Oaks News

The $250,000 Stonerside Beaumont (Grade 2), run at Keeneland on Thursday, boasted a trio of individual betting interests in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. All three failed to hit the board as the relatively unknown Street Sounds won the race in determined fashion by a neck over Forever Together.

The 3-year-old daughter of Street Cry completed the distance of "about" seven furlongs over the polytrack surface in 1:24.93, just a few ticks off the track record of 1:24 1/5 for the quirky distance. She paid $20.40, $7.40, and $4.80 for her winning effort under jockey Edgar Prado. Previously undefeated Forever Together could not get by the leader late and had to settle for second; she was ridden by Cornelio Velazquez and paid $3.20 for both place and show wagers. Palace Pier, a 33-1 risk piloted by Robby Albarado, finished third and paid $7 to show.

Silverinyourpocket never was a factor and finished fourth. California invader Baroness Thatcher's Kentucky Oaks dreams seem to have been dashed after she struggled home fifth. Eternal Grace finished sixth and was followed under the wire by last year's Frizette (Grade 1) winner Sutra, who finished last.

It remains to be seen whether Street Sounds will be sent to the Kentucky Oaks. Her pedigree suggests she would be a force to reckon with, but one might wonder whether the Beaumont, as her sole prep for the race at a sprint distance, would be enough of a sharpener to tackle the likes of Rags to Riches and Octave.

Forever Together is not nominated to the Kentucky Oaks, but third place finisher Palace Pier is nominated to the race.

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