Zany looms a short-priced favorite in Ashland

Life of Joy, Counting Stars, and Prom Queen have all put up stellar performances in recent Kentucky Oaks (G1) preps. Still, there's a consensus that Zany remains the filly to beat in the May 1 fixture at Churchill Downs.

The Todd Pletcher trainee will be heavily favored to solidify Oaks favoritism on Friday when she heads a field of seven in the $750,000 Ashland (G1), the opening day feature of the Keeneland spring meet. The 1 1/16-mile test will award Oaks qualifying points of 100-50-25-15-10 to the respective top five finishers.

Zany is unbeaten and virtually untested. She won both of her starts last season by a combined 15 lengths, including the Demoiselle (G2) in a faster time for nine furlongs than Paladin and Renegade ran, finishing one-two in the Remsen (G2) on the same card.

Zany opened her season account with a 2 3/4-length decision in the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs. Her closest pursuer was Life of Joy, the dominant winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) two weeks ago.

Making her season debut is Percy's War, who crossed the wire first in the Alcibiades (G1) over this track and distance last October prior to her disqualification for interference. Victorious in the Debutante S. at Churchill last summer, she also owns placings in the Spinaway (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).

French Fiction has been impressive in winning both prior starts, including the Dixie Belle S., though the Ashland will be her first start beyond six furlongs. Nycon enters off second-place finishes in the Cash Run S. and Busher S., both over one-turn miles.

The field is rounded out by Star Actress, Hollybygolly, and Omaha Bay.

A competitive renewal of the $600,000 Transylvania (G3) for three-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles on the turf includes stakes winners Proton, Vasy, Street Beast, and Attfield. Sneaky Good, third in the Forward Gal (G3) and Honeybee (G3) this term, might be the filly to beat in the $400,000 Beaumont (G3) for three-year-old fillies over seven furlongs.

The stakes action kicks off with the $400,000 Lafayette S. for three-year-olds at seven furlongs. Knock It Off, who beat maiden and allowance foes at Fair Grounds for Steve Asmussen over the winter, might go favored in what will be his stakes debut.