Life of Joy an emphatic winner of Fair Grounds Oaks

Prior to Saturday's $392,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), Life of Joy had faced, and lost, to leading Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders Zany and Bella Ballerina. Life of Joy evened the score against Bella Ballerina in the Fair Grounds Oaks, though, dominating the 1 1/16-mile affair by 3 3/4 lengths under Flavien Prat.

Making a bold, five-wide bid into contention on the far turn, Life of Joy continued racing wide down the long Fair Grounds stretch but easily drew away from even-money favorite Bella Ballerina. The daughter of Gun Runner won in stakes record time of 1:42.27 over a fast track and paid $9.40.

Bella Ballerina finished 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Luv Your Neighbor. The latter was followed by Newtown Pike, Maximum Offer, Love and Trust, and Miss Metoyer.

Owned in partnership by Will Stroud, Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm, and For the People Racing Stable, Life of Joy is trained by Brad Cox. A debut winner by more than 14 lengths at Horseshoe Indianapolis last October, Life of Joy followed up with a 2 1/4-length tally in the Rags to Riches S. at Churchill Downs.

Three lengths adrift of Bella Ballerina in the Golden Rod (G2) after a slow start, Life of Joy kicked off her sophomore campaign with a second-place finish to Zany in the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7.

"I thought last time she got beat by a good filly and I didn't think the set up of the race was to her favor," Prat said. "But today she had a lot of pace to run at and she ran a great race."

Life of Joy earned 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks, increasing her total to 122. Bella Ballerina boosted her total from 60 to 110, while Luv Your Neighbor's rose from 40 to 65. Newtown Pike's points total increased from 10 to 25, and Maximum Offer's from four to 14.