Eight Belles expected to scratch from contentious Oaks field

Once considered possible for the Derby, Pure Clan is a top contender in the Oaks for Larry "Cowboy" Jones  (Mathea Kelley/Horsephotos.com)

Winner of the Matron S. (G2) and runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Fillies (G1) last season, Proud Spell finished second to champion Indian

Blessing (Indian Charlie) when opening 2008 in the Silverbulletday S. (G3), but

the Brereton Jones homebred turned the tables on her rival in the Fair Grounds

Oaks, scoring by 2 1/4 lengths. She never appeared comfortable over the

Polytrack at Keeneland in the Ashland S. (G1) last time out, but managed to

offer a solid rally for third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths. Gabriel Saez will retain

the mount.

Little Belle and Bsharpsonata, the respective one-two finishers in the

Ashland, could both be dangerous on Friday. Little Belle will bring a three-race

winning skein into the Oaks, winning the Ashland in near wire-to-wire fashion,

and the Kiaran McLaughlin pupil figures to show speed under Rajiv Maragh.

Bsharpsonata is a hard-hitting lass from the Timothy Salzman stable. Winner of

the grassy Tropical Park Oaks on New Year's Day, the bay filly switched back to

dirt and added the Forward Gal S. (G2) and Davona Dale S. (G2) to her resume

before missing by only a neck in the Ashland. Eric Camacho will ride.

Pure Clan finished second and third to Eight Belles in the Honeybee S. (G3)

and Fantasy, respectively, but the chestnut is eligible to run a big race in her

Churchill return. The Bob Holthus-trained filly recorded a pair of sharp wins

under the Twin Spires last November, garnering the Golden Rod S. (G2) and

Pocahontas S. (G3), and she'll get a new jockey in Edgar Prado. Multiple Grade 1

victress Country Star also merits serious respect. She didn't fire when fifth as

the favorite in the Ashland last time, but the Bobby Frankel trainee was making

her sophomore debut off a lengthy layoff. Country Star will be a major player if

she runs back to her winning form in the Hollywood Starlet S. (G1) and Alcibiades

S. (G1) last year.