Handicapping the 146th Kentucky Oaks; Full-card Selections

By Rick Francis —-

Race 8) 7 Furlongs. Eight Belles S. PRESENTED BY TWINSPIRES.COM. Grade II. Purse $300,000 FOR FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD.
Post Time: ( 3:05)/ 2:05/ 1:05/12:05

7) Four Graces (Wilkes/Leparoux); winner of three straight last two in Grade 3’s here and at Keeneland; 4-of-5 career wins at today’s distance.

1) Mundaye Call (Cox/Geroux); pricey Into Mischief filly has won three in a row, each in clearing style; always forwardly placed as is the top choice, makes for an exciting stretch duel.

4) Purrfectly Claire (Bauer/Hernandez, B.); has a win and second here; work tab merits long look.

5) Sconsin (Foley/Graham); rallied from last to show last out; consistent daughter of Include gets in the exotics mix.

Selections: 7, 1, 4, 5

Race 9) 1 Mile. (Turf) EDGEWOOD STAKES PRESENTED BY FORCHT BANK. Grade II. Purse $300,000 FOR FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD
Post Time: ( 3:40)/ 2:40/ 1:40/12:40

3) Sharing (Motion/Franco); reigning BC Juvenile Filly Turf champion was game last out only to finish second in the always tough Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Ascot; 3-time turf winner reunites with her jock Manny Franco.

8) Walk in Marrakesh (Correas/Castellano); though winless from four 2020 starts, she has placed twice in both the Grade 3 Florida Oaks and a near miss in the G2 Appalachian; look for her late once again.

6) Pranked (Amoss/Graham); her last two against Indy ladies resulted in a win and a closing second facing stakes girls.

4) Lucky Betty (Van Meter/Canon); has shown a pattern of winning twice following dull efforts.

5) Outburst (Kenneally/Gaffalione); Florida Oaks winner exits a pair of off the board efforts but take a close look at the trainer/jockey angle, 20 percent.

Selections: 3, 8, 6, 4, 5

Race 10) 1&1/16 Mile. Alysheba S. PRESENTED BY SENTIENT JET. Grade II. Purse $400,000 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 4:15)/ 3:15/ 2:15/ 1:15

2) McKinzie (Baffert/Smith); disappointed last out as the race fave in the G1 Met Mile; Street Sense 5-year-old returns to the form that’s netted him almost $3.5 million with a big win.

5) Mr. Freeze (Romans/Franco); taking a bit of a shot here with this To Honor and Serve 5-year-old as he owns two wins and a third over the Churchill main; searching for a price on the bottom.

6) By My Standards (Calhoun/Saez); multiple Grade 2 winner raced wide throughout after an awkward break to stay on for second in the G1 Whitney; he’s another in top form.

3) Owendale (Cox/Geroux); Into Mischief colt can explode at any time, however for that to happen against this group he’ll need to more forwardly placed early as I don’t see a closer taking this.

Selections: 2, 5, 6, 3

Race 11) 1&1/16 Mile. La Troienne S. PRESENTED BY OAK GROVE RACING AND GAMING. Grade I. Purse $500,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 4:50)/ 3:50/ 2:50/ 1:50

8) Monomoy Girl (Cox/Geroux); Tapizar mare has stared down the best of her generation and delivered; in her best form since her sophomore season; enjoy her while you can.

2) Vexatious (Sisterson/Gaffalione); battled in game fashion in taking the Grade 1 Personal Ensign; two back she was all that in running second to the ‘Girl; only one with a chance to defeat her.

6) She’s a Julie )Asmussen/Santana); demonstrated a solid ability to rebound off poor efforts, which was what her last was in the G3 Molly Pitcher.

7) Lady Kate (Kenneally/Castellano); Bernardini filly has won 4-of-6 starts this year, two straight.

Selections: 8, 2, 6, 7

Race 12) 1&1/8 Mile. Longines Kentucky Oaks Grade I. Purse $1,250,000 FOR FILLIES, THREE YEARS OLD
Post Time: ( 5:45)/ 4:45/ 3:45/ 2:45

1) Swiss Skydiver (McPeek/Gaffalione); Daredevil filly has run off five straight impressive starts, winning four and placing in the G2 Blue Grass against the boys. Grade 1 Alabama champ gets the nod based on her spat with the gentlemen and distance proven.

Gamine (Baffert/Velazquez); very pricey daughter out of Into Mischief has done nothing wrong other than her DQ at Oaklawn back in May; with bloodlines screaming to route and drop dead speed, stretch duel with the Skydiver is one not to miss.

4) Speech (McCarthy/Castellano); broke from the “seconditis” ranks last out as she drew away from the G1 Ashland field. Prior to that win she finished just behind three of these girls in previous starts so she knows what she’s facing; if they back up one step, she’ll be there.

3) Donna Veloce ( Callagahan/Santana); Uncle Mo daughter makes her first away from Cali where she’s won twice along with a pair of seconds, one of which was a tough neck defeat in the BC Juvenile Filly at Santa Anita.

Selections: 1, 5, 4, 3

Race 13) 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. PRESENTED BY SYSCO. Grade II. Purse $250,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: ( 6:20)/ 5:20/ 4:20/ 3:20

4) Bound for Nowhere (Ward/Garcia); exits a pair of tough defeats, two back by a head in the San Simeon and a neck miss last out in the Shakertown; breaks through here.

5) Extravagant Kid (Walsh/Gaffalone); 7-year-old has 21 starts at the distance: 21 7-6-3; enough said.

10) Carotari (Lynch/Leparoux); another who loves theroute (11 4-4-1).

13) Tiger Blood (Maker/Santana); 9-time winner at this distance.

2) Wellabled (Rivelli/Franco); trainer Rivelli doesn’t start many, but is 29 percent with those starters.

Selections: 4, 5, 10, 13, 2

Full Card Selections
Post Time: (11:00)/10:00/ 9:00/ 8:00

Race 1) 1, 2, 4, 5 + 6 on scratches
Race 2) 9, 11, 12, 2 + 7 on scratches
Race 3) 2, 1, 5, 6
Race 4) 6, 2, 3, 7
Race 5) 11, 8, 3, 6 + 12 on scratches
Race 6) 8, 2, 4, 5 + 1 on scratches
Race 7) 4, 9, 6, 7 + 10 on scratches
Race 8) 7, 1, 4, 5
Race 9) 3, 8, 6, 4, 5
Race 10) 2, 5, 6, 3
Race 11) 8, 2, 6, 7
Race 12) 1, 5, 4, 3
Race 13) 4, 5, 10 13, 2