Needs Supervision enters Oaks picture with Silverbulletday win

Needs Supervision showcased her budding talent on the Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs in late November, skipping over the slop to win an allowance by five lengths. On Saturday at Fair Grounds, the three-year-old daughter of Paynter entered the Kentucky Oaks (G1) picture with a victory over a fast track in the $147,000 Silverbulletday.

Rated in third outside of Golden Rod (G2) heroine Liora while Fun Finder cut out early fractions, Needs Supervision made a three-wide bid for the lead around the far turn, took over in upper stretch and held longshot Eres Tu safe to win by three-quarters of a length in a time of 1:45.34 for one mile and 70 yards. Grandaria, the 3-2 favorite, finished 5 1/4 lengths back in third with Liora a distant fourth.

The 5-2 second choice in a field of seven, Needs Supervision paid $7 with jockey Joe Rocco Jr. aboard. She's owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stables, and Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables, and is trained by Jerry O'Dwyer.

"She's so professional in her works and in her races," said O'Dwyer of the Laurel-based filly. "I was pretty confident that she'd taken a step forward from Churchill."

As part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, Needs Supervision earned 10 qualifying points for the Oaks. Eres Tu earned four points, Grandaria two points, and Liora added one point to the 10 she earned winning the Golden Rod.

This was the third win in four starts for Needs Supervision, who preceded her Churchill allowance win with a debut second at Penn National and a 1 1/4-length maiden graduation at Laurel on November 2. She's now earned $168,030 and will likely come back for the $200,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) on February 16.

Bred in Kentucky by Mike Abraham, Needs Supervision was a $55,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic two-year-old purchase. She was reared by the stakes-placed Carson City mare Moroccan Rose.