2017 Ashland Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G1 Central Bank Ashland Stakes cones our way this Saturday, April 8 from Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. A nice purse of $500,000 and a 100-40-20-10 points scale to the top four finishers will be up for grabs for three year old fillies willing to go 1 1/16 miles on Keeneland's dirt track.

A wide open field of eight sophomore females will line up in the Ashland Stakes - race 9 on Keeneland's ridiculous Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:40 PM. Let's take a look into the past performances of all eight entries for this intriguing "Road to the Kentucky Oaks" qualifying G1 stakes.

2017 Ashland Stakes Entries at Keeneland Racecourse

Daddys Lil Darling 5-2 - has two wins and two second place finishes in seven career starts for trainer Kenneth McPeek. She won the G2 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs September 17 but has been just OK since. She enters off a sixth in the G3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay March 11 which followed a decent second in the G2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs and an OK fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Daddys Lil Darling has been competitive so far in her career but hopes for a breakthrough performance from gate 6 Saturday with Robby Albarado guiding the tepid morning line favorite.

Pretty City Dancer 7-2 - Mark Casse trained filly and Eclipse Award Finalist has placed five of six career starts - three wins, a second and a third place finish. Last time out was a bit of a dud however - a sixth in the G2 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream March 4 which followed a respectable second in the G2 Forward Gal Stakes February 4, a successful graded stakes debut - a dead-heat win in the G1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga September 3 and a nice win in her stakes debut - by 3 1/4 lengths in the minor Debutante Stakes July 2. Pretty City Dancer was a factor before last time out and hopes to regain that status with new rider Joel Rosario aboard the co-second betting choice from post 3.

Elate 7-2 - Bill Mott trained filly has a win, a second and a third place finish in her three race career. She won her debut by 12 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct November 26 and followed that with a second in the minor Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay February 11. Last time out was a third in the G3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 11. Elate has been in every race in her career and hopes to be again Saturday from gate 2 with Jose Ortiz aboard the other morning line second choice.

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Summer Luck 4-1 - has a win, a second and two third place finishes in five career starts for trainer Mark Casse. She arrives off a fast-closing third in the G2 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream March 4 which followed her only off-the-board finish - a fourth in the G2 Forward Gal Stakes on that track February 4, a third in the minor Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream January 7, a maiden score at Churchill Downs November 11 and a second in her debut at Keeneland in October. Summer Luck has been knocking on the door and will be after a first stakes score from post 5 Saturday. Florent Geroux gets the call.

Tapped 4-1 - has two wins and two runner-up finishes in five career starts for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Last time out was an OK second in the minor California Oaks at Golden Gate February 11 which followed an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Santa Anita January 13 and a fourth after tiring in her only graded stakes action to date - the G1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos December 10. She started her career with a maiden score at first asking and an OK second in the minor Pike Place Dancer Stakes at Golden Gate October 29. Tapped has been decent so far in her career and will try for a fist stakes score from the outside gate 8 Saturday. David Romero Flores is scheduled to ride.

Sailor's Valentine 12-1 - Eddie Kenneally trained filly has a win and two second place finishes in five career starts. She makes her graded stakes debut Saturday off a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Tampa Bay March 12 after a fifth in the minor Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream Park January 7, another runner-up in an Allowance Optional Claiming in November, a fourth in the minor Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs in October and a win at first asking - on this track in October. Sailor's Valentine has been OK so far in her career and will chase a first stakes win from post 7. Corey Lanerie has the mount.

Someday Soon 15-1 - has placed in five of eight career starts for trainer William Van Meter - three wins and two runner-up finishes. She won the minor John W Galbreath Stakes at Mahoning Valley in October but has failed to place in two of three starts since - both graded stakes. Last time out was an eighth in the G3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 11 which followed an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that track February 12 and a tenth in the G2 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs in November. Someday Soon has been inconsistent to say the least but tries for a first graded stakes score Saturday from the rail.

Meanie Irenie 30-1 - has three career starts for trainer Richard Baltas with a win and a third place finish - all results at Santa Anita. She steps into stakes company for the first time Saturday off a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming March 10 after a maiden score February 5 and a sixth in her debut in December. Meanie Irenie has shown improvement and hopes that it translates in her enormous step up in competition. Julien Leparoux will be in the saddle from gate 4.

2017 Ashland Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 9 on Keeneland's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:40 PM.