Oaks journey begins with wide-open Tiffany Lass

Seven 3-year-old fillies will go to post Saturday in a wide-open renewal of the Tiffany Lass Stakes, a one-mile event that is the first of three stakes at Fair Grounds on the path to the Kentucky Oaks.

It is so wide open that a pair of a Fair Grounds maiden winners from a month ago, as well as a filly that has lost her last five starts, appear to be the top challengers. Jolie the Cat and Tizaqueena won Fair Grounds maiden races in early December in stylish fashion and both have a big shot at adding a stakes win to their respective resumes Saturday, while Syriana's Song will look to get back to the winner's circle in her first start around two turns following a disappointing stretch of races since starting fast at Saratoga over the summer.

Jolie the Cat showed talent over the summer at Churchill Downs and Saratoga before hitting the shelf until the beginning of the Fair Grounds meeting. While this will be her first test around two turns, she just may be up to the challenge if she can negotiate a good trip from her rail draw. At first glance, being by the sprinter/miler-oriented sire Tale of the Cat raises serious flags about her ability to stretch out. However, digging into her female family you find plenty of major stamina influences and reason to believe she should be able to handle the one-mile trip. She is out of a stakes-winning mare by Pleasant Colony who is a half-sister to millionaire Jolie's Halo (second dam is Jolie Jolie by Sir Ivor).

Regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan opts off her to ride stablemate Diamondaire, but I think Jolie the Cat is the quality of the two Asmussen fillies.

Tizaqueena will likely be the favorite in the race off her impressive debut on Dec. 3. But not only will this be just her second race, it will be her first against winners. I was visually impressed with her maiden performance, as she has the look of a filly with a bright future in front of her, but it is fair to say that she is shaky as the chalk here.

Syriana's Song is an interesting filly in here on the stretch out. This daughter of Indian Charlie was a valiant runner-up behind Grade 1 winner Irish Smoke in her debut at Saratoga before breaking her maiden in front-running fashion in her second start. She then entered the Matron (G2) at Belmont and was one of the choices in that race in September and was well beaten – a race that started a five-race losing streak.

In her last few starts she has adopted a new style of coming from well off the pace, and her honest late kick and back class makes her interesting here on the stretch-out if she can handle two turns.

Don't be suckered into Highest Class, who despite sporting top connections and a solid two-turn profile is not fast enough to win this race. Expect a clunk-up board finish from this daughter of Mineshaft, but she would need to improve to make it three in a row Saturday.

And don't be surprised to see Syriana's Song on the lead here on the stretch-out. I look for her to take this field a long way. Tizaqueena should get a great ground-saving trip and be right there when the real running starts down that long stretch at Fair Grounds, while Jolie the Cat is the X-factor in the race and has every right to run a big one closing from just off the pace under jockey James Graham.

At around 5-1, Jolie the Cat is a very appealing proposition to me.