Oaks Updates

"ALL OTHERS" STILL THE CHOICE IN OAKS FUTURE BET - A Sunday afternoon of upsets in major Florida preps for the 132nd running of the Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) made the mutuel field an attractive option in the closing hours of Pool 2 of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager ("KOFW"), and the "all others" betting interest ended up as the pool's favorite.

The mutuel field closed as a 9-2 favorite among 24 wagering interests as a pool record $54,054 was wagered during Pool 2's four-day run that ended Sunday evening. The "all others" wager included the horses that won the weekend's key Oaks preps at Florida's Gulfstream Park: Bonnie Miss (GII) winner Teammate and Stonerside Forward Gal (GII) winner Miraculous Miss. Both fillies defeated fillies that were individual betting interests in KOFW Pool 2 in their Sunday victories at the Hallandale, Fla. track.

Las Virgenes (GI) runner-up Wild Fit and Balance, the winner of that Santa Anita race, both closed at 7-1 - but slightly more money was wagered on Wild Fit. Reigning 2-year-old filly champion Folklore, who will miss a scheduled start the Santa Anita Oaks (GI) for four-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas, was the pool's fourth choice at 9-1.

The third and final pool of the 2006 Oaks Future Bet is scheduled for April 6-9.

EAST/TEAMMATE, MIRACULOUS MISS SURPRISE IN FLORIDA PREPS - A pair of Sunday stakes races at Gulfstream Park populated by fillies that were wagering interests in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager saw upset victories by horses that had not been considered as major Oaks contenders to this point.

Joseph Allen's gray/roan homebred Teammate ($12.40) broke in front and improved on that position as she scored an easy six-length victory in the $150,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes (GII).

The daughter of A.P. Indy, who is trained by New York legend Allen Jerkens, was never threatened as she romped to an easy win under Cornelio Velasquez. She covered the 1 1/8-miles over a "fast" track in a sharp 1:48.25, which was a faster than the 1:49 recorded by the disqualified Corinthian at the same distance when he finished in front of other males in the Fountain of Youth (GII) one day earlier.

Among those left in Teammate's wake in the Bonnie Miss were Kentucky Oaks Future Bet fillies Wonder Lady Anne L (2nd), favored Wait A While (3rd), Better Now (5th) and the disappointing second choice French Park (last of seven).

Teammate had struggled in her previous start over a "sloppy" track in the Davona Dale (GII), in which she finished second - beaten 14 lengths - by Wait A While. She raced on the anti-bleeding medication Lasix for the first time in the Bonnie Miss. Jerkens was pleased with his filly's effort, but did not appear to be thinking about a bid for the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks on May 5 after her easy victory.

"It looks like she'll go a distance," he said. "Of course, these fillies don't have to go much farther in distance in the big races. I have no I idea what might be next. I would prefer the Acorn (Grade I at a mile at Belmont Park), but it's just nice to win one, and you always hope they stay sound."

Miraculous Miss ($38.60) scored a bigger upset in the $150,000 Stonerside Forward Gal as the 18-1 shot rallied from last in the seven-furlong race to win by 1 ¾-lengths under jockey Jeremy Rose. The daughter of Mr. Greeley defeated Kentucky Oaks Future Wager contenders India (2nd), Misty Rosette (3rd), Joint Effort (7th), and Original Spin (last of 10).

Trainer Steve Klesaris co-owns Miraculous Miss with Puglisi Stables and watched his filly cover seven furlongs in 1:22.78 over "fast" footing. She had suffered the only loss of her career in a fifth-place finish over a "sloppy" track in the Old Hat (GIII) won by Misty Rosette.

"There's no doubt it was the (sloppy) track last time," said Klesaris. "As far as her best distance, we don't know that yet. She's picked up another furlong every race, except for the slop race, and she's answered the bell every time."

Klesaris mentioned Aqueduct's $150,000 Comely (GII) at a mile on April 15 as a possible next outing for Miraculous Miss. The biggest disappointment in the race was Original Spin, who was running for the first time since a third-place finish behind Folklore and Wild Fit in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Jockey Rene Douglas eased trainer Tony Mitchell's filly in the final eighth of a mile.

WEST/BALANCE, WILD FIT BREEZE FOR SANTA ANITA OAKS - The top two finishers in Santa Anita's Las Virgenes (GI) - Amerman Racing's Balance and Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's Wild Fit - tuned up for expected runs in next Sunday's Santa Anita Oaks (GI) with workouts on Sunday.

The David Hofmans-trained Balance breezed seven furlongs at Hollywood Park in 1:27.20. Hofmans said his daughter of Thunder Gulch went "real nice" and would ship to Santa Anita on Tuesday.

Wild Fit, a daughter of Wild Wonder trained by Patrick Biancone, worked six furlongs in company with the 4-year-old colt Chekhov and completed the distance in 1:11.40. The move was the fastest of the day. Chekhov covered the distance in 1:11.80.

Trainer Doug O'Neill said that Santa Ysabel (GIII) winner Itty Bitty Pretty was likely for the Santa Anita Oaks, but he cautioned that he could "call an audible" and look for another race if both Balance and Wild Fit run. Others considered likely for the Santa Anita Oaks are Hollywood Starlet (GI) winner Diplomat Lady, recent allowance winner Sweet Belle, and Quiet Kim.

Harriett Lane Wins - Favored Harriett Lane ($4.60) rallied five-wide in the stretch to win Sunday's $100,000 La Habra for 3-year-old fillies on Santa Anita's hillside turf course.

Country singer Toby Keith's Dream Walkin Farms and Susan Magnier own the daughter of Giant's Causeway, who defeated Bettarun Fast and Dance Daily and covered the distance of about 6 ½-furlongs in 1:13.80. The Ted West-trained filly has won three of six races on the grass after turning in a pair of poor efforts on the main track in her first two races at Del Mar.

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