Oaks Updates

By: John Asher

WEST/ WILD FIT LOOKS TO FEND OFF STRONG CAST IN COMEBACK - As the first Grade I race of the year for 3-year-old fillies, Santa Anita’s $250,000 Las Virgenes annually attracts some of the nation’s Kentucky Oaks (GI) contenders, and Saturday’s 2006 renewal will continue that trend.

This year’s Las Virgenes cast includes nearly every major West Coast contender outside of juvenile champion and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) winner Folklore, but the eyes of most observers will be on Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Wild Fit.

The daughter of Wild Wonder was purchased for $3 million at the Keeneland November Sale following a troubled runner-up finish to Folklore on Breeders’ Cup Day. The Las Virgenes will mark her first start since that day, along with her debut for her new owners and new trainer Patrick Biancone. The Del Mar Debutante (GI) winner, listed as the 7-2 second choice in the Las Virgenes morning line, tuned up for her 3-year-old debut with a half-mile breeze in :48 on Wednesday at Santa Anita.

“This is her comeback race and in this race there are some fillies that are very fit,” said Biancone. “If she runs well, I’ll be happy.”

The 3-1 favorite for the Las Virgenes is Amerman Racing Stable’s Balance, who heads a field that also includes Charles Cono’s Diplomat Lady (4-1), STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood’s Itty Bitty Pretty (9-2), and Robert and Beverly Lewis’ Dance Daily (10-1).

All four have won stakes races in California in recent months. The Las Virgenes will be first start of 2006 for Diplomat Lady and Balance, who finished 1-2 in the Hollywood Starlet (GI) on Dec. 18. Itty Bitty Pretty rolled to a six-length victory in her first start beyond 6 ˝-furlongs in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Ysabel (GIII) on Jan. 7. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained Dance Daily upset her champion stablemate Folklore in the Santa Ynez (GII) on Jan. 16.

Wild Fit finished the second individual wagering choice in the opening pool of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager at odds of 7-1. Balance was the third Oaks Future choice at odds of 13-1, while Itty Bitty Pretty closed at 25-1, Diplomat Lady stood at 26-1 and Dance Daily ended the pool as a 42-1 risk.

Sierra Sweetie, Seam Seeker Square Off at Golden Gate - Stakes winners Sierra Sweetie and Seam Seeker are set for a Northern California showdown in Saturday’s $75,000 California Breeders’ Cup Oaks at Golden Gate Fields.

Sierra Sweetie, the 5-2 morning line favorite, will make her first start since she scored a three-length victory in the California Breeders Champion Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 28. The steady California-bred Old Topper filly has a record of 3-3-0 in six races.

Rancho Santiago’s Seam Seeker finished a disappointing eighth behind Sierra Sweetie at Santa Anita, but rebounded to win the $75,000 Burlingame at Bay Meadows on Jan. 21. The California-bred daughter of Bertrando was a 53-1 risk in the opening pool of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, but is the 5-1 second choice in Saturday’s field of nine fillies.

EAST/CELESTIAL LEGEND BIDS FOR SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN IN LAUREL’S WIDE COUNTRY - Richard Shultz and David Menard’s unbeaten Celestial Legend will seek her sixth career victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Wide Country Stakes at Laurel Park.

The chestnut daughter of City Zip is the 4-5 morning line favorite in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies following a commanding 13-length win in the 5 ˝-furlong Marshua at Laurel Park for trainer Dale Capuano. Three of her five victories have come in stakes races and the one-mile Wide Country will mark the Maryland-bred filly’s first attempt at a distance beyond seven furlongs.

Buckingham Farm’s For Kisses, a recent maiden winner, is the 4-1 second choice.

Stakes Winners Drill Across The East - Several stakes-tested contenders for the 132nd running of the Kentucky Oaks on May 5 turned in serious training drills across the East Coast during the week.

Lee Lewis’ Better Now, winner of the Tempted at Belmont (GIII) in October, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Gulfstream Park on Tuesday. The Mark Hennig trainee is a daughter of 1995 Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch.

Darley Stables’ Silvestris breezed a half mile in :49.24 on Tuesday at Belmont Park for trainer Thomas Albertrani. The daughter of Forest Wildcat won the six-furlong, $65,000 Ruthless at Aqueduct last out.

Donald Dizney’s Joint Effort, winner of the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks on Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park, worked a half-mile “handily” in :48.60 on Wednesday for trainer Dale Romans.

COMING KENTUCKY OAKS 132 PREP RACES
Feb. 11 - $75,000 Arizona Oaks (1 1/16 miles)
$75,000 Wide Country Stakes at Laurel Park (mile)
$75,000 California BC Oaks at Golden Gate Fields (1 1/16 miles)
Feb. 18 - $75,000 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs (1 1/16 miles)
$50,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park (mile)

Editor’s Note: Welcome to Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Oaks 132 Update for 2006. The Update is published twice weekly. The Friday issue includes Kentucky Oaks news and previews of weekend prep races, while a Monday issue will review the preps and news of the weekend. The update will also be available each week at www.kentuckyderby.com. If you have any questions, contact Josh Abner at (502) 636-4464 or via e-mail at josh.abner@kentuckyderby.com.

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