Oaks Updates

CENTRAL/GRADE I WINNER SUTRA BACK IN ACTION AT OAKLAWN - Stonerside Stable and Oakcrest Farm's Sutra, a grade I stakes winner at two, was upset on Friday at Oaklawn Park as she made her first start on the road to the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (Grade I).

The daughter of Meadowlake, the upset winner of the Frizette (GI) at Belmont Park, rallied to challenge Overbrook Farm's Floral Park in upper stretch, but saw that Dallas Stewart-trained rival pull away for a comfortable victory.

The race was the first start for Sutra since her ninth-place finish behind eventual 2-year-old filly champion Dreaming of Anna in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Churchill Downs in early November.

Both Floral Park and the Mike Stidham-trained Sutra are based at the Fair Grounds and shipped to Oaklawn Park for Friday's allowance.

SOUTHEAST/McGAUGHEY CHOOSES DEBUT SPOT FOR BOCA GRANDE - The anticipated 3-year-old debut of Phipps Stable's Kentucky Oaks contender Boca Grande will come in the $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (GII) on March 10 at Gulfstream Park.

The daughter of A.P. Indy won the Demoiselle (GII) at Aqueduct on Nov. 25 in her most recent effort. Trainer Claude "Shug" McGaughey, who won the Kentucky Oaks in 1993 with Dispute, settled this week on the seven-furlong Forward Gal for the filly's 2007 debut.

Meanwhile, Kentucky-based trainer Helen Pitts could have a Kentucky Oaks contender in Silverinyourpocket, who scored a strong allowance win on Wednesday at Gulfstream Park.

The daughter of Silver Deputy romped by 6 ¼ lengths under jockey Rafael Bejarano and defeated, the well-regarded Magical Ride in a 6 ½-furlong allowance race. Silverinyourpocket covered the distance in 1:16.89 over a "fast" track.
Pitts said Silverinyourpocket would step up to stakes company after that flashy victory.

"I thought her race was very impressive and very professional," Pitts told the Daily Racing Form. "She's the type of filly who'll let you do whatever you want her to do, and you don't get too many young fillies that easy to manage."

Silverinyourpocket could make her stakes debut in the one-mile Bourbonette Breeders' Cup (GIII) at Turfway Park on March 24.

SECOND OAKS FUTURE POOL SET FOR NEXT WEEK - The second of three pools of Churchill Downs' 2007 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager is set for March 8-11.

Churchill Downs will announce the wagering interests for the four-day pool on Tuesday, March 6. Wagering will open at noon (EST) on Thursday, March 8.

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