Three days after running a good third in the May 5 Kentucky Oaks, The Alys Look found herself in a new home with a new trainer. No longer was she a part of the powerhouse Brad Cox stable.
Instead, in the aftermath of the Kentucky Oaks, owners Ike and Dawn Thrash transferred The Alys Look and seven other horses from Cox to relative newcomer Christopher Davis. On Saturday, the 34-year-old Davis will saddle his first starter at Santa Anita when The Alys Look goes in the G2 Summertime Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. She is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line.
“These are the opportunities you work for,” said Davis, who hails from a racing background. His mother is the longtime Chicagoland trainer Liane P. Davis and father is racetrack veteran Herschel Davis.
The Alys Look, who was 30-1 when beaten just 2 ¾ lengths by Pretty Mischievous in the Kentucky Oaks, will break from the rail under Hall of Famer Mike Smith on Saturday.
“Brad did a fantastic job with her. She's very sound, a big rangy two-turn horse,” Davis said. “She's extremely classy, nothing seems to faze her. She has handled shipping cross country just fine.”
The Alys Look arrived at Santa Anita a week ago Wednesday, May 24. She has not had a work locally. Her last drill was May 19 at Keeneland when going four furlongs in 48.80 seconds. Instead of a timed workout at Santa Anita, Davis has given The Alys Look a series of mile and one half gallops to prepare.
“Obviously she ran hard going a mile-and-an-eighth in the Kentucky Oaks,” Davis said.
“She's a big filly, but not a heavy filly. I liked what I saw with her last work. She's fit. I just wanted to get her fresh as possible so she isn't dull. It seems like she handled the surface and track here just fine.”
By Connect, The Alys Look is proving to be a consistent filly for the Thrashes. Prior to the Kentucky Oaks, she won the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds Jan. 21 and was third in the G2 Fair Grounds Oaks March 25. She has not missed the board since earning her diploma at Fair Grounds Dec. 1.
“Se seems to always run her race,” Davis said.
The decision to ship West for the Summertime was based on a number of factors, he added.
“There really aren't any Grade 2's back east until later in the summer. We'd like to win a graded stakes with her and timing wise this set up good for our plan,” Davis said. “We also wanted to dodge some of the heavy heads out there that are going to the Grade I Acorn at Belmont Park.”
Davis said his history with the Thrashes dates back to his time as an assistant for trainer Michael Stidham. They approached him “a few months ago” asking how many horses he had and if he'd be willing to take more.
“I said absolutely,” Davis said.
After starting with two horses in October 2016, Davis now has about 30 under his care at his Keeneland base. In addition to The Alys Look, the Thrashes also sent him four 2-year-olds and three other horses.
“It's been a grind,” Davis said of his young training career. “This is a very competitive business to get started in, especially when you are a little younger. You just have to work hard and eventually get lucky. Hope for an opportunity. Kind of like this one, where somebody takes a chance on you.”
Davis's last stint as an assistant was at Santa Anita with trainer Phil D'Amato, who he said played a key a role in giving him his start.
“Phil asked me if I want to go out on my own. He said he had a guy with a couple of horses to get me started if I wanted to go back to the Midwest,” Davis said. “I thought about it for a while, figured it would be a good fit, so I jumped at it.”
Davis's first win came Nov. 27 2016 at Fair Grounds with the Irish-bred Uncork the York. He now has 146 wins to his credit. Davis's lone graded stakes triumph came in the 2021 G3 Modesty Stakes at Arlington Park with Naval Laughter.
“Hopefully we'll get another one Saturday,” Davis said. “I think she stacks up well, at least numbers wise. You never know until they actually run against each other obviously.”
The Summertime goes as the eighth race on Saturday's nine-race card. Post time is scheduled for 4:44 p.m. The field in post position order:
- The Alys Look, Mike Smith (5-2);
- Window Shopping, Hector Berrios (5-1);
- And Tell Me Nolies, Ramon Vazquez (4-1);
- Lily Poo, Umberto Rispoli (8-1);
- Doinitthehardway, Juan Hernandez (3-1);
- Ancient Peace, Tiago Pereira (8-1);
- Anywho, Joe Bravo (3-1).
The post ‘These Are The Opportunities You Work For’: Chris Davis Grateful For Opportunity With Oaks Third The Alys Look appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
