Oaks Updates

WEST/LUKAS SAYS CHAMPION FOLKLORE OUT OF OAKS - The Estate of Robert Lewis and Beverly Lewis’ Folklore, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2005 and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade I), has been ruled out of consideration for the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) at Churchill Downs.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas told the Daily Racing Form that the daughter of Tiznow suffered a wrenched knee in a third-place finish in the Santa Ynez (GII) at Santa Anita on Jan. 16. He said that Folklore is in light training, but he has ruled out a shot at the May 5 Oaks for the champion filly.

“We know we're not going to make the Oaks, so there is no need to push her,” said Lukas.

Lukas told the Form that Ex Caelis, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is “getting close” to a return to competition and remains a candidate for the Oaks. Lukas said the Fusaichi Pegasus filly could show up in Oaklawn Park’s $250,000 Fantasy (GII) on April 14.

Victories in the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) by the previous year’s 2-year-old filly champion have been rare through the years and the defection of Folklore from this year’s renewal marks the sixth consecutive year in which the champion has failed to make it to the 1 1/8-mile race at Churchill Downs.

Mike Pegram’s Silverbulletday, the 1998 3-year-old filly champion winner of the ’99 Oaks,was the last 2-year-old filly champion to compete in the Kentucky Oaks. Champions that have failed to make the race since include Chilukki, Caressing, Tempera, Storm Flag Flying, Halfbridled and Sweet Catomine.

Carl Pollard’s Caressing raced at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby Week following her championship season, but won the La Troienne (GIII) on the day before the 2001 Kentucky Oaks. Godolphin’s Tempera was on the grounds and was being pointed toward the 2002 Oaks, but fell ill and died only days before the race. Halfbridled was entered in the Oaks in 2004, but was scratched on the day of the race.

MIDWEST/CANADIAN TOP NOTCH LADY SURPRISES IN BOURBONETTE BC - Canadian invader Top Notch Lady ($16.80) rallied in the stretch to overtake Coronado’s Vision near the finish line to win the $150,000 Bourbonette Breeders’ Cup (Grade III) on a snowy Saturday at Turfway Park.

Robert J. Wilson’s 3-year-old daughter of Sultry Song won by a neck under jockey Robby Albarado as she covered one mile over a “fast” polytrack surface in 1:39.26. Trained by Mark Casse, Top Notch Lady improved her career record to 4-2-0 in seven races as she enjoyed success in her first race outside of Canada. All of her previous races had come at Woodbine Race Course, where she won the Glorious Song Stakes in her most recent start in November.

Top Notch Lady improved her career earnings to $312,678 as she competed over a polytrack surface for the first time.

“I had spoken to (Kentucky-based trainer) Bernie Flint prior to coming here and he had told me it would be wise to come in a little early and get a breeze over the racetrack, so that’s what we did,” said Casse. “I wasn’t too concerned about her running off the layoff. I told Mr. Wilson that she likes the Polytrack and if she gets beat it’s not because she’s short.”

Coronado’s Vision, ridden by Edgar Prado, held on for second by three-quarters of a length over the late-running Lemons Forever and David Flores.

Favored Sabatini, who was making her first start since a runner-up finish to Itty Bitty Pretty in Santa Anita’s Santa Ysabel (GIII) on Jan. 7, finished another three-quarters of a length back in fourth under apprentice jockey Julien Leparoux.

“She closed ground but flattened out near the finish,” said Leparoux, who leads Turfway Park and the nation in victories in 2006. “I lost my whip at the quarter pole. I don’t think that cost us the win, but it may have cost us a placing. We’re happy with her race, though. She took to the track well. The conditions weren’t great, but they were the same for everybody.”

Trainer Patrick Biancone downplayed any chance that Sabatini would be pointed toward the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI).

“She is a short filly,” said Biancone, “She cannot go that kind of distance. I was pointing for this race for a long time, thinking she would like the polytrack. But if you look at her pedigree, she is by a sprinter (Five Star Day) out of dam by Geiger Counter, so maybe we will shorten her back up.”

Dance Daily, winner of the Santa Ynez (GII), was a late scratch.

A trip to the Kentucky Oaks seems unlikely for the victorious Top Notch Lady. She is not nominated to the Oaks and Casse said that she would likely return to Canada for her next start.

ERMINE SURPRISES IN HONEYBEE -- Oxbow Racing LLC’s Ermine ($13.80), an impressive maiden winner in her previous start, made a successful leap into stakes company with an upset victory over odds-on favorite Brownie Points in Saturday’s $75,000 Honeybee at Oaklawn Park.

The Florida-bred daughter of Exchange Rate finished a comfortable three lengths in front of the favorite and covered 1 1/16-miles in 1:44.48 over a “fast” track. It was the second victory in five races for Ermine, who is trained by Ronny Werner and was ridden by Calvin Borel.

“This filly is a little light,” said Werner. “If you really believe in your horse and think they have the talent and mentality, they are doing everything right, you can move a horse from a maiden win to a stakes.”

Brownie Points, winner of the Martha Washington Stakes last time out for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel, rallied from last in the field of six under Luis Quinonez, the leading rider at Oaklawn, but could not threaten the winner.

“You have to give the winner a lot of credit,” said Von Hemel. “We had our chance. We were in position and made a run at the leader but just couldn't get by that one.”

The pacesetting Morner finished third while Baghdaria, winner of the Silverbulletday (GIII) was fourth. Kat Nan Do and Best Mom completed the order of finish.

Werner said that Ermine, a nominee to the 132nd Kentucky Oaks on May 6, would likely make her next start in Oaklawn’s $250,000 Fantasy (GII) on April 14.

EAST/LAST ROMANCE TURNS TABLES ON DAYTIME PROMISE - Last Romance had failed to finish in front of Daytime Promise in her last two starts in stakes races at Aqueduct, but the daughter of Wild Rush turned the tables on that rival on Friday with a domination 5 ½-length victory in the $60,000 Wayward Lass Stakes at the New York track.

Owned by Sanford Goldfarb, Michael Dubb and the Bunch of Characters Stable, Last Romance rallied from fifth in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies and drew off under Eibar Coa for the easy victory. She completed the one-mile distance in 1:37.64 over a “fast” track.

Heavily favored Daytime Promise finished second under jockey Ramon Dominguez, and it was 1 ¼-lengths back to Trendy Lady in third.

The Wayward Lass marked the first stakes victory for Last Romance, who is trained by Richard Dutrow, Jr. and won for the third time in seven career races. She had finished second to Daytime Promise in the Busanda at Aqueduct on Jan. 22, then was fourth behind Regal Engagement, Trendy Lady and Daytime Promise in the Feb. 26 Busher.

Last Romance is not nominated to the Kentucky Oaks.

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