Oaks Updates

EAST/TOP OAKS CONTENDERS PREP FOR GULFSTREAM TESTS - Some of the East Coast’s top contenders for the 132nd running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) are preparing to run this weekend in the $150,000 Forward Gal (GII) and the $150,000 Bonnie Miss (GII) at Gulfstream Park.

Several of those fillies turned in important final preps for those races, including Russell Reineman Stable Inc.’s Original Spin, who will make her 3-year-old debut in the seven-furlong Forward Gal. She breezed five furlongs from the gate in :59.60 on Monday for trainer Tony Mitchell. Original Spin, who was named last week as the 2005 state-bred Horse of the Year in Illinois, finished third to champion Folklore in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Belmont Park. She had earlier won the Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Lassie (GIII).

“We wanted to get a good solid ‘half’ in her and gallop out the five-eighths,” said Mitchell. “Judging by the time they gave her, she certainly did that.

Mitchell’s filly is expected to faced Forward Gal rivals that include Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith’s Frizette (GI) winner Adieu; Donald Dizney’s Joint Effort, winner of the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks on Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park; and Lyon Stables’ well-regarded allowance winner India.

Joint Effort breezed a half mile in :49 on Monday at Palm Meadows training center for trainer Dale Romans, while India breezed a half-mile over the same surface in :48.80 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The mile and an eighth Bonnie Miss (GII) shapes up as a battle Stevestan’s Stables’ French Park, winner of the Pocahontas (GIII) and the Golden Rod (GII) during the Churchill Downs Fall Meet, and Arindel Farm’s Wait A While, a spectacular 14-length winner the $150,000-added Davona Dale (GII) at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 4.

Wait A While breezed a half mile on Monday in :49.60.

REGAL ENGAGEMENT UPSETS IN BUSHER - Mark Spitzer’s Regal Engagement had only a maiden win to her credit as she entered Sunday’s $65,000-added Busher Stakes at Aqueduct, but she emerged as a stakes winner.

Regal Engagement held off Beverly Lewis’ Trendy Lady to win by a neck. Heavily favored Daytime Promise suffered through rugged journey and finished third. She had to steady behind the winner in upper stretch, but finished well after changing paths to gain the show spot.

Trained by Thomas Bush, Regal Engagement rallied along the rail in deep stretch her stakes victory. With Ramon Dominguez in the irons, the daughter of Cat Thief covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:47.15.

The winner is not nominated to the Kentucky Oaks.

MIDWEST/BROWNIE POINTS SCORES IN MARTHA WASHINGTON - Pin Oak Stable’s homebred Brownie Points rallied from off the pace under jockey Luis Quinonez to score an upset victory in Friday’s $50,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The Donnie Von Hemel-trained daughter of Forest Wildcat, already a stakes winner on turf, adjusted well to the dirt as she finished 2 ¾-lengths clear of runner-up Sweet Sugaree with Kat Nan Do in third.

Brownie Points was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Bedanken Stake on turf at the Fair Grounds at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs meet on Jan. 24.

“I rode this filly at (Louisiana Downs) in a small field and was always in trouble,” said Quinonez. “Today in a big field, I was always able to put her in a spot where she was comfortable. At the top of the lane, I saw those two horses in front of us and she split them and just exploded with a powerful move.”

Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch’s favored Baghdaria, an upset winner over previously unbeaten French Park in the Silverbulletday (GIII) in her previous start, finished sixth.

Von Hemel said that Brownie Points, who is not nominated to the Kentucky Oaks, would likely be pointed toward the $75,000 Honeybee on March 25 at Oaklawn Park.

The one-mile Martha Washington was originally scheduled for Feb. 19, but the race was postponed when a winter storm swept through the Hot Springs, Ark. track.

Classical Ryder Still Unbeaten Following Turfway’s Valdale - Gail Hughes and G.J. Selbach’s unbeaten Classical Ryder rallied from far back under jockey Eddie Martin, Jr. to score a one-length victory in Saturday’s $50,000 Valdale Stakes at Turfway Park.

The Donald Hughes trainee won the fourth time in as many starts, all of which have come over the polytrack surface at the Northern Kentucky track. The first win for the daughter of Brahms came in a $15,000 maiden claiming race in December.

Anna Dana held for a clear second, 6 ¼-lengths ahead of Grand Consequence.

Classical Ryder is not nominated to the Kentucky Oaks.

« Back To Oaks Updates