Friday, May 4, 2018

The Kentucky Oaks - Run for the Lilies

Today is the "ladies first" Kentucky Oaks, the often overlooked run for the lilies for the fillies.


It's a prestigious race and can increase the value of eventual broodmare exponentially.  I saw the favorite, Monomoy Girl, win a G1 race at Keeneland in April in impressive style.  She's the one I am pulling for but she's in the 14 post, which won't help her.  She's quite impressive having lost only one race, and that one only by a nose.  The weather is also not going to be great which won't help this cute chestnut mare in any way.  Hoping for some racing luck today for this mare.

(Blood Horse Photo)


But there are some other story lines in the race, worth noting, as the Oaks is worth watching and the qualities of the fillies this year, pretty darn exceptional.

Who do I think will win?
Midnight Bisou.  Mike Smith.  Bob Baffert.  That's all you need to know.  She recently won the G1 Santa Anita Oaks in California by 3 1/2 lengths.  She has run on a wet track.  Mike Smith has never lost a race on this mare.  Enough said.


The dark horse in the race?
It's Rayya. She was shipped to Bob Baffert to train for the race after she ran a stunning second place to Mendelssohn in the UAE Derby (but he won by 18 lengths) holding her own against the colts. She's unraced on a sloppy track and she is really unknown. What can she do?  No one really knows. 


Another one to watch on a sloppy track is Take Charge Paula who has a win in two seconds in her most recent races.  She won also on a sloppy track at Gulfstream.  She's got one of the best jockeys in the world on her back too, Jose Ortiz, which won't hurt in any way.  She might a real factor in the mud. 



Wear pink, mix a Grey Goose Oaks Lilly (the official drink of the Oaks) and watch the race at 6 pm EDT.


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