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#3 Kentucky Oaks Buy or Sell- Tuesday Jan 7th 2020- By Nikki Somolovich

Kentucky Oaks Futures Index-Wednesday, December 11, 2019, by Nikki Samolovitch.

This is the third edition of the new Kentucky Oaks Futures Index found on the Daily Gallop. Unlike the other Top 10 Contender lists this one aims to be a ranking of these aspiring 3 yr old as if they are commodities on the market. My opinions will be offered on which horses I think should are major competitors to hit the board on Oaks Day.

BUY

  1. Bast: (Uncle Mo) Trained by Bob Baffert 1st in the Chandelier Stakes, 1st in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes and 3rd in the BC Juvenile Fillies, 1st in the Starlet Stakes, 1st in the Santa Ynez.

I am moving Bast up to #1 on the list as she kicked off her 3-year-old season with a win in the (G2) Santa Ynez. She out classed her 2 other stablemates to score a 108 Beyer.  Her win puts her atop the Oaks leaderboard with 34 points. With the win in the Starlet, Bast now accounts for three Grade 1 victories this season more than any on the Oaks trail. She is the only 2-year-old of either sex to have won so many prestigious races in North America in 2019. I look forward to her continued progression in 2020 and to see her in the gates the first Friday in May. 

  1. British Idiom: (Tapit) Trained by Brad Cox. 1st in the BC Juvenile Fillies,1st in the Alcibiades.

I am moving British Idiom the #2 spot until I see her next race. I have been watching her latest workouts at the Fairground in Dec and Jan 6. She posted a solid 49 in 4 Furlongs. British Idiom has shipped and won on 3 different tracks in three different states. This undefeated impressive filly has showed up on big race days against the best competition so far.  Brad said the plan now with her is the Rachel Alexandra Stakes in February it isn’t set in stone but it is the target. I anticipate seeing her in the gates on Oaks Day and a rematch with Bast and Donna Veloce.

  1. Donna Veloce: (Uncle Mo) Trained by Simon Callaghan. 2nd in the BC Juvenile Fillies, 2nd in the Starlet.

Donna Veloce to be rested, will return in March. Simon Callaghan said he hopes to give the filly two starts before the Kentucky Oaks. Barring any setbacks, she is a dangerous one for them to keep an eye on. I look for her to be making a lot of noise and earning her spot on Oaks Day.

  1. Finite: (Tapit) Trained by Steve Asmussen. 1st in the Golden Rod, 1st in the Rags to Riches Stakes.

She has been undefeated since breaking her maiden and continued the streak on Saturday in the Golden Rod. She has been nominated for the Silverbullet Day Stakes at the Fairgrounds. This filly has now won on turf, over one turn on the dirt and over two turns on an off track. The Golden Rod Victory earned her 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. The Golden Rod has a strong recent history. Monomoy Girl ran second in 2017 before going on to win the 2019 Oaks, while Liora topped the Golden Rod before finishing as the runner-up in the 2019 Oaks. Look for her in the gate on Oaks Day.

  1. Lake Avenue: (Tapit) Trained by Bill Mott. 1st in the Demoiselle Stakes. 

Lake Avenue made some noise with her win in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes. This Godolphin owned filly was a 12 ¾-length maiden winner last time out for the Bill Mott barn. She ran back to that performance while emerging as a key player for the 2020 Kentucky Oaks. The Demoiselle is run at the same 9 furlongs distance as the Kentucky Oaks. With her impressive win gives us every indication of where we will she her on Oaks Day. 

Sell:

  1. Perfect Alibi: (Sky Mesa) Trained by Mark Casse. 4th in the BC Juvenile Fillies,2nd in the Alcibiades Stakes, 1st in the Spinaway Stakes, 1st in the Adirondack Stakes, 2nd in the Astoria Stakes.

Perfect Alibi is still the one to keep an eye on. In 2020, her connections are going to aim her to the Oaks via Fair Grounds. She has done everything and more to show up on big race days and will continue to do so under Casse. He knows a thing or two about getting a filly ready for Oaks Day, Wonder Gadot, who finished 2nd to Monomy Girl. With no issues look to see her in the gates on Oaks Day.

  1. Frank’s Rockette: (Into Mischief) Trained by Bill Mott 2nd in the Frizette Stakes, 2nd in the Spinaway Stakes

This talented filly out of Into Mischief didn’t make it into the gate on Breeders Cup day but that is no reason to discount any chances she has progressing for Oaks day in 2020. I am having her in the Sell column until Bill Mott points to her next race.Her and Perfect Alibi dueled in the Spinaway but she showed all heart and with some time off to refresh and additional training by the great Mott we should see her again hitting the board in 2020.

  1. Wicked Whisper: (Liam’s Map) Trained by Steve Asmussen 5th in the BC Juvenile Fillies, 1st in the Frizette Stakes.

She hasn’t posted any works since the Breeders Cup. She is the classiest filly to come out of the NY Circuit. Winning impressively in Saratoga and Belmont. She finished 5th  in the Breeders Cup. I was hoping to see more out of this filly. We saw Jaywalk win the Frizette and then go on to win the BC Juv Fillies but unable to overcome her 2yo old debut to progress as a 3 year old and I am thinking this is where this filly is going as well.

  1. Comical: (Into Mischief) Trained by Doug O’Neill. 7th in the BC Juvenile Fillies, 2nd in the Chandelier Stakes, 3rd in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes

She gave Bast a run for her money in the Chandelier Stakes. She hasn’t posted any workouts since the Breeders Cup. That race clearly wasn’t the best for Bast and Bob didn’t have her fully cranked up. She was unable to repeat her performance on her home track by finishing 7th in a 9 horse field. She was unable to repeat her performance in the Breeders Cup Juv race finishing 7th. I don’t see her having a repeat or coming close to beating any of these other talented fillies

  1. Two Sixty(Uncaptured) Trained by Mark Casse. 9th in the BC Juvenile Fillies, 1st in FTBOA Stakes

Bast pressured Two Sixty into submission and she finished last in the Breeders Cup Juv. She is a Florida-bred who has raced exclusively at Gulfstream Park and faced state-bred stakes company in her past three outings. I think shipping her back down south she will be able to compete but not to the level or class as to what it will take to earn her place in the Oaks.

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