So to all 11 of you reading this – including those seven loyal members of the family – here will be my stabs for tomorrow’s Oaks. We’ll put it on the record and there either will be no complaints – or, perhaps, many.
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.
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.
Listen, I have no idea who is going to win the Fair Grounds Oaks on Saturday. But I can tell you this: Any jockey who lets Appealing Zophie get away with slow fractions again deserves to lose.
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.