And Tell Me Nolies will run in Santa Anita Oaks

And Tell Me Nolies, second in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita on March 5 in her 2023 debut, will start in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 8 as a prep for an intended start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5.

The timing of the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles was a deciding factor as opposed to a race on another circuit, trainer Peter Miller said.

“I’m leaning toward staying home,” Miller said. “I like the extra week.”

The Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 1 was previously under consideration.

Owned by Peter Redekop, And Tell Me Nolies has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $392,800. By Arrogate, And Tell Me Nolies was purchased for $230,000 at a 2-year-olds in-training sale last April.

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At 2, And Tell Me Nolies won consecutive starts in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs and the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita before finishing eighth of 13 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland in November in her final start of 2022.

In the Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, And Tell Me Nolies finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Faiza, who is unbeaten in four starts.

Miller will have at least two other stakes runners at Santa Anita on April 8 in $150,000 stakes for statebreds at 6 1/2 furlongs. Thirsty John, winner of the California Cup Derby in January but beaten in his last two starts, is a candidate for the Echo Eddie Stakes, while Daddysruby, unbeaten in two starts, will have her stakes debut in the Evening Jewel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

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