Kentucky Oaks Futures Index-Tuesday, November 5, 2019, by Nikki Samolovitch.
Now that the dust has settled with the Breeders Cup I decided to take the time to review the 5 prep races we have seen so far. The Pocahontas, Chandelier, Alcibiades, Frizette, BC Juvenile Fillies. 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
- British Idiom: (Tapit) Trained by Brad Cox. 1st in the BC Juvenile Fillies,1st in the Alcibiades.
The undefeated and likely Eclipse Award Winner proved her class in the battle with Donna Veloce. British Idiom is from the very driven barn of Brad Cox. British Idiom and Monomoy Girl, were picked out for purchase by blood-stock agent Liz Crow. In the Breeders Cup the long shot Two Sixty showed the way through opening fractions of :22.71 and :46.02 but relinquished command soon after to Bast, who went three-quarters in 1:11.93. A hard-driving Donna Veloce took the lead off the turn for home, but British Idiom had the new leader in her sights and swung wide to lay down a determined challenge through a 1:39.65 mile. The final time was 1:47.07 on a track rated fast. I am looking forward to watching her progress in 2020 and seeing her on Oaks Day.
- Donna Veloce: (Uncle Mo) Trained by Simon Callaghan. 2nd in the BC Juvenile Fillies
How talented is this Juv Fillies 2nd Place finisher? Trying to become the only juvenile to capture a Breeders’ Cup win in only her second start. Donna Veloce stepped up from a 6 1/2F Mdn race to a 1 1/16 GR1. She showed good courage, down the rail, against a much more seasoned British Idiom. One to watch on the Kentucky Oaks trail.
- 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.
Bast had an honest run in the BC Juv. She was in the middle of a 3-horse duel and kept coming at the end and wouldn’t tire for 4th “She did not want to quit,” Baffert said. “She went five lengths too fast early. Otherwise I really think she would have been right there. She showed a lot of guts. She gutted it out to hang on in there. I think Bob will have her ready to dominate the Oaks prep races.
- 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 an underdog to keep an eye on. She will aim for the Road to the Kentucky Oaks via Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. She is a super smart and big filly 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.
- 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. Her and Perfect Alibi dueld 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.
Sell:
- Wicked Whisper: (Liam’s Map) Trained by Steve Asmussen 5th in the BC Juvenile Fillies, 1st in the Frizette Stakes.
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.
- 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. 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
- 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.
- Lazy Daisy (Paynter) Trained by Doug O’Neil. 6th in the BC Juvenile Fillies, 1st in the Pocahontas Stakes
She had an impressive win the Pocahontas at Churchill Down. After her 2nd and 3rd place finishes in California. I don’t believe the Pocahontas had many other talented fillies that she beat. It is awesome rags to riches story with owners able to buy a $115 micro share into her ownership. She was unable to compete with the top 5 in the Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita
- KP Dreamin. (Union Rags) Trained by Ruben Fuentes. 8th in the BC Juvenile Fillies, 3rd in the Chandelier Stakes.
The Florida bred trained filly trained by Rueben Fuentes has only placed once in the top 3 since breaking her maiden. She finished 3rd in the Chandelier She finished last in a 8th in the Breeders’ Cup Juv. She has shown nothing in her training or races to show that she will be able to compete at the level as the others prepping for the Oaks.