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KENTUCKY OAKS REPORT MARCH 21, 2009 Five rivals were all that showed up to challenge RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) in last Saturday's Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), but not one of them actually mounted any kind of challenge. While I was impressed at just how easily she won, I believe that the bay lass does need some kind of test prior to the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (G1). Fair Grounds Oaks: Rachel Alexandra sailed to the lead in the Fair Grounds Oaks, easily adapting to the sloppy, sealed track conditions, which is reassuring for Kentucky Oaks Day if a not-so-surprising, surprise Bluegrass thunderstorm pops up before the race. Jockey Calvin Borel sat chilly all the way down the backstretch and proceeded to a hand ride in the stretch. Rachel Alexandra never appeared pressured or tested at any point in the 1 1/16-mile race, which makes the 102 BRIS Speed rating she earned all that more impressive. That's actually the same number she was awarded following her Golden Rod S. (G2) score at Churchill Downs in November. The biggest news from the Fair Grounds Oaks was the show Borel put on in the stretch. As one of my esteemed colleagues said, it appeared as if Borel was taunting FLYING SPUR (Giant's Causeway) and jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who were running in behind them. Turning several times to glance behind, Borel proceeded to wrap up on Rachel Alexandra long before the wire. He also began celebrating and, as a result of those actions, Rachel Alexandra's final margin of victory was only 1 3/4 lengths. I'm wondering just what, exactly, Borel was celebrating. This was the Fair Grounds Oaks, not the Kentucky Oaks or the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1). And it wasn't exactly the toughest field in the world, either. Some have labeled his actions shameful. All I have to say is that Borel needs to get his mind back to the business at hand and keep it there. Trainer Hal Wiggins mentioned a couple of options for Rachel Alexandra ahead of the Kentucky Oaks, including a tilt against the boys in the April 11 Arkansas Derby (G2), but the striking three-year-old will more than likely show up in the Fantasy S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park on April 5. Blushing K. D. used her easy Fantasy score in 1997 as a springboard to Oaks glory, but she was the last Oaks winner to even run in the Fantasy. A more traditional route to the Oaks has been through the Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland, but that track's synthetic surface has thrown a wrench in the works. Other dirt races, like the Fantasy, are appearing much more informative routes for Oaks success now. Florida Oaks: Tampa Bay Downs' Florida Oaks (G3) is another non-traditional Oaks prep, but it has been used. Most notably when Secret Status won the 2000 running by a neck before dominating the Oaks next out by 6 3/4 lengths. While Alan Brodsky, owner of Saturday's Florida Oaks victress DON'T FORGET GIL (Kafwain), didn't commit his filly to the Kentucky Oaks, he definitely left the door open. Even if Don't Forget Gil misses the Kentucky Oaks her connections have to be happy about turning the tables on ROCK CANDY (Mineshaft) and AMERIBELLE (Medaglia d'Oro), who had finished in front of Don't Forget Gil by two necks in the Suncoast S. last out. Those two never got a chance to even challenge in the Florida Oaks. Don't Forget Gil settled to the outside when the gates opened, running in tandem with DZIBANCHE (Roar of the Tiger) behind the leader down the backstretch. The dark bay miss began moving up leaving the backstretch, took over before entering the final turn and proceeded to draw off after coming wide into the lane. The final margin was four lengths on the line. I believe that Don't Forget Gil has a shot in the Kentucky Oaks. She may not have been beating Grade 1 rivals in the Florida Oaks, but the filly has shown progression in each of her races. She looks better in each new race and now has the graded earnings to make the field. It's worth taking a shot at, considering the longshots who have won in recent years. Honeybee: JUST JENDA (Menifee) entered Sunday's Honeybee S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park off a disappointing third in the Silverbulletday S. (G3). She was sent off the third choice in the seven-filly field but recorded an easy win under jockey Gabriel Saez. Just Jenda allowed PEACH BREW (Milwaukee Brew) and BON JOVI GIRL (Malibu Moon) to take the lead into the backstretch. She found herself running alongside Peach Brew as that one dropped back, then moved up to settle just off Bon Jovi Girl. Just Jenda drew even with the pacesetter, began pulling clear rounding the turn and drew off to post the three-length victory. I'm a big fan of trainer Larry Jones and hope that Just Jenda goes on to the Kentucky Oaks. Unfortunately, I don't think she's good enough to beat Rachel Alexandra just yet. The chestnut lass only earned a 95 Speed rating for her Honeybee score and will have to do much better than that if she hopes to contend on May 1. While I like Just Jenda, I was really impressed with Honeybee runner-up AFLEET DECEIT (Northern Afleet). The Terry Gestes trainee was a well-beaten second to Rachel Alexandra in the Martha Washington S., but seems to be on the improve. Running in the back of the Honeybee while saving ground along rail, Afleet Deceit appeared out of it nearing the turn. She suddenly kicked into another gear and angled out to run down the middle of the track in the lane. The bay filly made up a lot of ground late, recording an excellent 105 BRIS Late Pace number, and is definitely one to keep an eye on. Upcoming: Lemons Forever put the Bourbonette Oaks (G3) on the map as a Kentucky Oaks prep, just missing by a length while finishing third in 2006 prior to her shocking 47-1 upset in the Oaks. The connections of Saturday's runners in the Bourbonette at Turfway Park are probably hoping for yet another shake-up in the Oaks, but there's really only one who might have a chance at even going in the Kentucky Oaks. FITZ JUST RIGHT (Seattle Fitz [Arg]) was fourth by 1 3/4 lengths in the Busanda S. going a mile and 70 yards prior to a half-length score in the O.B.S. Filly Championship S. on February 16. The only other true dirt horse in the field is STONE LEGACY (Birdstone), who broke her maiden going 8 1/2 furlongs at Oaklawn on February 12 then ran second in a one-mile allowance last out. However, her numbers are nowhere near what they need to be to make her a Kentucky Oaks contender.
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