Oaks Updates

WEST/RAGS TO RICHES HEAVILY FAVORED IN SANTA ANITA OAKS - Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Rags to Riches assumed the role of favorite for the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) when she defeated a star-studded cast in her stakes debut in the Las Virgenes (GI) at Santa Anita. A strong effort in Sunday's $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (GI) would likely make the 3-year-old daughter of A.P. Indy an overwhelming favorite to wear the lilies that will go to the winner of the 133rd running of the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 4.

The emphatic win by the Todd Pletcher-trained Rags to Riches in the Las Virgenes has scared away all but a handful of contenders for Sunday's 1 1/16-mile Santa Anita Oaks. The group of mostly familiar faces that will attempt to knock off the heavy favorite include Baroness Thatcher, Runway Rosie and Cash Included - the 2-3-4 finishers behind Rags to Riches in the Las Virgenes. Silver Swallow is also expected to face Rags to Riches.

Trainer Bob Baffert saw enough from Rags to Riches in the Las Virgenes to seek out another target for his improving filly Tough Tiz's Sis. He has selected the $200,000 WinStar Sunland Park Oaks at New Mexico's Sunland Park on March 18 for the daughter of Tiznow, who overcame major traffic woes to score a strong allowance victory in her last start.

CENTRAL/APPEALING ZOPHIE BIDS TO GIVE ASMUSSEN ANOTHER FAIR GROUNDS OAKS WIN - Trainer Steve Asmussen scored an impressive double in 2005 when he swept the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) and the Kentucky Oaks with Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Summerly, and he hopes to start a similar sweep when he saddles Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's favored Appealing Zophie in Saturday's 41st running of the $400,000 race for 3-year-old fillies at New Orleans' Fair Grounds.
The daughter of Successful Appeal cruised to a 4 ¼-length victory in the Silverbulletday (GIII) at the Fair Grounds, a win that snapped a string of three consecutive losses following a victory in the prestigious Spinaway (GI) at Saratoga in September.

John Velazquez will ride Appealing Zophie, who was installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for Saturday's race. Asmussen's filly has a career record of 3-2-0 in six races and has earned $475,350.

Other major contenders include J. Paul Reddam's Mistical Plan (3-1), winner of the Sunshine Million Oaks for trainer Doug O'Neill, and the fillies that finished second and third in the Silverbulletday: Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Total (5-1) and Richard, Elaine and Bert Klein's Get Ready Bertie (GI).

Others in the race include Le Chateau, Whatdreamsrmadeof and Dawn After Dawn.

SOUTHEAST/BOCA GRANDE IN FORWARD GAL, CHRISTMAS KID TRIES BONNIE MISS - A highly regarded member of this year's crop of 3-year-old fillies makes her season debut on Saturday as Phipps Stable's Boca Grande competes in the 27th running of the $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (GII) over seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park.

The daughter of A.P. Indy has not run for trainer Shug McGaughey since a 3 ¾-length romp in the Demoiselle (GII) at Aqueduct in November. Mike Smith is scheduled to ride Boca Grande, who had won a one-mile maiden race at Belmont prior to her Demoiselle win.

Other Forward Gal contenders include Jayeff B Stable's You Asked, the runner-up to Dream Rush in the Old Hat (GIII) last month at Gulfstream. Dreaming of Anna, the 2-year-old filly champion of 2006, finished third in that race. Mark Guidry will ride.

A pair of unbeaten fillies will try to take a major step forward in their young careers in the Forward Gal. The Nick Zito-trained Silver Knockers has scored two impressive wins at Gulfstream Park, while Forever Together - trained by steeplechase ace Jonathan Sheppard - won the OBS Sprint at the Ocala Sales Center in her second career start.

A slight infection knocked Dream Rush out of the Forward Gal. Other contenders include Changeisgonnacome, Bold Assurance, and Ahsugahnow.
The Saturday card at Gulfstream also features the 37th running of the $150,000 Bonnie Miss (GII) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles and a victory in that race by Edward P. Evans' versatile Christmas Kid would establish her as a major contender for the Kentucky Oaks.

The daughter of Lemon Drop Kid won the Tropical Park Oaks at Calder Race Course on New Year's Day, then switched to the main track for trainer James Jerkens and won the one-mile Davona Dale by four lengths. Rene Douglas will ride Christmas Kid in the Bonnie Miss.

The race against seven rivals will be the first for Christmas Kid at two turns on the main track. Jerkens' filly won the Davona Dale over Gulfstream's one-turn mile course.

"It's a lot different than going a one-turn mile," Jerkens said. "She seemed to handle two turns on the turf okay, but it is different and it's a concern."

Back for another try in the Bonnie Miss is Zayat Stable's High Again, a daughter of High Yield who was the runner-up in the Davona Dale. High Again had won a Gulfstream Park allowance race for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott prior to her effort in the Davona Dale.

Other contenders include Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie (GIII) winner Lisa M., Miss Tizzynow, Naseem, Swift Temper, Fee Fi Fo Fum, and Lost Etiquette.

INTERNATIONAL/FOLK DAZZLES IN DUBAI, RUN AGAINST BOYS NEXT - Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum's Folk scored a dazzling victory in Thursday's $250,000 Al Tayer Motors United Arab Emirates Oaks at Dubai's Nad al Sheba - a victory that was so impressive that it earned her a shot at males later this month in the $2 million UAE Derby.

The daughter of Quiet American won her second consecutive race in Dubai when she drew away to score by five lengths over Argentine Group I winner Samba Reggae. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was aboard as Folk covered the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:48.59.

"She was very impressive and had a lot left in the locker," said trainer Ismael Mohammed. "We will make history now and go for the UAE Derby."

The March 31 UAE Derby, Dubai's richest race for 3-year-olds and its major Kentucky Derby prep, has never been won by a filly.

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