Oaks News

Christmas Kid hugged the rail and shot to the front entering the stretch under jockey Rene Douglas before holding off a hard charging Octave by a head to win the $500,000 Ashland (Grade 1) at Keeneland.

The 3-year-old bay daughter of Lemon Drop Kid covered the 1 1/8-mile distance over the polytrack surface in 1:42.90. The winner paid $21, $5.80, and $4.20 after being dismissed at odds of nearly 10-1 in the eight horse field. Octave had a strong late kick under Garrett Gomez but could not catch the winner; she paid $2.40 and $2.10 as the heavy 1-2 favorite. Dawn After Dawn, a 54-1 longshot, finished another ¾-lengths back in third with Shaun Bridgmohan in the irons and paid $7.80 to show.

High Again, who defeated Christmas Kid last time out in the Bonnie Miss (Grade 2), finished two lengths behind the third place finisher in fourth. She was followed under the wire by Mistical Plan, Grace Happens, Silver Knockers, and Elitist. The field was reduced to eight with the late scratch of Hucking Hot.

Elitist shot to the front immediately after the break but was soon confronted by Fair Grounds' Oaks winner Mistical Plan. The two ran the first quarter in :24.18 before Mistical Plan began to set her own uncontested, yet quickened, pace. She navigated the first half-mile in :47.60 and the first six furlongs in 1:12.93. As they approached the stretch, Mistical Plan allowed enough room on the rail for Christmas Kid to slingshot to a quick two-length lead. That head-start would come in handy as Octave came rolling at the end of the race. Christmas Kid was able to hold off that rival by a diminishing head.

Owned by Edward P. Evans and trained by James Jerkens, Christmas Kid won for the fourth time in seven career starts and collected a winner's share of $310,000 to more than double her lifetime earnings to a total of $526,587. The Ashland was Christmas Kid's third stakes win of the year after wins in the Davona Dale (Grade 2) and Tropical Park Oaks; she also finished second in the Bonnie Miss (Grade 2).

Each of the top five seem likely to progress onto the Kentucky Oaks to be run on May 4 at Churchill Downs, where they are likely to meet larger-than-life early favorite Rags to Riches.

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