Oaks Updates

By: John Asher

EAST/ WONDER LADY ANNE L, WAIT A WHILE FACE OFF IN DAVONNA DALE; YACHATS LOOKS TO STAY UNBEATEN IN OLD HAT - Possible contenders for the 132nd running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks will take the stage in a pair of stakes races on an action-packed Saturday at Florida's Gulfstream Park.

A win in Saturday's $150,000 Davona Dale (Grade II) would give IEAH Stables and Joe Plumeri's Wonder Lady Anne L her second graded stakes victory at the Oaks distance of 1 1/8-miles. After finishing third in the Grade III Tempted at Belmont Park on Oct. 30, she notched an upset 2 ¾-length win in the Demoiselle (GII) on Nov. 26 at Aqueduct. Trained by Richard Dutrow, the daughter of 1998 Kentucky Derby winner Real Quiet has a record of 2-0-3 from seven lifetime starts and is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the Davona Dale. Wonder Lady Anne L closed at odds of 18-1 in the opening pool of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager ("KOFW").

Arindel Farm's Wait A While, third to Wonder Lady Anne L in the Demoiselle, is the 3-1 second choice. The Todd Pletcher trainee was a 49-1 risk in Pool 1 of the KOFW.

Another Pletcher trainee, Aaron and Marie Jones' Yachats, puts her unbeaten record on the line as she takes her first step into stakes competition in the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (GIII). The front-running daughter of Forest Camp won a Gulfstream allowance on Jan. 13 after taking her career debut at Aqueduct on Nov. 20.

Yachats, a 37-1risk in opening Oaks Future pool, is the 2-1 morning favorite in the Old Hat. Other logical contenders in the 6 ½-furlong contest include Puglisi Stables & Steve Klesaris' Miraculous Miss (5-2), winner of the Valley Storm (GIII) at Aqueduct; undefeated Misty Rosette (4-1) for owners Sonia Chapman & Stuart Tsujimoto; and Runnin Cardinal Stable & Ed Glasscock's Somethinaboutbetty (6-1), winner of the Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes. Runnin Cardinal Stable is headed University of Louisville head basketball coach Rick Pitino.

India Romps In Return - The Pletcher barn got a good start on the weekend as Lyon Stables' well-regarded India romped to an easy 3 ¾-length win in Friday's featured eighth race at Gulfstream.

The daughter of juvenile star Hennessy covered the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.31 and went to post at even money. India was sold as a yearling for $400,000 and later purchased a 2-year-old for $2.05 million.

French Park breezes - Stevestan's Stables French Park, winner of both the Pocahontas (GIII) and the Golden Rod (GII) during the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, breezed an easy four furlongs on Friday in :51 for trainer Helen Pitts. The daughter of Ecton Park suffered her first career loss when beaten by Baghdaria in her 3-year-old debut in the $250,000 Silverbulletday Stakes (GIII) at the Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs meet on Jan. 14.

French Park went off at odds of 15-1 in the KOFW Pool 1 and could resurface in the March 5 Bonnie Miss (GII) at Gulfstream.

WEST/WILD FIT WORKS TOWARD LAS VIRGENES - Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Wild Fit, winner of the Del Mar Debutante and runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), breezed seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Thursday in 1:27.40 in preparation for a run in the Grade I Las Virgenes on Feb. 11.

The one-mile Las Virgenes will be late-running daughter of Wild Wonder's first start in 2006 and her first start for the new owners and new trainer Patrick Biancone. She was previously in the care of trainer Jeff Mullins and campaigned by owners Brewer Racing Stable and Murray Smith, but was sold for $3 million in the Keeneland November Sale following her strong effort behind champion Folklore in the Breeders' Cup.

Wild Fit was the second individual wagering interest and third choice overall in the first Oaks Future Pool at odds of 7-1. Only Folklore (6-1) and the mutuel field (7-2) were lower.

Probable starters for the Las Virgenes include Hollywood Starlet (GI) winner Diplomat Lady, Sharp Cat winner Balance, Santa Ynez winner (GII) Dance Daily, and Santa Ysabel (GIII) winner, STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood's Itty Bitty Pretty.

Itty Bitty Pretty, a daughter of El Corredor, rolled to a six-length victory in her first start past 6 ½-furlongs in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Ysabel on Jan. 7 for trainer Doug O'Neill.

"She's doing fantastic and she wouldn't have any trouble with one mile," said O'Neill. "She just won going two turns so this race ought to hit her right between the ears."

Itty Bitty Pretty closed at odds of 25-1 in the opening pool of the KOFW.

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