oaks

AUTOBAHN GIRL/SILVER KNOCKERS - The Live Oak Plantation's Autobahn Girl and Elk Manor Farms and James Moran's Silver Knockers each gallo

Boca Grande confronted post-time favorite Perfect Forest at the top of the stretch and bounded home to an impressive 1 ½-length victory in the $150,000 Comely (Grade 2) at Aqueduct, silencing her critics and marking herself as a very serious contender for the 133rd Kentucky Oaks.

The $150,000 Comely (Grade 2) at Aqueduct is New York's last major prep for the Kentucky Oaks on May 4.  For Boca Grande it is a last chance to prove to her connections she deserves a place in the starting gate at Churchill Downs three weeks from now.

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 $250,000 Beaumont, a Grade 2 race to be run at Keeneland on Thursday, has lured a solid field of eight sophomore fillies looking at their last chance to punch a ticket to the Kentucky Oaks. The contingent is led by Florida shipper Forever Together and California invader Baroness Thatcher.

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.

High Heels, bred and owned by Anita Ebert, and trained by Gary "(Red Dog" Hartlage, blew past Cotton Blossom, the 1-2 favorite, in mid-stretch, and drew clear for a stunning six and three-quarter-length victory in the $250,000 Fantasy Stakes before a crowd of 12,201 Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Sealy Hill struck the front at the top of the stretch and just held off a determined Panty Raid in the final yards of Saturday's $150,000 Bourbonette Breeders' Cup (Grade 3). The top pair may have established themselves as potential contenders for the Kentucky Oaks.

An overflow field of 14 has been entered in the $150,000 Bourbonette Breeders' Cup (Grade 3), a one-mile test for 3-year-old fillies to be run at Turfway Park on Saturday's stakes filled card.  The size of the field is matched by the quality it has attracted, boasting stakes winners Olivine, Our Dancing Babe, and Sealy Hill, as well as other highly touted youngsters Silverinyourpocket, Floral Park, and Bavarian Belle.

Many people thought D. Wayne Lukas would win a 3-year-old stakes race this weekend at Oaklawn Park.  Most thought that would come in the Grade 3 Rebel on Saturday.  However, Lukas got his win a day earlier than expected when Time's Mistress turned the tables on some familiar rivals and galloped home to a big 4 ¾-length victory in the $100,000 Honeybee.

Cotton Blossom made a successful return to racing action with a 2-length win in the $200,000 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs, stamping herself as a serious contender for the Kentucky Oaks.

  Devil House, ridden by Terry Thompson, extended her winning streak to five in a row with a commanding five-length victory in the $50,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park.

Kentucky Derby

Early nominations to the 133rd running of the Kentucky Oaks ("Oaks") and the 21st running of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic ("Woodford") will close at midnight (EST) on Saturday, Feb. 17.

Churchill Downs has established dates for the trio of four-day wagering pools that will make up the 2007 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”) and Kentucky Oaks Future Wager (“KOFW”).

  TOP KENTUCKY OAKS 133 STORIES:

LADY JOANNE OFF KENTUCKY OAKS TRAIL RETURN TO RACING NEAR FOR CHAMP DREAMING OF ANNA CHURCHILL DOWNS UNVEILS KENTUCKY OAKS 133 LOGO

  LADY JOANNE TAKES BREAK, OUT OF KENTUCKY OAKS PICTURE - Bentley Smith's homebred Lady Joanne, winner of the $200,000-added Golden Rod (Grade II) at Churchill Downs, is getting some rest on a Florida farm and is likely out of the picture for the 133rd running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) on Friday, May 4, at Churchill Downs.