The 134th Kentucky Oaks: Unfinished Family Business

One of the most appealing aspects of Thoroughbred racing is its cyclical calendar of events. Year after year, generation after generation of horses take their turns to do battle in the same storied contests, giving an orderly rhythm and timeless quality to a sport characterized by change. With the passage of time, yesterday's combatants become the sires and dams of today's performers, and if those youngsters are good enough to compete at the highest level of the game, they may well take part in the very races that once featured their famous relatives. The 134th running of the Kentucky Oaks (G1) is a fine example of this phenomenon. Three of the top contenders -- Country Star, Little Belle and Proud Spell -- have maternal ties to fillies who were beaten in the Oaks. When they come to grips on Friday, each filly will be trying to take care of some unfinished family business.

Country Star has the closest connection to the Oaks, as her dam, Rings a Chime, finished second in the 2000 running of the 1 1/8-mile test. Rings a Chime had certainly come a long way from her modest beginnings in Washington, where she was purchased for $26,000 as a yearling.

Trained by her co-owner Lloyd Mason in Northern California, Rings a Chime made her career debut in a tough spot in the Malcolm Anderson S. at Golden Gate Fields. Not only was the dark bay racing against juveniles who had already run before, but she was also lining up versus males. She still ran a terrific race to open up by two lengths in the stretch, only to be caught in the last strides and lose by a head. After two more runner-up efforts, including a one-length loss to future Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) star Spain in a maiden race at Bay Meadows Fair, Rings a Chime reeled off three straight victories. The highlight of her season was a 4 1/2-length romp in the Bay Meadows Lassie S., a triumph that earned her another crack against males in the Doonesbury H. at Golden Gate. Unfortunately, she lathered up quite a bit before the race, wasting precious energy. Rings a Chime flashed her usual early speed and enjoyed a daylight advantage through the first six furlongs, but she was worn down late in the one-mile event and settled for third.

In the wake of her promising two-year-old campaign, Rings a Chime was purchased privately by Joseph Kowal, a former National Hockey League player with the Buffalo Sabres. According to some reports, the deal was concluded for $400,000, while Kowal suggested that it was at the higher end of the six-figure range. Rings a Chime was transferred to trainer Lonnie Arterburn, and in her first start for Kowal's Turf Side Stables, she finished a well-beaten second to eventual champion Surfside in the Santa Ysabel S. (G3) at Santa Anita. She tried to turn the tables on Surfside in the Las Virgenes S. (G1) and the Santa Anita Oaks (G1), but wound up third and fourth, respectively.

Those losses led her connections to think about running her over shorter distances, but then came a bolt from the blue.

"Keeneland called and said they had a small field for the Ashland Stakes (G1) and would love a horse from California," Arterburn said. "We thought, 'Well, we made it this far, let's try it.' Thank God we did."
Making her first start outside of California, Rings a Chime found that her tactical speed proved lethal at the Lexington, Kentucky, track. She went straight to the front in the 1 1/16-mile affair and maintained a clear lead into the stretch, when her margin began to dwindle. The gray Zoftig was gaining ground on the outside, and in the final yards, drew alongside the longtime leader. Rings a Chime refused to surrender, however, and prevailed by a desperate nose.

"She gave me everything she had," said jockey Shane Sellers, who was riding Rings a Chime for the first time. "She has a lot of courage."

"She's a real trouper," Arterburn noted. "She tries hard and runs her best every time."

Rings a Chime had just barely lasted in the Ashland, and she would have to negotiate another half-furlong in the Kentucky Oaks. It might have been taken as an inauspicious omen on that Friday, May 5, 2000, when a couple of her rivals acted up at the starting gate, and Rings a Chime had to be backed out and reloaded.

Those nuisances did not affect her, though, as she employed her front-running tactics right from the break. This time, unlike the Ashland, she did not get away with a comfortable lead. Cash Run, the reigning Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) heroine, was determined to hound her every step of the way, forcing Rings a Chime to rattle off demanding fractions of :22 3/5 and :46 1/5. Although she had Cash Run figuratively nipping at her heels, Rings a Chime was handling the pressure beautifully and appeared to be traveling well on the far turn. Indeed, it was Cash Run who was hoist on her own petard, for she wilted and retreated to finish 13th.

Rings a Chime entered the stretch in full command, but a dirt-spattered chestnut came into view with a full head of steam on the far outside. That ominous form was none other than the regally bred Secret Status with Hall of Famer Pat Day. Near the tail of the field early, the Neil Howard trainee had uncorked an impressive move on the far turn to reach contention, and she clearly had all the momentum. Secret Status rocketed past Rings a Chime, before she ever knew what hit her, and extended her winning margin to 6 3/4 lengths at the wire. Rings a Chime fought the good fight for runner-up honors, with 1 1/4 lengths to spare over the deep-closing Classy Cara in third.

Rings a Chime's career came to a sad end next time out in the Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) at Pimlico, where she gave way early and finished a thoroughly uncharacteristic last of seven. Afterward, she was found to have injured a tendon and was retired. In 2002, Rings a Chime was acquired by Stonerside Stables for $800,000 at the Keeneland January Sale.

Country Star, a homebred campaigned by Stonerside, will attempt to improve upon her dam's noble performance as an Oaks runner-up. She has a different profile, being by Belmont S. (G1) hero Empire Maker. That added stamina could make up for what Rings a Chime lacked.

Like Rings a Chime, Darley Stable's homebred Little Belle is coming off a gritty, hard-fought score in the Ashland, but the similarities end there. Little Belle is a member of the equine aristocracy, boasting a superb pedigree for the 1 1/8-mile distance, and she claims two immediate female-line relatives with minor awards in the Oaks.
Little Belle's dam, the French stakes-placed Dubai Belle, is closely related to Prospectors Delite, who disappointed as the 1-2 favorite in the 1992 Oaks. Prospectors Delite hailed from the same connections as Secret Status. Conditioned by Howard, she too raced for owner/breeder William S. Farish and his partners, James Elkins and Temple Webber.

Prospectors Delite, a big chestnut more than 16 hands tall, was not ready to race at two, and the ever-cautious Howard gave her time to develop. She was prepared to commence her career as a three-year-old at Fair Grounds in January, and she proved to be worth the wait. Despite hitting the gate at the start of a six-furlong allowance, she rallied to get up in time. Prospectors Delite stretched out to a mile and 40-yard allowance next time out, and even though her rider mistakenly eased up on her at the wrong finish line, she still routed her nearest pursuer by 10 lengths. The Farish filly continued her dominance at the historic New Orleans track with emphatic scores in the Davona Dale S. and the Fair Grounds Oaks (G3), the latter by 8 3/4 lengths.

Still undefeated, Prospectors Delite shipped to Keeneland for the Ashland. Although it shaped up to be her sternest test so far, she stamped her authority from the outset and was never seriously challenged. The Howard pupil broke alertly beneath Craig Perret, dictated the pace, and widened her margin to 2 1/2 lengths while blitzing 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 3/5, a stakes record at the time.

"When she got to the first turn, I knew it was over," Perret said. "She was just galloping, and she had her ears up, waiting for 'em. I thought, 'Well, boys, bye-bye.'"

Her connections praised the daughter of Mr. Prospector, who had extended her record to a perfect five-for-five.
"Prospectors Delite was a special filly in every way from the beginning," Farish said. "Conformation-wise, for a Mr. Prospector, she was very correct."

"All the Mr. Prospectors can run," Perret said, "but when you find a mellow one, that's the one that becomes great. The other morning, she worked unreal. When she pulled up, she just dropped her head and was like, 'Well, that's it, let's just walk home.' She was so relaxed."

Prospectors Delite put her flawless mark on the line in the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 1, 1992. With Day in the saddle, she was sent off as the odds-on choice against only five rivals, but her many supporters were in for an unpleasant surprise. The Ashland form was about to be reversed. Prospectors Delite galloped in fourth as the field passed the stands for the first time, then crept up closer on the outside to attend the early pace. Down the backstretch, the favorite was poised just off the flank of Ashland third Luv Me Luv Me Not, who in turn was lapped onto the leader, Miss Legality.

On the far turn, Miss Legality began to fade, while Luv Me Luv Me Not and Prospectors Delite hurtled forward as a team. For a second or two, as the duo were just about to turn into the stretch, Prospectors Delite put her head in front. Upon straightening, however, her challenge stalled. Luv Me Luv Me Not roared back to her inside, and Golden Treat (the granddam of Kentucky Derby [G1] hopeful Adriano) emerged as a threat to her outside. Prospectors Delite kept trying, and managed to edge away from Golden Treat, but she could not catch Luv Me Luv Me Not. As they approached the wire, Pleasant Stage, the champion juvenile filly of 1991 who had been fourth in the Ashland, came flying to deprive Prospectors Delite of second by a half-length. Pleasant Stage's bold rally fell a half-length short of victory, as Luv Me Luv Me Not held on to pull the upset at nearly 12-1.

Prospectors Delite rebounded to win the prestigious Acorn S. (G1) at Belmont Park in her next start, defeating Pleasant Stage by two lengths. After two more races, she was retired to begin an even more successful career as a broodmare. Her first foal, an imposing chestnut named Tomisue's Delight, was sired by Horse of the Year A.P. Indy. As a yearling, Tomisue's Delight was purchased by Stephen Hilbert for $575,000 at the Keeneland July Sale.

Like her dam, Tomisue's Delight was trained by Howard and wintered at Fair Grounds as a three-year-old, but she had a completely different running style. The strapping filly, who was 17 hands tall, lacked Prospectors Delite's early speed. Instead, her daughter preferred to take her time to wind up and come charging from far back. As a result, Tomisue's Delight was vulnerable to sharper, handier rivals who could get the jump on her. Early in her sophomore campaign in 1997, she had the misfortune to encounter just such a filly in the exceptionally talented Blushing K. D.

Tomisue's Delight made her stakes debut in the Davona Dale at Fair Grounds, where she first clashed with Blushing K. D. After lagging in last early, Tomisue's Delight finished strongly for second, but Blushing K. D. was already long gone. Round Two of their rivalry came next time out in the Fair Grounds Oaks, with a similar result. Although Tomisue's Delight lay closer to the pace, Blushing K. D. still scampered clear before her archrival could mobilize. Tomisue's Delight again unleashed a belated rally, and this time, she narrowed the winner's margin to one length.

When they met again for Round Three in the Kentucky Oaks on a dreary Friday, May 2, 1997, their pattern was well established. The speedy Sharp Cat sprinted to the front, while Blushing K. D. took up a close stalking position, and Tomisue's Delight, piloted by Day, was anchored last of all in the nine-horse field. Turning for home, Sharp Cat and Blushing K. D. were racing in tandem with Majestical Moment and Glitter Woman. The quartet, running abreast of each other, had kicked eight lengths clear of the rest of the field, and Tomisue's Delight was nowhere to be seen.

At the head of the stretch, Blushing K. D. delivered her devastating move to tear away from her companions and open up by 4 1/2 lengths. Meanwhile, Tomisue's Delight had at last revved up and was storming into view on the far outside. Sharp Cat suddenly jerked to her right, interfering with Majestical Moment, but the incident did not impede Tomisue's Delight. As racecaller Tom Durkin proclaimed, Tomisue's Delight was "coming with giant strides." Just as at Fair Grounds, though, her late rush did not come in time. Blushing K. D. had 2 1/2 lengths to spare over Tomisue's Delight at the line. Sharp Cat checked in third, but was disqualified and placed eighth for her infraction in the stretch.

Tomisue's Delight continued to turn in solid efforts in defeat, placing in the Mother Goose S. (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Alabama S. (G1), before breaking through with her first stakes victory in the Ruffian H. (G1). The following season as a four-year-old, she captured the Personal Ensign H. (G1) and concluded her career with a driving score in the Falls City H. (G3).

While Tomisue's Delight was a smart performer, she was not the best horse produced by Prospectors Delite. That honor belongs to Mineshaft, a full brother to Tomisue's Delight, who was voted Horse of the Year in 2003. In large part because of his exploits, Prospectors Delite was named Broodmare of the Year as well. Now at stud, Mineshaft is the sire of Highest Class, a Howard trainee who had been under consideration for Friday's Oaks.

Little Belle has a great deal of blood in common with the dynamic sibling duo of Mineshaft and Tomisue's Delight. Not only are their dams close relations, but Little Belle is also by A.P. Indy. She has much more tactical speed than Tomisue's Delight, and that could help her to take care of unfinished family business in the Oaks.

Like Prospectors Delite, Brereton Jones's Proud Spell has taken the Fair Grounds-Keeneland route to Churchill Downs. Her family connection to the Kentucky Oaks is not quite as intimate, but it is still fairly recent. Proud Spell's granddam, Malibu Magic, is a half-sister to the classy Imaginary Lady, who ran her heart out in the 1989 renewal of the fillies' classic.

Imaginary Lady was a bargain basement yearling, bringing a mere $10,000 at the Keeneland September Sale. The bay filly developed into a more attractive prospect the next year, when Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas snapped her up for $100,000 at a two-year-olds in training sale in California.

Campaigned by Lukas in partnership with L.R. French Jr., Imaginary Lady did not race until she was a sophomore, but she quickly established herself as a force in the division. In her stakes debut in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1), she set a scorching pace, and in deep stretch, she grew leg-weary in her first attempt at 1 1/16 miles. Imaginary Lady was exhausted, but she was game, and she just scraped home by a head from her fast-finishing stablemate, Some Romance. Shipped to Oaklawn Park, Imaginary Lady garnered the Honeybee S., but she was unable to carry her speed successfully in the Fantasy S. (G1). The Lukas filly once again streaked to the early lead, but she had no answer when Fantastic Look swept past her in the stretch.

Given her record as a confirmed front runner, it took little imagination to predict Imaginary Lady's tactics in the Kentucky Oaks on a cold and wet Friday, May 5, 1989. She was coupled in the wagering with her stablemate Open Mind, the champion juvenile filly of 1988 who would again reign as champion at three, and the Lukas entry was pounded into 1-5 favoritism. True to form, Imaginary Lady splashed right to the lead on the sloppy track, and Hall of Famer Gary Stevens nursed her along through moderate fractions.

Imaginary Lady enjoyed a comfortable trip, just skipping over the surface, and was four lengths in front on the far turn. As she strode into the stretch, she still had the rest of the small field chasing her, but the formidable Open Mind was gobbling up the ground with Hall of Famer Angel Cordero Jr. Imaginary Lady began to tire, and her champion stablemate collared her and won going away by 2 1/4 lengths. Imaginary Lady lost no dignity in defeat, for she was eight lengths in front of third-place finisher Blondeinamotel.

Two weeks later, Imaginary Lady reappeared in the Black-Eyed Susan and rolled to a 2 3/4-length victory, setting a short-lived track record of 1:48 1/5 for 1 1/8 miles at Pimlico. Back in California at Hollywood Park, she shortened up to seven furlongs in the Railbird S. (G3) and romped by 4 1/2 lengths, and then added the Princess S. (G2) to her resume. Imaginary Lady raced twice more before being retired. Unfortunately, her record as a broodmare paled in comparison to her accomplishments on the track, as she failed to produce a single winner.

Unlike her maternal relative Imaginary Lady, Proud Spell has the ability to rate just off the pace and unleash a potent late kick. That running style could serve her well as she attempts to triumph where Imaginary Lady failed.
Interestingly, Proud Spell, Little Belle and Country Star have something else in common besides relatives who placed in the Oaks. They are all the daughters of stallions who were unable to win the Kentucky Derby. Little Belle's sire, A.P. Indy, would have been a prime contender in 1992. Unfortunately, he had to be scratched on the morning of the race because of a deep foot bruise that wound up being a quarter-crack. Proud Spell's sire, Proud Citizen, chased War Emblem home in 2002, and the following year, Country Star's sire, Empire Maker, was upset by Funny Cide.

Regardless of how the avenging trio fares on Friday, they are sure to join the broodmare band one day, and raise foals budding with promise. When the circle of life turns in years to come, and future generations of fillies aspire to glory in the Kentucky Oaks, we may well be discussing the relatives of the class of 2008.