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KENTUCKY OAKS REPORT APRIL 2, 2010 This coming weekend will feature the final two major preps for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks (G1), as the Fantasy S. (G2) goes on Friday at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland's Ashland S. (G1) is set for Saturday. Four other events have taken place since the last Report, so I'll go over those before giving my thoughts on these other two races. Bonnie Miss S. (G2): The Bonnie Miss S. (G2) on March 20 at Gulfstream Park was supposed to be CHRISTINE DAAE's (Giant's Causeway) coming out party, but the 1 1/8-mile test proved too much for the lightly raced filly. Instead, DEVIL MAY CARE (Malibu Moon) threw her cap back into Kentucky Oaks contention with an easy 2 3/4-length score under jockey John Velazquez. SWITCH (Quiet American) tried to lead all the way home, but was closely tracked by AMEN HALLELUJAH (Montbrook) to her outside while Devil May Care saved ground on the rail tucked just in behind. Christine Daae was running three wide beside Devil May Care and tried to go with Amen Hallelujah when that one moved up to take command around the turn. She couldn't keep pace, though, as Devil May Care angled off the rail and split horses to range up beside Amen Hallelujah. Once clear of that rival, Devil May Care took a sudden left-hand turn, veering back toward the rail, but Velazquez quickly straightened her up and the bay miss easily pulled clear. Devil May Care appeared completely out of Oaks consideration following a dismal fifth-place finish, beaten 13 lengths, in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) on February 20. The Todd Pletcher charge acted up in the gate of that race and, according to Pletcher, the starters only made it worse. She had already proven her quality in New York as a juvenile, capturing the Frizette S. (G1) by a head, prior to showing her immense dislike for the Pro-Ride when 11th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Despite the gate trouble, she probably still needed the Silverbulletday off the near four-month break and appears ready to take on all comers in the Kentucky Oaks. Pletcher has thrown a wrench in the works, though, as he mentioned that Devil May Care is also under consideration for the Kentucky Derby (G1) one day later. While, in my opinion, this year's Derby field seems to be lacking in the same quality as past runnings, I just don't think Devil May Care is up to facing the boys at this time. Later in the year, maybe, but the Oaks would probably be the best bet for the filly. Christine Daae looked flat in her stakes bow. Trained by Patrick Biancone, the chestnut filly never faced a real challenge, or this caliber of horse, in her first two wins. She gained some valuable experience in the Bonnie Miss, but I don't know if she's truly ready to face Kentucky Oaks Day. Though not as crazy at Derby Day, the crowds and overall atmosphere may prove to be her undoing if Biancone decides to take a shot in the Oaks. Amen Hallelujah ran a nice race, but it came nowhere near the spectacle of her 6 1/4-length triumph in the one-mile Davona Dale S. (G2). She kicked on well in the stretch of the Bonnie Miss and was five lengths clear of JOANIE'S CATCH (First Tour), but eight furlongs may be her limit. Her only other tries beyond a mile resulted in third-place finishes in the Alcibiades S. (G1) and Hollywood Starlet S. (G1), both at 1 1/16 miles. Switch tried to lead this one all the way home, but tired in the stretch to come in fourth, another length back of Joanie's Catch. The bay lass made her dirt debut here, but, like Amen Hallelujah, may find the 1 1/8-mile Oaks a little out of reach at this point. Joanie's Catch, on the other hand, is a definite exotics contender in the Kentucky Oaks. She broke a string of seconds when running third in this one, and I can easily see her filling that same spot in the Oaks. Fair Grounds Oaks (G2): QUIET TEMPER (Quiet American) took up a similar running position as Devil May Care when going in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 26. The bay saved ground throughout on the backstretch, then used her momentum to angle off the rail and to the outside of pacesetter CHAMPAGNE D'ORO (Medaglia d'Oro). Quiet Temper ground out the win, slowly closing the distance to be a half-length clear of the leader on the line. The wire came just in time, though, as SHEER BEAUTY (Mizzen Mast) and SEEKING THE TITLE (Seeking the Gold) were closing fast on the outside. Those two dead-heated for third, just a neck back of Champagne d'Oro, and all four are now headed for the Kentucky Oaks, according to their connections. Trainer Bernie Flint, who conditions Sheer Beauty, is looking forward to the extra distance of the Oaks for his filly. The gray miss is no stranger to Churchill Downs, having broken her maiden there last November by 8 1/4 lengths. She went on to capture the grassy Caressing H. under the Twin Spires before rounding out her juvenile season with a nice third in the Letellier Memorial S. at Fair Grounds. Sheer Beauty gave way late in the Tiffany Lass S. in her seasonal bow, but returned to form with a neck victory in the Green Oaks S. at Delta Downs before her third in this one. This filly might offer up a huge surprise on April 30 as good as she's going now. Quiet Temper finished in front of Devil May Care when just missing in the Silverbulletday by a nose. She vindicated that loss here as Silverbulletday and Tiffany Lass winner JODY SLEW (Slew City Slew) ran a subpar seventh. That finish can be forgiven, though, because Jody Slew became cast in her stall in the weeks leading up to the Fair Grounds Oaks. Trainer Bret Calhoun admitted he ran the bay miss in the race just to keep her on schedule, and she obviously wasn't 100 percent for this 8 1/2-furlong affair. Jody Slew has outrun expectations all year long and, I believe, will continue to do so. Champagne d'Oro entered the Fair Grounds Oaks off a nose maiden win and completely freaked when just narrowly missing. I don't mean she won't be able to run back to that performance, merely that very few thought she had it in her. The three-year-old has clearly shown a preference for dirt tracks, as she spent the first six of her now eight-race career competing on synthetics in California. Champagne d'Oro is a major threat to continue moving forward as she gains more experience on conventional dirt surfaces. AILALEA (Pulpit) was sent off the second choice in the Fair Grounds Oaks but came home in sixth. The Pletcher charge has run out of time to regain the winning form that saw her capture last year's Tempted S. (G3) at Aqueduct. In the Forward Gal S. (G2), her sophomore bow prior to this one, the bay was also a well-beaten sixth. I just can't see her as a legitimate Kentucky Oaks contender. Bourbonette Oaks (G3): ORCHESTRATOR (Bernstein) gutted out the neck win in the March 27 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) at Turfway Park following a stretch-long duel with runner-up AGE OF HUMOR (Distorted Humor), but I can't see anyone coming out of this one-mile Polytrack test and trying the Kentucky Oaks. Trainer Kenny McPeek even admitted following the race that he'd prefer to keep Orchestrator on synthetics. It remains to be seen if her owners will follow the sensible path. If they desperately want an Oaks win, then point for the July 3 Arlington Oaks (G3) at Arlington Park back on Polytrack. Age of Humor was beaten 10 lengths when third in the Silverbulletday last out and also would be out of her element in the Kentucky Oaks. Bourbonette Oaks third MIDWAY HOLIDAY (Harlan's Holiday) was fifth when making her dirt debut in the off-the-turf Mardi Gras S. at Fair Grounds prior to this one, lending even more credence to this race being a complete throw-out as a Kentucky Oaks prep. Sunland Park Oaks: HARISSA (Afleet Alex) tried a conventional dirt track for the first time when going in the March 28 Sunland Oaks and moved up by leaps and bounds when posting a 3 1/2-length victory. The David Hofmans runner ranged up beside the pacesetting Hayley's Halo (Sea of Secrets) on the backstretch, then began increasing her momentum nearing the turn. The leader tried to go with her and even regained a brief lead in the stretch, but Harissa kicked into overdrive and pulled off late under Tyler Baze. The Sunland Park Oaks hasn't really lent itself to the Kentucky Oaks in the past, with last year's dominating winner, Gabby's Golden Gal (Medaglia d'Oro), running a well-beaten sixth under the Twin Spires. Harissa may prove the exception. The bay lass has spent her career thus far on the synthetics and turf in California, and really seemed to come to life in this one. She ran fourth to Kentucky Oaks hopeful and Santa Anita Oaks (G1) queen Crisp (El Corredor) in the Santa Ysabel S. (G3) earlier this season and, in my opinion, deserves a shot in the big dance. Unfortunately, the Santa Ysabel has been her only graded try to date and, if her connections decide to send her to Churchill Downs, Harissa may come up short in terms of graded earnings with only $6,000 in the bank. Unlike in recent years, the 2010 Kentucky Oaks is shaping up to have a full field. Upcoming: Friday's Fantasy at Oaklawn is proving something of a disappointment in terms of quantity, but the quality of the race is undisputable. Only four fillies deigned to show up in the 1 1/16-mile test, but those that did should provide a stellar race. Multiple Grade 1 winner BLIND LUCK (Pollard's Vision) will return to dirt in the Fantasy, having made her career debut a 13 1/4-length trouncing of maiden claiming rivals at Calder last June before shipping out to California. While in the Golden State, the Jerry Hollendorfer charge racked up three Grade 1 wins -- the Oak Leaf S., Hollywood Starlet S. and Las Virgenes S. She ran third by a half-length in the Santa Anita Oaks most recently, and the Fantasy should provide the perfect opportunity for her reacquaint herself with the dirt before the Kentucky Oaks. The other three in the Fantasy are all out to prove they belong in the starting gate on April 30. TIDAL POOL (Yankee Gentleman) was third in the Tiffany Lass in her 2010 debut, and the D. Wayne Lukas-conditioned bay returned at Oaklawn last out to dominate a one-mile allowance by eight lengths. NO SUCH WORD (Canadian Frontier) captured the Honeybee S. (G3) over the Oaklawn track in her stakes bow last out and could utilize that experience to prove best here. ALL DUE RESPECT (Value Plus) was third in the Pocahontas S. (G3) at Churchill Downs last year and broke her maiden by 7 1/2 lengths on a muddy, sealed track at Fair Grounds in her sophomore return. She was sold after that and found herself in the barn of Kathy Walsh in California. The dark bay wasn't seen in competition again until just missing by a neck after leading throughout in the Santa Anita Oaks last out. Eight are set to line up in the Ashland, and the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack test will feature the return of two-year-old filly champion SHE BE WILD (Offlee Wild). The Wayne Catalano runner didn't do so well in her three-year-old, and dirt, bow in the Forward Gal, tiring to a well-beaten fifth, and she'll be looking for redemption in this spot. Unfortunately, the Ashland won't give any indication of her capabilities on dirt so, if she goes in the Kentucky Oaks, that will still be a major unknown. NEGLIGEE (Northern Afleet) captured last year's Alcibiades over Keeneland's Polytrack and will be returning from a five-month layoff in this spot. Trainer John Terranova had previously stated that he hoped to bring her back in the Ashland and then go straight to the Oaks. That move would have been laughable in years past, but the 2010 field is so wide open that it could work. Unfortunately, like She Be Wild, Negligee will be entering the Oaks with a big question mark in terms of dirt ability as she's never competed on a dirt track from four lifetime starts so far. BEAUTICIAN (Dehere) and PROTESTING (A.P. Indy) are both still maiden winners but have held their own against graded rivals. The former ran second in the Honeybee to No Such Word, and that one's performance on Friday might give an indication on how well Beautician will run Saturday. The gray miss will have to step it up on the Polytrack, though. Her record so far on synthetics stands at 3-0-1-0, with that second coming in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Protesting, on the other hand, broke her maiden at Keeneland last fall by five lengths before missing by a length when second in the Demoiselle S. (G2) at Aqueduct. The Shug McGaughey runner is listed at 12-1 on the morning-line for the Ashland and might shock at a nice price.
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