Aqueduct: Pletcher’s Oaks fillies headed to Kentucky

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Princess of Sylmar was one of four horses trainer Todd Pletcher ran in last year’s Kentucky Oaks. This year, Pletcher looks to have three contenders for the $1 million Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

On Monday, Pletcher shipped Gazelle one-two finishers My Miss Sophia and Got Lucky to Louisville where they will be joined in a few weeks by In Tune, winner of the Gulfstream Oaks on March 29.

Pletcher said logistics was the reason why he opted to ship early, noting that there was a plane leaving New York for Kentucky on Monday and the next one isn’t until April 28.

My Miss Sophia earned her way into the Oaks with a front-running, 7 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle. Got Lucky rallied from fifth to be second, a half-length over Sweet Reason. My Miss Sophia, a daughter of Unbridled’s Song, is now 2 for 3 and figures to be prominent early in the Oaks.

“It’s going to take someone intent on being on the lead to be in front of her,” Pletcher said.

Conversely, Got Lucky – like Princess of Sylmar – will do her best running in the Oaks from off the pace. Pletcher said he was not “displeased with her effort” considering the pace in the Gazelle was modest.

“I think she’ll like the Churchill surface,” Pletcher said. “She should appreciate a fast pace, a race that you can let her settle and not have to urge her along to stay closer than she wants to be.”