Contenders

Bob Baffert

Bob Baffert has become one of the most recognized names in thoroughbred racing in the last ten years. A native of Nogales, Ariz., Baffert grew up on a chicken and cattle ranch and got and his start with horses when he was about 12 by grooming and galloping Quarter Horses owned by his father. He got started in training with Quarter Horses in Arizona in 1971 and saddled his first Thoroughbred winner in '79. He won the Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer in '97, '98, and '99 and has trained six Eclipse Award champions - Chilukki, Real Quiet, Silverbulletday, Silver Charm, Vindication and War Emblem. He won the Oaks in 1999 with Silverbulletday and has placed in the race with Habibti (3^rd in 2002) and Santa Catarina (2^nd in 2003).

Victor Espinoza

A native of Mexico City, Victor Espinoza began riding professionally in 1993, following in the footsteps of his uncle and brother. He garnered his first win at Hippodromo de las America in Sept. 1993 and moved to Southern Calif. soon after. He was the leading apprentice rider at Bay Meadows (1993-94) and at Golden Gate Fields (1994); in 2000, he captured the Hollywood Park spring-summer riding title. His biggest stakes wins to date have been on War Emblem in 2002 Derby and Preakness (GI), The Tin Man in the 2006 Arlington Million (GI), Early Pioneer in the 2000 Hollywood Gold Cup (GI) and Spain in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) and Great Hunter in the Lane's End Breeder's Futurity (GI). In 2006, his mounts earned in excess of $16.1 million, good for 3rd nationally. He has had three previous mounts in the Oaks: Habibti (3rd in 2002), Hollywood Story (5th in 2004), and Balance (11th as the favorite in 2006).

Watson and Weltman Performances LLC

Coming Soon

Gary Tussey

Coming soon

Tough Tiz's Sis is a daughter of two-time Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) champ Tiznow. The California bred son of Cee's Tizzy was at his best going two turns. All his wins came at three and four, when he captured five graded stakes in addition to the Breeders' Cup races. His full brother, Budroyale, was also second in the Breeders' Cup Classic. In addition to Tough Tiz's Sis, he has other high-class 3-year-olds in Liquidity, Tenfold, Slew's Tizzy and Tiz Wonderful, who swept the fall stakes at Churchill Downs this November. The latter was sidelined from Derby consideration after a minor injury this winter. Tiznow has five stakes winners from his first three crops, one of which is Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and 2-year-old filly champion Folklore.

Tough Tiz's Sis is a daughter of Leaseholder, a stakes placed daughter of Taylor's Falls. She is the dam of seven foals; of those seven, six have raced and all six have become winners. She is also the dam of stakes placed runnings Golly Greeley and Leaseholder's Dream. Leaseholder herself has a half to a pair of stakes placed runners and to eight other winners. Her second dam, Leasehold, is a half to Reversionary, who won the Lone Star Derby over males.

TOUGH TIZ'S SIS hasn't run since March 18 when she impressively took the WinStar Oaks at Sunland Park. It goes without saying that she is taking a big step up in class by tackling the Kentucky Oaks and meeting the likes of Rags to Riches and Dreaming of Anna after beating up on mostly allowance types. It is tough to justify backing this Tiznow filly for the top spot off her race record, but having Bob Baffert as her trainer certainly makes her an entertaining prospect. A disproportionate amount of people are taking a flirtatious look at this filly based more on her connections than the abilities she has shown on the racetrack. She wouldn't shock anyone with a big effort but there are more enticing entrants in the race.