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KENTUCKY OAKS REPORT APRIL 16, 2010 There's not much to recap this week and, considering only two weeks remain until the Kentucky Oaks (G1), there are no upcoming races that will have an impact on the 1 1/8-mile test. Therefore, this will be my last Oaks Report until I give my top three selections in two weeks. Instant Racing S.: Only one race from the previous week could have any kind of influence on the Oaks field, and that came on the Arkansas Derby (G1) undercard at Oaklawn Park. A field of seven fillies took part in the Instant Racing S., with Grade 3 victress DECELERATOR (Dehere) securing the win. Sent off the 3-5 favorite, the D. Wayne Lukas trainee used her rail post to move up and take command rounding the first turn. Best Reward (Grand Reward) maintained close contact just to her outside, and Bell's Shoes (Mineshaft) was saving ground down on the rail. As the field entered the stretch, Best Reward backed up, but Vertical Vision (Pollard's Vision) was more than happy to continue pressing the winner. That one began a furious rally down the center of the track and just missed by a neck on the line, but galloped out well past the winning Decelerator. Bell's Shoes was another length back in third. Lukas commented following the Instant Racing that he'll point Decelerator to the May 14 Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) at Pimlico instead of the Oaks, which might be wise considering she only earned a 90 BRIS Speed rating for her effort in the one-mile event. Decelerator is a nice filly, but is deserving of a slight break and could be firing on all cylinders in the Black-Eyed Susan with a rest. The filly I wish would come out of the Instant Racing and head to the Kentucky Oaks is Vertical Vision. Shaun Bridgmohan had a tight hold on the dark bay miss to keep her from running up on the heels of horses on the backstretch, then let her loose rounding the turn. Circling four wide, the Steve Asmussen charge just ran out of room late and would appear to want more distance. She also only earned a 90 BRIS Speed number but her Late Pace rating shot to 105 for her game late rally. Vertical Vision is no stranger to Churchill Downs, having run in last November's Pocahontas S. (G3). The lass was sixth by only 4 1/2 lengths in that eight-furlong test after suffering traffic problems and being steadied. Vertical Vision looks to be rounding into form at just the right time. Unfortunately, the problem is that, even if Asmussen wanted to go in the Oaks with the filly, she only has $1,159 in graded earnings. The past two years saw less than full fields line up for the Kentucky Oaks, but this season's 136 edition looks to be drawing a capacity 14-filly field. Bell's Shoes is in the same boat as Vertical Vision in terms of graded earnings, though her connections indicated they were considering the Oaks. Trainer Jinks Fires said the chestnut miss is nominated to the race, but she only has $625 in graded earnings.
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