Oaks Updates

WEST/CHAMPION FOLKLORE TO MISS SANTA ANITA OAKS - Robert and Beverly Lewis’ Folklore, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2005, will miss a scheduled start in the Santa Anita Oaks (Grade I) on March 12.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner, said that the homebred daughter of Tiznow’s training since a third-place finish in her 3-year-old debut in the Santa Ynez (GIII) led him to pull her from consideration for the Santa Anita Oaks.

“She just hasn’t got into her program since the Santa Ynez Stakes, so I’m going to skip it,” Lukas said. “I might run another one in there but I’m not going to run her.”

Whether the situation that prompted Lukas to change plans for Folklore would affect her chances to run in the 132nd renewal of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) on May 5 at Churchill Downs is not known.

SOUTHEAST/CRYSTAL CURRENT WINS AT TAMPA FOR MOTT, STEINBRENNER - Crystal Current, a homebred owned by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, passed her first test at a two-turn distance as she cruised to an easy victory in Saturday’s 26th running of the $60,000 Suncoast Stakes at Florida’s Tampa Bay Downs.

The daughter of A.P. Indy won by 4 ˝-lengths under jockey Cornelio Velasquez and covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:45.20 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

“I was a little concerned around the first turn,” said Mott. “She ran great today and showed her ability to get two turns.”

Saffronista was second and Tyler Madison finished third. Capozzene, the Todd Pletcher-trained favorite, finished a non-threatening sixth in the field of eight.

EAST/IRACANE’S RING TRUE SURPRISES IN DEARLY PRECIOUS - Joseph Iracane’s Ring True rallied from just off the pace and then held off the late charging Vasa to score an upset victory in Monday’s $65,000 Dearly Precious Stakes on a special Presidents’ Day program at Aqueduct.

Darley Stable’s heavily favored Silvestris, winner of the Ruthless Stakes on January 2, broke slowly and finished a dull fourth in the field of five 3-year-old fillies. The Jimmy Jerkens-trained winner, a 10-1 shot ridden by Norberto Arroyo, Jr., covered six furlongs over a “fast” track in 1:12.01.

Oprah Winney was a late scratch.

MIDWEST/OAKLAWN’S MARTHA WASHINGTON IN DEEP FREEZE - Frigid weather prompted Oaklawn Park to cancel racing on Saturday, Sunday and Monday - a decision that resulted in the postponement of the $50,000 Martha Washington Stakes that had been scheduled for Sunday.

The Martha Washington will be run on Friday, February 24 at the Hot Springs, Ark. track. The race had attracted a full field of 12 3-year-old fillies headed by Silverbulletday (GIII) winner Baghdaria.

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