Alotta Skirt returns to favorite track for allowance feature

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – This is a big week for trainer Eddie Kenneally. He will saddle Sailor’s Valentine for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, marking just the third time the 50-year-old trainer has had a starter in a Churchill Downs classic.

Sailor’s Valentine earned her way into the 143rd Oaks with a 22-1 upset in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, and Kenneally is hoping for a similar stunner Friday.

“The filly has really matured and grown up,” he said. “She’s rateable. If they go too fast up front” – referring to the expected front-runners and favorites, Paradise Woods, Miss Sky Warrior, and Farrell – “our filly can relax behind them and hopefully pick them up.”

Kenneally will get started on his week by running another filly in his stable, Alotta Skirt, in a $55,000, third-level allowance that serves as the highlight of a rare Tuesday card at Churchill. The 1 1/16-mile race appears so well-matched that the morning-line odds on all six of the starters are within a very short window, from 5-2 to just 5-1.

Alotta Skirt, with two wins and a second from five starts at Churchill, brings something of a home-track edge to the eighth of nine races.

“She really likes Churchill,” said Kenneally. “It’s where she likes it best.”

Alotta Skirt, with Julien Leparoux to ride, will break from the outside post after finishing fourth for these same conditions on opening weekend of the Keeneland spring meet.

“She had the one-hole that day,” noted Kenneally. “This will probably suit her better.”

Kenneally, a native of County Waterford, Ireland, has had one previous Oaks starter: Bushfire, also an Ashland winner, was sixth in 2006. Kenneally has had one Kentucky Derby starter – Santiva, sixth in 2011.

The Tuesday card essentially replaces two dark Sundays to start the 38-day Churchill spring meet. It kicks off five straight days of action here, culminating with the Derby on Saturday. First post Tuesday through Thursday is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with both the Oaks and Derby cards starting at 10:30 a.m.

Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Alotta Skirt, by Candy Ride

Last 3 Beyers: 77-72-53

Chestnut filly figures to secure a stalking spot from just off the pace after getting back to respectable form in her last start following a winter slump.

Crooked Stick, by Blame

Last 3 Beyers: 78-89-74

Her 2-for-3 career record over the Churchill main track has made her a lukewarm program favorite in her first start for trainer Brian Lynch.

Apologynotaccepted, by Fusaichi Pegasus

Last 3 Beyers: 76-79-59

This 6-year-old mare, who got a belated start to her career, knocked out back-to-back allowances at Gulfstream this past winter for trainer Bill Mott.