including the January 30 Forward Gal (G3), though she'll clearly have to improve in what will be her two-turn debut. Zaajel has settled just off a quick pace in both her runs, and with an inside draw in what is a paceless Oaks, could find herself on the lead in an attempt to give Pletcher his third Oaks win, to go with Unlimited Budget (2013) and Ashado (2004), who also went on to win at Churchill.

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Obligatory (post 5 at 5-1 with Jose Ortiz) is another who should be close in her two-turn debut for trainer Bill Mott. The Curlin filly didn't fire when a troubled fourth on debut at Belmont Park in October but put it all together in her next start February 7 at Gulfstream, when she stretched out to a one-turn mile and drew off with ease.

Franco Meli's homebred Il Malocchio (post 7 at 15-1 with Brian Hernandez Jr.) was third in Tampa Bay Downs' February 6 Suncoast in her seasonal debut and first start for trainer Kenny McPeek, while Brad King, Jim Cone, Scott Bryant, and Stan and Suzanne Kirby's Moon Swag (post 2 at 20-1 with Adam Beschizza) was a distant third in the Rachel Alexandra but is on the improve for trainer Brendan Walsh, and Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational (post 3 at 15-1 with John Velazquez) was second in the local Silverbulletday in February for trainer Mark Casse but will try to bounce back from a well-beaten sixth in the Rachel Alexandra.

Additional Fair Grounds Oaks Quotes:

Amoss, Li'l Tootsie: Looking the field over, the one thing that captures your attention, there's no real pacesetter in the race. These horses are all stalk and jump on the lead twice. If you look at our last route race, which is a complete contradiction to the two sprints in terms of style, you have to ask yourself 'What are you going to get this time around from Li'l Tootsie?' I strongly believe she's going to be much sharper out of the gate and much more involved with what's going on early in the race. I'm not here to tell you that she's going to be the pacemaker, because that's not really that important to me, I think she's very capable of running well from anywhere on the track, I just believe that she's going to break sharper and be a part of that first wave of horses. I think her God-given athleticism will come into play.

I have a very good relationship with (Luis) Saez and his agent Kiaran McLaughlin, a former trainer, and we've had a lot of success with them. Luis won two grade 1's for me last year with Serengeti Empress and No Parole and when I found out he was coming into town, I told them I would support them all I can. I think he's one of the best riders in the entire country and I'm honored to have him on my horses.

She's got three races and a route under her belt. When you look at her in the paddock, she's a very good looking, athletic filly. She is also more feminine-looking than say, Serengeti Empress, so she doesn't need as much. She gets a lot out of her gallops, she's very enthusiastic in the morning, she loves to train. With what we've got coming ahead, I just don't feel like she needs to be set down hard anymore. We did that. We got to where we wanted to be. I'm very comfortable with how we've trained coming into the race and the time between races.

Walsh, Moon Swag: She runs well at Fair Grounds. She hasn't done anything wrong this winter and it's another chance to get some valuable black type. Realistically we are looking at running for a placing, but who knows. She'll be running at them at the end, and if there is a pace meltdown, we might get lucky. She's tricky temperamentally, but she's gotten better all the time. Three or four months ago you wouldn't have believed that she is where she is now with a live shot at a race like this. Since we've gotten to know her, she's found consistency through her routine. She just needs to keep progressing in her races and I can't see why she'd stop now.

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TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for March 11

It was an eventful weekend on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks, with major preps at Aqueduct (Busher Invitational S.), Oaklawn (GIII Honeybee S.) and at Santa Anita (GIII Santa Ysabel S.). The winners of all three of those races have made their way into our Oaks Top 10. Kalypso (Brody's Cause), who was third in the Santa Ysabel, drops out as trainer Bob Baffert has said he won't point her to the Oaks.

There's nothing on tap for the 3-year-old fillies this weekend but there will be a huge race Mar. 20 as the top two on our list, Clairiere (Curlin) and Travel Column (Frosted), are set to meet in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has had a lot of success in the Kentucky Oaks, winning it in 2005 with Summerly (Summer Squall) and in 2014 with Untapable (Tapit). Both fillies won the GII Fair Grounds Oaks on their way to the winner's circle at Churchill Downs and now Asmussen takes the same path with the talented daughter of Curlin. Since 2005, five winners of the Fair Grounds Oaks have gone on to win the Kentucky Oaks, including Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro). Received a ton of support in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, where she is the 7-2 favorite. Still must contend with rival Travel Column, who beat her in the Golden Rod S. and lost by just a neck in the GII Rachel Alexandra S.

2) TRAVEL COLUMN (Frosted–Swingit, by Victory Gallop)
'TDN Rising Star' O-OXO Equine. B-Mr. & Mrs. Bayne Welker, Jr. & Denali Stud (KY). T-Brad Cox. Sales History: $850,000 ylg '19 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP,
4-2-1-1, $269,184.
Last Start: 2nd GII Rachel Alexandra S. presented by Fasig-Tipton, FG, Feb. 13
Accomplishments Include: 1st GII Golden Rod S., CD, Nov. 28, 3rd GI Darley Alcibiades S., KEE, Oct. 2
Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 20
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 32

A classy filly from the Brad Cox barn, Travel Column worked a sharp five furlongs Saturday, posting a bullet :59.20 workout. An $850,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, she could be the Oaks favorite. All she has to do to achieve that is defeat our No. 1 horse, Clairiere, in the Fair Grounds Oaks. The two are very evenly matched. She broke her maiden at Churchill in September, so the track surface will not be an issue come Oaks day.

3) WILL'S SECRET (Will Take Charge–Girls Secret, by Giant's Causeway)
O/B-Willis Horton Racing (KY). T-Dallas Stewart. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-0-2, $343,300.
Last Start: 1st GIII Honeybee S., OP, Mar. 6
Accomplishments Include: 1st Martha Washington S., OP, Jan. 30
Next Start: Uncommitted
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 60

A newcomer to the top 10, Will's Secret jumps all the way up into the third spot off of a win in the Honeybee. Winning for the third straight time, she enjoyed a perfect ride from Jon Court, who got her to the lead and then slowed the pace down to a walk. They went the half mile in 49.70. Filly has faced Clairiere once, finishing third behind her in an October maiden race at Churchill Downs. Court, at age 60, will be looking to win the Oaks for the first time. Trainer Dallas Stewart won the Oaks in 2006 with Lemons Forever (Lemon Drop Kid).

4) ZAAJEL (Street Sense–Asiya, by Daaher)
O/B-Shadwell Stable (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $84,140.
Last Start: 1st GIII Forward Gal S., GP, Jan. 31
Next Start: Possible for GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 20
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 10

Has a lot of upside but also has a lot to prove. The Shadwell Stable homebred was explosive in her debut, winning by 7 1/4 lengths and came right back to win the GIII Forward Gal S. at seven furlongs. It's worth noting that her dam (Asiya) never won beyond seven furlongs. Trainer Todd Pletcher said she may go next in the Fair Grounds Oaks, which is setting up to be a bear of a race. Closed at 28-1 in the Oaks Future Wager.

Missed her planned start in the GII Davona Dale S. after she had a minor problem and missed some training time. It looks like she will come back in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, where she will have to play catch-up. Whatever was bugging her is in the past as she has had two workouts since Feb. 28. The latest was a five furlong breeze on Saturday. Still, might not be the best way to go into the Kentucky Oaks, off just one prep. Like Zaajel, is owned by Shadwell Stable. Cost $1.05 million at Keeneland September. Her dam won the Gulfstream Oaks by an incredible 21 3/4 lengths before finishing fourth as the favorite in the 2013 Kentucky Oaks.

6) SIMPLY RAVISHING (Laoban–Four Wishes, by More Than Ready)
O-Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing & Nehoc Stables.
B-Meg Levy (NY). T-Ken McPeek. Sales History: $50,000 ylg '19 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-0-0, $414,200.
Last Start: 4th GII Golden Rod S., CD, Nov. 28
Accomplishments Include: 1st GI Darley Alcibiades S., KEE,
Oct. 2, 1st P.G. Johnson S., SAR, Sept. 3
Next Start: GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, GP, Mar. 27
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 13

A little late to get going, but trainer Kenny McPeek appears to have her ready after working four times at Gulfstream Park. Her scheduled start in the Mar. 27 Gulfstream Park Oaks comes after she finished fourth as the odds-on favorite in the GII Golden Rod S. in November. Like Malathaat, she will have only one prep for the Kentucky Oaks, which might not be the best way to go into the race.

7) VEQUIST (Nyquist–Vero Amore, by Mineshaft)
O-Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable & Swilcan Stable. B-Swilcan Stables (KY). T-Robert E. Reid, Jr. Sales History: $120,000 RNA ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly & MGISW, 5-2-2-0, $1,237,500.
Last Start: 9th GII Davona Dale S., GP, Feb. 27
Accomplishments Include: 1st GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, KEE, Nov. 6 1st GI Spinaway S., SAR, Sept. 6, 2nd GI Frizette S., BEL, Oct. 10
Next Start: Uncommitted
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 24

Her race in the Davona Dale, where she was ninth and beaten a city block, remains a mystery. What happened? Trainer Butch Reid said there's nothing new to report on his Eclipse Award-winning filly and that her next race has yet to be picked out. Coming off a terrible race and with not much time left before the Oaks, it's no certainty she will make the race. But we will keep her in the Top 10 until the connections say the Oaks is not in her future. Can you draw a line through her last race or not?

8) BEAUTIFUL GIFT (Medaglia d'Oro–Sea Gift, by A.P. Indy)
O/B-Baoma Corporation (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-0-1, $99,600.
Last Start: 1st GIII Santa Ysabel S., SA, Mar. 7
Next Start: GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, Apr. 3
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 50

It's been an odd year for the California-based 3-year-old fillies. No one has stepped forward to claim the top spot in the division and most of the fillies racing there have yet to run a big speed figure. The latest to emerge is Beautiful Gift, who earned an 87 Beyer when winning the Santa Ysabel. There were only four horses in the race and three were trained by Bob Baffert. Scored a narrow win over Moraz (Empire Maker), who was just a head back at the wire. A win in Santa Anita Oaks would solidify her standing as the top 3-year-old filly based in Southern California.

9) SEARCH RESULTS (Flatter–Co Cola, by Candy Ride {Arg})
O-Klaravich Stables Inc. B-Machmer Hall (KY). T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $310,000 ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 2-2-0-0, $161,500.
Last Start: 1st Busher Invitational S., AQU, Mar. 6
Next Start: GII Gazelle S., AQU, Apr. 3
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 50

A very interesting prospect from the barn of Chad Brown. Made just her second lifetime start in the one-mile Busher Invitational, which she won by a half-length. She didn't beat the best field, but she showed a lot for a horse who had merely broken her maiden and had never raced beyond six furlongs. “I like the way she galloped out and I think she's going to be a good filly in the future. Two turns will be even better,” jockey Javier Castellano said after the win. The Gazelle, which is next, is run at a mile-and-an-eighth and will be an important test for the daughter of Flatter.

10) PAULINE'S PEARL (Tapit–Hot Dixie Chick, by Dixie Union)
O/B-Stonestreet Stables LLC (KY). T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: GSP, 4-1-1-1, $101,500.
Last Start: 2nd GIII Honeybee S., OP, Mar. 6
Next Start: Possible for GIII Fantasy S., OP, Apr. 3
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 20

Looks like the second best 3-year-old filly in the Steve Asmussen barn. She didn't break her maiden until Feb. 12, and didn't take much money when making her stakes debut in the Honeybee. At 18-1, ran a sharp second behind Will's Secret. A Stonestreet Stables homebred, she is by Tapit, which means she probably hasn't peaked. Dam Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union) won the GI Spinaway S. in 2009 for Asmussen. She never won beyond seven furlongs or was even tested at a distance longer than that.

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The TDN Oaks Top 10 for March 4

It wasn't that long ago that the picture for the 3-year-old fillies seemed pretty straightforward. Vequist (Nyquist) was the clear leader of the division and there appeared to be a handful of other top fillies that could challenge her supremacy. Has that ever changed. Vequist did nothing right in her 3-year-old debut in the Davona Dale S., finishing ninth, 26 lengths behind the winner. Second choice Millefeuille (Curlin) didn't fare much better, finishing seventh. The winner, Wholebodemeister (Bodemeister), paid $107.60. Meanwhile, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief) has not had a published workout since Jan. 25. And Malathaat (Curlin), the winner of the GII Demoiselle S., missed some training time and only recently returned to the work tab. The bottom line is that this division is a mess. Hopefully, the picture will look better after this weekend, which features the Busher Invitational at Aqueduct, the GIII Honeybee S. at Oaklawn and the GIII Santa Ysabel S. at Santa Anita.

1) CLAIRIERE (Curlin–Cavorting, by Bernardini)
O/B-Stonestreet Stables (KY). T-Steve Asmussen. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-1-0, $270,492.
Last Start: 1st GII Rachel Alexandra S. presented by Fasig-Tipton, FG, Feb. 13
Accomplishments Include: 2nd GII Golden Rod S., CD, Nov. 28
Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 20
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 54
She winds up in the top spot after Vequist ran so poorly in the Davona Dale. That's not to say that she is a clear-cut favorite for the GI Kentucky Oaks. Anything but. But she is coming off of a win in the GII Rachel Alexandra, is in the capable hands of Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and defeated a good one in Travel Column (Frosted) in her last start. She's a late-running filly by Curlin, so distance should not be a problem for and she is likely to get better in the months ahead. Breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60 on Monday.

2) ZAAJEL (Street Sense–Asiya, by Daaher)
O/B-Shadwell Stable (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Lifetime Record: GSW, 2-2-0-0, $84,140.
Last Start: 1st GIII Forward Gal S., GP, Jan. 31
Next Start: Uncommitted
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 10
Really hasn't done enough to merit being second on this list, but who else is better? At the very least, Zaajel has a lot of potential. She broke her maiden impressively for trainer Todd Pletcher and came right back to win the GIII Forward Gal S at seven furlongs. Pletcher will, no doubt, pick out a route for her next start. That will be the test and if she passes it she will have proven that she belongs in the same sentence with the top horses in the division. Her dam has had five runners, with four winners, including Aljaaweed (Curlin), the runner-up in the 2019 GII Remsen S.

3) TRAVEL COLUMN (Frosted–Swingit, by Victory Gallop)
'TDN Rising Star' O-OXO Equine. B-Mr. & Mrs. Bayne Welker, Jr. & Denali Stud (KY). T-Brad Cox. Sales History: $850,000 ylg '19 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP,
4-2-1-1, $269,184.
Last Start: 2nd GII Rachel Alexandra S. presented by Fasig-Tipton, FG, Feb. 13
Accomplishments Include: 1st GII Golden Rod S., CD, Nov. 28, 3rd GI Darley Alcibiades S., KEE, Oct. 2
Next Start: GII Fair Grounds Oaks, FG, Mar. 20
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 32
Also moves up, from fifth to third, due to attrition in the ranks. If you like Clairiere, you probably can't dislike this filly. She had the lead at the stretch call in the Rachel Alexandra before losing to Clairiere by a neck. An $850,000 purchase at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, she beat Clairiere in the last start at two for both of them, the GII Golden Rod S. Also comes from a powerful barn in the Brad Cox stable. As has been the case over the last few years, Cox is loaded in this division and will be looking fr his third Oaks win since 2018.

4) SIMPLY RAVISHING (Laoban–Four Wishes, by More Than Ready)
O-Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing & Nehoc Stables.
B-Meg Levy (NY). T-Ken McPeek. Sales History: $50,000 ylg '19 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-0-0, $414,200.
Last Start: 4th GII Golden Rod S., CD, Nov. 28
Accomplishments Include: 1st GI Darley Alcibiades S., KEE,
Oct. 2, 1st P.G. Johnson S., SAR, Sept. 3
Next Start: Uncommitted
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 13
Trainer Kenny McPeek continues to take his time with the filly that won last year's GI Darley Alcibiades S., but it appears that she is getting close to a race. She worked five furlongs in :59.27 seconds on Feb. 26. Because she had an up-and-down 2-year-old campaign, she's a hard horse to gauge. What will we get this year, the horse who romped in the Alcibiades or the horse who was fourth in the Golden Road at odds of 7-10? Trainer Kenny McPeek did everything right last year with Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), but failed to win the Oaks. You know he'd like to make amends this year.

5) MALATHAAT (Curlin–Dreaming of Julia, by A.P. Indy)
'TDN Rising Star' O-Shadwell Stable. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY). T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $1,050,000 ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-2-0-0, $172,150.
Last Start: 1st GII Demoiselle S., AQU, Dec. 5
Accomplishments Include: 1st Tempted S., AQU, Nov. 6
Next Start: Uncommitted
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 10
She drops down a couple of spots because she missed a work and had to sit out the Davona Dale. Trainer Pletcher reports that it was not a significant issue and she is already back on the work tab, having breezed a half-mile in :49.21 Sunday. He said he will look for a race for her in April. Though the problem has been described as minor, it's never a good thing when a horse misses time this close to a race as tough as the Oaks. And if Pletcher sticks to his time line, she'll come into the Oaks off of one prep as a 3-year-old. That, too, is a difficult position to be in. But she is a talented, undefeated (3-for-3) daughter of Curlin and may yet be good enough to overcome the challenges that she's about to face.

6) VEQUIST (Nyquist—Vero Amore, by Mineshaft)
O-Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable & Swilcan Stable. B-Swilcan Stables (KY). T-Robert E. Reid, Jr. Sales History: $120,000 RNA ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly & MGISW, 5-2-2-0, $1,237,500.
Last Start: 9th GII Davona Dale S., GP, Feb. 27
Accomplishments Include: 1st GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, KEE, Nov. 6 1st GI Spinaway S., SAR, Sept. 6, 2nd GI Frizette S., BEL, Oct. 10
Next Start: Uncommitted
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 24
What happened to her in the Davona Dale? That's among the biggest mysteries so far this year in racing, how a horse can go from winning the Juvenile Fillies to running so dismally in a 3-year-old debut. Trainer Butch Reid has said he has found nothing seriously wrong with her, so all one can do is scratch their heads. It would be a rare feat to come back from a race that was that bad and win a race like the Oaks. But until her connections say she is off the Oaks trail, she has to be included somewhere on this list. Reid has not picked out her next start but said it definitely won't be at Gulfstream. He is concerned she doesn't like the South Florida heat.

7) KALYPSO (Brody's Cause–Malibu Cove, by Malibu Moon)
O-David A. Bernsen, Rockingham Ranch & Chad Littlefield. B-Spendthrift Farm (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $240,000 ylg '19 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP,
5-2-2-1, $245,600.
Last Start: 2nd GIII Las Virgenes S., SA, Feb. 6
Accomplishments Include: 1st GII Santa Ynez S., SA, Jan. 3, 1st Anoakia S., SA, Oct. 18, 2nd GI Starlet S., LRC, Dec. 5
Next Start: GIII Santa Ysabel S., SA, Mar. 7
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 18
She's set to go Sunday in the Santa Ysabel, where a win would cement her status as the top 3-year-old filly in California, a division that has been hit with some fairly serious defections through injury. A $240,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale, she's proven to be a good buy. She's never run a bad race and is already a Grade II winner, having captured the Santa Ynez S. Trainer Bob Baffert is known for winning the GI Kentucky Derby, but he's hardly a slouch when it comes to the Oaks. He's won the race three times and will be going for his first win since 2017 with Abel Tasman (Quality Road).

8) SUN PATH (Munnings–Touch the Star, by Tapit)
O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY). T-Brad Cox. Lifetime Record:
4-2-1-0, $97,892.
Last Start: 4th Silverbulletday S., FG, Jan. 16
Accomplishments Include: 1st Allowance, FG, Dec. 18, 1st MSW, CD, Nov. 8
Next Start: GIII Honeybee S., OP, Mar. 6
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 1
She deserves another chance. As the 7-10 favorite, she didn't run up to expectations when fourth in the Silverbulletday S. at the Fair Grounds in her last start. Before that, she looked like a serious prospect when winning an allowance race by 12 3/4 lengths. It's become unusual to see a Brad Cox-trained horse disappoint in a big race, so it would be no surprise if she were to rebound in Saturday's Honeybee S. at Oaklawn. Hasn't missed a beat in the mornings with four works since her last race. One bad sign: Florent Geroux has gotten off of her to ride Cox's other horse in the race, Coach (Commissioner).

9) WHOLEBODEMEISTER (Bodemeister–Wholelottashakin, by Scat Daddy)
O/B-Sabana Farm (KY). T-Juan Avila. Lifetime Record: GSW,
7-3-0-1, $175,922.
Last Start: 1st GII Davona Dale S., GP, Feb. 27
Next Start: GI Kentucky Oaks, CD, Apr. 30
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 52
Wouldn't have been on anyone's Oaks list before her stunning upset in the Davona Dale. Not only did she win at 52-1, but she thrashed her opponents, winning by 6 1/2 lengths. Trainer Juan Carlos Avila says she won't run her again until the Oaks. “That will be two months between races, which will be perfect for her.” Avila is setting himself up for more criticism. He took the same approach with King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) for last year's Kentucky Derby and his plan didn't come close to working out. Despite her big win, she'll still be a longshot going forward as many handicappers will likely dismiss the Davona Dale as a fluke.

10) THE GRASS IS BLUE (Broken Vow–Shine Softly, by Adebaran)
O-Louis Lazzinnaro LLC. B-Phillips Racing Partnership (KY).
T-Chad Brown. Sales History: $20,000 yrl '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 5-3-0-1, $121,978.
Last Start: 1st Busanda S., Aqu, Jan. 24
Accomplishments Include: 3rd Anne Arundel County S., Lrl,
Dec. 26
Next Start: Busher Invitational S., AQU, Mar. 6
Equineline PPs. KY Oaks Points: 10
The jury is still out on this one. She comes from the powerful Chad Brown barn and was a solid winner when taking the Busanda by a length. But class handicappers will see that she started her career off in a $25,000 maiden claimer and has yet to start in a graded stakes. It looks like Brown made a smart move when deciding to keep her with his New York division for the winter. The New York preps for the Oaks usually don't come up that tough and there's plenty of money to be made, starting with the $250,000 Busher.

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