Kentucky Oaks 2014 at Churchill Downs
Las Vegas, NV - Churchill Downs in the great state of Kentucky will be the center of the horse racing universe this weekend - the action kicks off on Friday, May 2. The Longines Kentucky Oaks is the feature race on the Friday schedule and features three year old fillies willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Churchill Downs's main track for a purse of $1 million.
A field of 13 of the best three years old fillies in the land have been confirmed for the Kentucky Oaks - race 11 on Churchill Downs's Friday card. Post time is 5:49 PM. Here is a look into the credentials of all 13 entries for this lucrative Grade 1 stakes.
2014 Kentucky Oaks Race Favorites
Untapable - Steve Asmussen trained filly enters on the heels of two straight graded stakes scores - the Grade 2 Fair Ground Oaks last time out march 29 and the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes on that same track in February. Her lone poor career performance came in the Breeders' Cup - an eighth place finish after two wins to start her career. Untapable has four wins and a third place finish in six career starts and is the one to beat Friday. She is the 4-4 morning line favorite and leaves from the outside post with Rosie Napravnik aboard.
Fashion Plate - Simon Callahan trainee broke maiden December 29 in gate to wire fashion by 6 1/2 lengths in her third career start - at Santa Anita after a third and a seventh respectively in a pair of MSW races. She made a huge statement with a terrific win over Streaming in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes with a career best 83 Beyer Speed Figure February 1 and followed that with another terrific win - in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks April 5. Fashion Plate has won three straight races ahead of Friday and is expected to be right in the hunt. Gary Stevens rides from post 7 at 6-1 odds.
Rosalind - Kenneth McPeek trained filly has placed in six of seven career starts including a good third after rallying from 16 lengths back and almost getting in for second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, a second in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland October 4, a good third in the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes September 7 at Churchill Downs and a win in her debut in a MSW in August. She is coming off a terrific win in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland April 5 after a third behind In Tune in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream February 27 and her only off-the-board finish - a fourth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet at Hollywood Park December 7. She opened a few eyes with her win last time out and is the co-third choice at 8-1 odds. Joel Rosario gets the call.
Kentucky Oaks 2014 | Remaining Field Entries
My Miss Sophia - highly regarded Todd Pletcher trained filly will race for just the fourth time Saturday - she broke maiden by an impressive 11 lengths March 9 after a second in a similar race on that track February 9 and had a true breakthrough performance last time out - a win in the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct April 5. She has gotten consistently better and goes off at 8-1 odds. Javier Castellano gets the call from post 11.
Sugar Shock - has three wins and a second in her last four starts. She is coming off a win in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park April 5 after a good second in the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes on that same track in March. Sugar Shock will go off at an intriguing 12-1 odds Saturday with Calvin Borel in the saddle from gate 3.
Ria Antonia - won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies by DQ - quite an accomplishment any way you look at it, but followed that with a rather disappointing fourth behind Untapable in the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds February 22. Last time out was a bit of a bounce back - a second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks April 5.Before the BC triumph was a fifth in the Grade 1 Frizette and a fourth in the minor Swynford at Woodbine August 24. Ria Antonia will be looking to prove her Breeders' Cup result wasn't a fluke - a good performance Saturday will go a long way. Mike Smith will ride from the rail for trainer Bob Baffert in this one at 10-1 odds.
Online horse betting with OffTrackBetting.com
Unbridled Forever - has two wins and a third place finish in four career starts - one of those wins coming on this track three back - a maiden score November 30. She went on to a nice win in the minor Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds in January and was recently third behind Untapable in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks March 29. Unbridled Forever will have Robby Albarato in the reins Saturday - from post 9 at 12-1 odds.
Got Lucky - Todd Pletcher trainee has not been worse than second in five career starts - a maiden win in her third career start and four second place finishes including the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct April 5, the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes by a neck November 30 and the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds February 22. She has been in every race she's enters and could be a sneaky entry for the Oaks. John Velazquez rides from gate 12 at 20-1 odds.
Thank You Marylou - has been good so far in her four race career for trainer Michael Maker - two wins, a second and a third place finish. She debuted in July with a nice win in the minor Tippett Stakes at Colonial Downs and followed that with a very respectable second in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga in August. After seven months away she recently returned to action with a win in the minor Ant Limit Stakes at Gulfstream March 9. Last time out was a third in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland April 5. Julien Leparoux gets the call from post 5 and is listed at 30-1 odds.
Kiss Moon - has two wins, a second and a third place finish in five career starts and has looked good in graded stakes action. Last time out was a second in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oklawn Park after a third in the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes on that same track in March. Kiss Moon has been very competitive lately and is 30-1 on the morning line. Victor Espinoza gets the call from post 6.
Please Explain - Thomas Proctor trained filly has not looked good lately - a seventh last time out in the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes followed an eleventh in the Grade 3 Honeybee. She is 50-1 on the morning line and leaves from the rail with Jose Lezcano aboard.
Aurelia's Belle - will race for the sixth time for trainer Wayne Catalano and is coming off a career defining win in the Grade 3 Burbonette Oaks at Turfway Park March 22. Before that was a decent third in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream February 22, a good second behind Onlyforyou in the Grade 2 Forward Gal Stakes January 25 and a decent third in the Grade 3 Old Hat Stakes (7 1/2 lengths back) January 4. She has been competitive every time out and may be the best value on the board at 50-1 odds. Channing Hill gets the call from gate 8.
Empress of Midway - Doug O'Neill trained filly makes her graded stakes debut off a second in the minor Sunland Park Oaks and a maiden score at Santa Anita in February. She is 50-1 on the morning line and will have Corey Nakatani aboard.
