Oaks News

NEW ORLEANS, La. – J. Paul Reddam’s California-bred filly Mistical Plan led every step of the way under jockey Corey Nakatani to win the $400,000 Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, Mistical Plan covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:44.02, defeating post time favorite Octave by 3 1/4  lengths.  It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Whatdreamsrmadeof in third.

“Beautiful,” said O’Neill.  “The last two times going two turns, we didn’t draw the greatest of posts.  Corey just rode her beautifully.”

Nakatani added, “She’s run some clunker going two turns, but we’re not done yet.“She was getting some pressure (today), but my main goal was to let her be comfortable.  We were loaded for bear.”

Sent off at odds of 7-1, Mistical Plan returned $16.40, $6.60 and $5.20.  Octave paid $3.00 and $2.60, while Whatdreamsrmadeof returned $5.20 to show.

Winner of the Sunshine Millions Oaks at Santa Anita in her last start, Mistical Plan broke from the rail on top in the Fair Grounds Oaks and set fractions of :23.57, :46.99, 1:11.51 and 1:37.14 before drawing off to win in 1:44.02.  For the first three-quarters of a mile, Appealing Zophie, winner of the Grade III Silverbulletday Stakes here on Feb. 10, applied pressure to Mistical Plan, but she faded in the stretch to finish last under jockey John Velazquez in the field of eight.

“She’s OK,” said Velazquez of Appealing Zophie.  “She went fast early.  I tried to rate her a little bit.  She cut her air off.  Other than that, she was OK.”

Mistical Plan represents O’Neill and Reddam’s first starter in the Fair Grounds Oaks. The victory was Nakatani’s first win in just two attempts in the historic race.

A daughter of Game Plan, Mistical Plan earned $240,000 for the win, pushing her lifetime earnings to $475,765.  It was her fourth victory in eight starts.

The last two winners of the Fair Grounds Oaks have gone on to win the Grade I Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on the day before the Kentucky Derby: Summerly in 2005 and Ashado in 2004.  The race was not run in 2006, but the Kentucky Oaks winner Lemons Forever raced at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs.

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