Dan Shapiro's blog

It’s almost not fair.

A nice all-stakes Pick 4 to tackle today with a $500,000 guaranteed pool.

Another morning. Another rainy day at The Downs.

As a horseplayer, I rarely think about the daily routine of elite Thoroughbreds and the care and conditioning they receive so they peak on big race days.

To me, there’s no question that Rags to Riches is the most talented filly in the Oaks field and the most likely to win.

Rags to Riches drew the 11 post this morning in a full field of 14 fillies for the Kentucky Oaks.

The road to the Kentucky Oaks doesn't lead through New York very often these days. I'm sorry to say that this year will be no different.

In winning last year's Demoiselle at Aqueduct, Boca Grande stamped herself as a major contender for this year's Kentucky Oaks. I quickly placed her at number one in my Top 10 list.

What a difference a week makes!

Saturday's Grade III Cicada at Aqueduct is probably the first New York race of 2007 that can be considered any sort of legitimate Oaks prep even though it isn't likely to have much of an impact on the Oaks picture.

In a change of tactics, Olivine, sent off at nearly 11-1 went gate-to-wire to upset the field in the Busher Stakes at Aqueduct last Sunday.

Sunday's Busher Stakes is the second two-turn stakes race of the year at Aqueduct for 3-year-old fillies who could be pointed toward the Kentucky Oaks. Last week, we saw Special Dream upset the Dearly Precious Stakes at six furlongs in a race that is unlikely to produce any Oaks contenders.  

There aren't many serious Oaks contenders in New York at this time of year, but Saturday's Dearly Precious at Aqueduct could produce a few fillies with Oaks aspirations.

Hi and welcome to the East Coast Kentucky Oaks blog. I’m Dan Shapiro and I’ll be posting here right through the 133rd Kentucky Oaks.