- Oaks Day First Race Post Time: 11:00 a.m. ET, Gates Open at 8:00 a.m.
- Visit The Oaks' Companion Website at www.kentuckyderby.com
- Oaks Future Wager Pool 3 Final Odds
- Kentucky Oaks Post Time: May 4, 5:45 p.m. ET Race 10
Friday, April 20, 2007
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.
Yes, Boca Grade rebounded to win the Comely, but soon after the race trainer Shug McGaughey and owner Ogden Mills Phipps decide to pass the Oaks. It's probably a wise decision by the conservative connections. Her victory wasn't particularly fast or impressive and it was just her second start of the year.
Boca Grande simply is not in the class of Rags to Riches and would be running for second money (which Phipps certainly doesn't need). McGaughey, a specialist with fillies and mares, will allow Boca Grande to mature and point for the major grade 1's for 3-year-old fillies scattered throughout the New York racing calendar. By the end of the year, the daughter of A.P. Indy could be one of the division leaders. If she runs in the Oaks in two weeks, she's be more than 10-1.
None of the other fillies who spent the winter in New York are pointing for the Oaks. Control System, winner of the Cicada, is undefeated in three starts and is probably the most 3-year-old talented filly to run in the northeast this year. She has come down with a minor illness, but I look for her be prominent in top distaff races this summer and fall.
Dan Shapiro, 27, has worked in the racing industry since 1999 when he completed internships at Churchill Downs and Suffolk Downs while pursuing a journalism degree at Boston University.
Dan Shapiro, 27, has worked in the racing industry since 1999 when he completed internships at Churchill Downs and Suffolk Downs while pursuing a journalism degree at Boston University.
David Gutfreund has been working and living in England for the last year working on a TV network called Racing World, which brings American horse racing into the living rooms of U.K. punters showing the best of sport in the U.S.
John Asher, vice-president of Communications at Churchill Downs, has worked in the Thoroughbred racing industry as a journalist and a publicist for more than 20 years.
Justin Dew has been handicapping horses and following the Kentucky Derby trail for 15 years. His Derby Day triumphs include a current streak of three consecutive Derby exactas, including the Giacomo-Closing Argument combination that returned over $9,800 in 2005. His top selection for the 2006 Derby, Bluegrass Cat, ran 2nd but keyed an exacta with Barbaro that returned over $500.
Toby Callet has been a professional handicapper for more than 30 years. His web site, tobycallet.com, features key plays at tracks in Florida, Kentucky, California and Louisiana.
Former director of publicity, santa anita park…former director of marketing and media, del mar thoroughbred club. currently, senior media coordinator, del mar
Currently Director of Media for Del Mar Thoroughbred Club at Del Mar racetrack in California. Has worked at Del Mar in media since 1981. Been in racing industry since 1971, primarily as a writer, editor and publicist.
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