Kentucky Oaks Futures Index-Tuesday, February 4, 2020, by Nikki Samolovitch.
This is the fifth 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.
BUY
- Taraz (Into Mischief) Trained by Brad Cox. 1 st in the Martha Washington.
I have been closely watching this filly since she broke her maiden. Taraz has towered over her opposition
since day one, winning her first career starts by a combined 18 ¾ lengths. I couldn’t wait to put my girl #1
on this list! This was the first time she went two turns and did so easily after starting a step slow. Taraz
broke last, then rushed up to take the lead against overmatched foes. There has even been talk of her
competing against the boys in the Derby. I spoke to Brad when I was at Gulfstream last week and he said
his team is higher on her then British Idiom, which is saying a lot. I also found out that she was originally
supposed to go to the Chad Brown barn but they opted for the Brad Cox barn with this filly. Brad has the
very talented Monomoy Girl, last year’s Oaks winner and Eclipse Award winner. Covefe and British Idiom.
Taraz is pointed to run back March 7 in the Honeybee (G3) next at Oaklawn. I am very excited to see what
direction they point her but more than likely we will see her on Oaks Day and I can’t wait! - 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.
It was difficult for me to put Bast 2 nd on this list. She has a very accomplished record so far. At this point in
the season I feel like Taraz is more talented than Bast. Until their next races, I will keep them as is on my
list. 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 - I look forward to her continued progression in 2020 and to see her in the gates the first Friday in
May. - British Idiom: (Tapit) Trained by Brad Cox. 1 st in the BC Juvenile Fillies,1 st in the Alcibiades.
The 2-year-old Eclipse winner took another step toward her 3-year old debut Feb. 15 in the Rachel
Alexandra Stakes with a five-furlong workout Sunday morning at the Fair Grounds. British Idiom was
timed in 1:01.80, a full second slower than her work a week before. Brad was satisfied with the work out
and feel likes she is progressing nicely. 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. Looking forward to seeing her in the gates on Oaks Day. - 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. - Havey’s Lil Goil (American Pharoah) Trained by Bill Mott. 1 st in the Busunda
Pharoah…Pharoah…Pharoah… She gave American Pharoah his 5 th graded stakes win on Sunday. She is the
half-sister to Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another. Further back in her pedigree is the extended family
of Beholder, Harlan’s Holiday and Mendelssohn. This gorgeous grey filly started on the turf where she was
five wide but hung in there for 4 th . She switched to dirt and broke her maiden by 6 and on Sunday she had
a very nice stakes debut dominating in the Busunda. She romped the field with a 7 1/2 – length score. If
she stays local, Aqueduct hosts the $250,000 Busher Invitational on March 7. I think her beauty is from
her Tapit influence but her nice easy stride is from Pharoah. I am looking forward to her future race. Keep
a close eye on her and excited to see her on the Oaks trail and on the first Friday in May.
Sell:
- Tonalist Shape (Tonalist) Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. 1 st in the Forward Gal
Florida has been kind to this talented filly. However, a trip to Kentucky for the Oaks will be a big ask for
her. She has an undefeated record so far. Her next race will be Feb 29 in the Davona Dale Stakes on Feb. - She has the pedigree to go the distance on Oaks day I haven’t seen anything that has been a stand
out. Until I see her tested she is in the Sell column. - 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 - 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 had to move her to the sell category until we see her
next race and see how she does after the layoff. Barring any setbacks, she is a dangerous one for them to
keep an eye on. - 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. I think Harvey’s Lil Goil had a more
impressive win and pedigree then her. Lake Avenue made some noise with her win in the Grade 2
Demoiselle Stakes but until her next race she will stay here. - 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