John Asher's Oaks Update (Feb. 8th)

KENTUCKY OAKS 134 UPDATE

Friday, Feb. 8, 2008

TOP STORIES:

• Champ Indian Blessing Tops Silverbulletday

• Las Virgenes First Grade I Oaks Prep of ‘08

• Bsharpsonata Back To Dirt In Forward Gal

• ‘All Others’ Early Choice In Oaks Futures

SOUTH/CHAMPION INDIAN BLESSING HEADS SILVERBULLETDAY – After narrowly avoiding her first career defeat last time out in Santa Anita’s Santa Ynez (Grade II), Hal and Patti Earnhardt’s champion filly Indian Blessing travels east for her next stop on the road to the 134th running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI).

The Bob Baffert-trained daughter of Indian Charlie, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) and America’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2007, heads a strong field seven 3-year-old fillies in the $200,000 Silverbulletday (GIII) at New Orleans’ Fair Grounds. Her main rival could be Proud Spell, the J. Larry Jones-trained Matron (GII) winner and runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The field also includes the Steve Asmussen-trained Jolie the Cat, a front-running winner of the Tiffany Lass at the Fair Grounds, and Highest Class, third in the Tiffany Lass.

WEST/WIDE OPEN FIELD IN SEASON’S FIRST GRADE I RACE – The $250,000 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita, the first Grade I race of the year for 3-year-old fillies, was the scene of the first stakes victory for eventual Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes (GI) winner Rags to Riches in 2007. Saturday’s renewal of the one-mile race over Cushion Track at Santa Anita has attracted seven fillies who hope to follow in the footsteps of 2007’s champion 3-year-old filly.

Likely favorites include Tasha’s Miracle, fourth to Indian Blessing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and Golden Doc A, who narrowly missed in a bid to upset champion Indian Blessing in the Santa Ynez last time out. Another contender is Grace Anatomy, a disappointment in the Breeders’ Cup and Hollywood Starlet (GI) who returned to form last time out with a runner-up finish to Final Fling in the Santa Ysabel (GIII) at Santa Anita.

SOUTHEAST/BSHARPSONATA BACK TO DIRT IN FORWARD GAL– Cloverleaf Farm’s Bsharpsonata has reeled off back-to-back stakes wins on grass and will attempt to transfer that success to the dirt at Gulfstream Park when she faces six rivals in Saturday’s $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (GII).

The Tim Salzman-trained daughter of Pulpit has already enjoyed success on the dirt as her record includes a seven-length romp over the surface in the Irish Sonnet Stakes in September at Delaware Park. Eric Camacho will be ride the winner of Selima at Laurel and Tropical Park Oaks at Calder, both on turf.

The morning line favorite is Gary and Mary West’s Keep the Peace, a winner of two straight races for trainer Eddie Kenneally. Other major players include Old Hat (GIII) runner-up Melissa Jo and stakes veteran Morakami.

‘ALL OTHERS’ EARLY FAVORITE IN OAKS FUTURES – There was strong support for unbeaten champion Indian Blessing during the opening day of betting in Pool 1 Churchill Downs’ 2008 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, but the fan’s choice at day’s end was the mutuel field, or “all others,” betting interest.

“All others” was the 9-5 choice after the first of four days of Kentucky Oaks Future betting, followed by Indian Blessing (3-1), Country Star (6-1), and Backseat Rhythm (9-1).

Betting in Pool 1 of the Oaks Wager continues through 6:30 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, Feb. 10. The wager is offered at racetracks and satellite wagering outlets across North America, and advance deposit wagering is available through TwinSpires.com. Membership is free at www.twinspires.com.