Well, Kentucky Oaks Day is finally here and I am excited to be going out to Churchill Downs to be part of a crowd in excess of 100,000 to see a great day of racing.
Led by 5-2 morning line favorite Rags to Riches, who drew post 11, Friday’s 133rd Kentucky Oaks drew a full field of 14 when entries were taken at the Churchill Downs’ Racing Office Tuesday morning.
Zayat Stables' High Again worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 under jockey Larry Melancon after the renovation break Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs. The move was the 12th-fastest of 36 at the distance over a track labeled as "fast."
Melnyk Racing Stables’ Sealy Hill made her first venture over the main track at Churchill Downs Monday morning, galloping a mile and a half under Julia Brimo. The Point Given filly had vanned over from Keeneland Sunday morning.
Anita Ebert's High Heels, the runaway winner of the Fantasy (GII) in her most recent start, tuned up for her Oaks engagement by working five furlongs over a "fast" track in 1:00 under jockey Joe Johnson before the renovation break Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.
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.
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.
I apologize for the cheesy title. But I couldn't resist. I promise that's the last time I will take the liberty of incorporating the names of horses into my title.