The 145th Kentucky Oaks Selections

By Rick Francis —-

Race 11) 1&1/8th Mile. Longines Kentucky Oaks Grade I. Purse $1,250,000 FOR FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD
Post Time: ( 6:12)/ 5:12/ 4:12/ 3:12

1) Out for a Spin (Stewart/Ortiz, I.); pressed and stayed close to upset the Grade 1 Ashland field at 52-1, which was her second straight win and third in last four.

2) Chocolate Kisses (Casse/Leparoux); wasn’t a factor in the Ashland and won’t be here.

3) Lady Apple (Asmussen/Santana); turning your back on an Asmussen starter that’s won three straight including the G3 Fantasy last out can cost you.

4) Bellafina (Callaghan/Prat); don’t let the fact she faced only three rivals in the Santa Anita Oaks, she’s a 6-time winner that’s improving each time out; she’ll be there late.

5) Floe de La Mar (Baffert/Rosario); when is the last time you saw a Baffert starter in a Grade 1 have a 20-1 Morning Line???? If that doesn’t scare players, nothing will.

6) Positive Spirit (Brisset/Franco); bump cost her late in the Gazelle but feel she’s just a notch below these.

7) Jaywalk (Servis/Castellano); reigning BC Juve Filly champ just has not been herself this year as she’s been clearly beaten in her two 2019 starts; does she get her head right here, who knows.

8) Motion Emotion (Van Berg/Smith); exits a pair of tough losses in both the Honeybee and Fantasy at Oaklawn; Smith will have her forwardly placed once again but added distance today doesn’t work in her favor.

9) Liora (Catalano/Hill); placed in both the G2 Rachel and FG Oaks but was no match for the winner in each.

10) Champagne Anyone (Wilkes/Landeros); Gulfstream Oaks winner has been working solidly here since arriving early April; could be a sleeper.

11) Jeltrin (Delgado/Saez); exits a 51-1 shocker in the Davona Dale, will be at least that with a different result.

12) Street Band (Jones/Doyle); FG Oaks winner; no one can get a filly ready for this contest like J. Larry Jones, and she’ll be ready.

13) Serengeti Empress (Amoss/Ortiz, J.); the racing Gods have to be in your corner each time out and they weren’t for this filly in the Fair Grounds Oaks as she bled and had to be vanned off. Won the Grade 2 Pocahontas here by 20 lengths as a juvenile; believe she’s the best filly this year and race will prove it.

14) Restless Rider (McPeek/Hernandez, B.); hung late in the Ashland for her third consecutive place finish, including in the BC Filly; post doesn’t do her any favors, but daughter of Distorted Humor has never been worse than second in her career.

Also Eligibles:

15) Dunbar Road (Brown/Ortiz, J.); finished second in the GP Oaks.

16) Point of Honor (Weaver/Velazquez); exits a flat effort in GP Oaks.

Selections: 13, 4, 3, 14 (1-12)