Blog

Kentucky Oaks Futures Index-Wednesday January 22, 2020, by Nikki Samolovitch.

This is the fourth edition of the new Kentucky Oaks Futures Index found on the Daily Gallop. My opinions will be offered on which horses I think should are major competitors to hit the board on Oaks Day. The past few weeks there has been a certain horse who has caught the eye of everyone who has watched her train and race. Even though she hasn’t competed in an Oaks prep race to not mention her and put her on your Oaks radar would be an injustice. This filly I am referring to is Taraz, she is another very talented filly in the Brad Cox barn. She has won impressively on her last 2 races. There has even been talk in the possibility of her competing with the boy in the Kentucky Derby. Her next race is Feb. 1 at Oaklawn Park in the Martha Washington Stakes. I am counting the days and can’t wait to add her to the Buy column next edition. 

BUY

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

Bast is still #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. 1^st in the BC Juvenile Fillies,1^st in the Alcibiades.

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

Finite continued her win streak in the Silverbulletday Stakes and gave Steve Asmussen his 1,000 win. This win earned her 10 more points putting her third in the rankings.  This filly has now won on turf, over one turn on the dirt and over two turns on an off track. Everything they have asked her for she has delivered. Look for this fighting filly to show up with her A game on Oaks Day.

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

Donna Veloce to be rested, will return in March. I am keeping her in the 4 spot until her next race. I think her impressive 2^nd’s against Bast and British Idiom show her class. 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. Ursula: (Tapit) Trained by Michael Stidham. 2^nd in the Siverbulletday Stakes.

Ursula went into the Silverbulletday with significant upside.  She was beaten last out in the Letellier — but that was behind the extremely promising Taraz. She showed in both that start and her maiden win that she has tactical speed, and she got some experience over a sloppy track in the Letellier, if it comes to that.  Ursula went two turns for the first time in the Silverbulletday Stakes and gave Finite a run for her money. I must admit I am a huge Australian racing fan so when I saw that she is out of the Anabaa mare Debonnaire I got excited. Hartnell is one of her progeny.  Hartnell is well known for his rivalry with champion horse Winx. Hartnell has won at distances as long as a mile and a half. Ursula should have no issue with distance and stamina in the Oaks. Keep an eye on this one and I am looking forward to seeing her in the gate on Oaks day

Sell:

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

I had to move Lake Avenue to the sold column until I see her next race. Urusla was just too good against Finite and Taraz to leave her out. Lake Avenue made some noise with her win in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes but until her next race she will stay here. 

1. Portrait: (Tapizar) Trained by Brad Cox. 3^rd in the Pocahontas Stakes, 4^th in the Silverbulletday Stakes.

There was a lot of buzz going into the Silverbulletday Stakes with this filly. Brad already has 2 impressive fillies on the Oaks trail with Taraz and British Idiom. I just don’t think Portrait belongs in the same column as them. The biggest question for her is distance and she just couldn’t catch Finite and Ursula down the stretch. In her last races her best outing came at one turn. I think Brad should keep her going one turn and focus on his other 2 for the Oaks.

1. Auberge: (Palace) Trained by Bob Baffert. 2^nd in the Santa Ynez.

Auberge was lightly raced going into the Santa Ynez and Bob kept saying he had her cranked going into this race and was always pointing to this race. Bast just blew by her in the Santa Ynez and I was disappointed we didn’t see more of a duel as I expected going into this race. Compared to her other top California horse Donna Veloce and Bast, Auberge pales in comparison. Sell until next race and we will see.

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

Perfect Alibi is still the one to keep an eye on. She is remaining in the sold column until I see more.  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 2^nd to Monomy Girl. With no issues look to see her in the gates on Oaks Day.

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

 I think Finite is the most impressive filly out of the Asmussen barn and Wicked Whisper wouldn’t even come close in her next race against her or the other top 5. 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 5^th  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.