Bellafina draws post 4 as Kentucky Oaks favorite

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An oversubscribed field of 3-year-old fillies headed by Bellafina was entered Monday for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks, to be run Friday for the 145th time at Churchill Downs.

Bellafina, a winner of all three starts this year on her home Southern California circuit, was assigned post 4 with Flavien Prat to ride. She is the 2-1 favorite on the Churchill morning line, followed by one of the also-eligibles, Dunbar Road, at 5-1. Then come Champagne Anyone (6-1), Restless Rider (6-1), Jaywalk (8-1), and Serengeti Empress (8-1). In all, 16 are entered, with only as many as 14 being allowed to start.

A fast pace seems likely for the 1 1/8-mile Oaks, with trainer Tom Amoss intent on Jose Ortiz sending the speedy Serengeti Empress to the early lead. In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall at Churchill, Jaywalk outgunned Serengeti Empress to the front and proceeded to go wire to wire.

“She took our spot, and we’re not going to let that happen this time,” said Amoss.

Among the longshots in the lineup, and another speed horse, is Motion Emotion (15-1), whose trainer, Tom Van Berg, is the son of the late Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg.

“To win this would be something I couldn’t even describe,” said Van Berg. “The Oaks is huge. You don’t get a lot of chances in a race this big, so you’d like to take advantage of it if you can. The filly is doing great, so we’ll hope for the best.”

The Oaks also-eligibles, in order of preference, are Dunbar Road and Point of Honor, who can only make the race in case of late defections. Final scratch time for both the Oaks and Kentucky Derby cards is 9 a.m. Eastern on Friday.

Jose Ortiz is named on two mounts and has a preference of Dunbar Road if she draws in. In that case, Tyler Gaffalione gets the mount on Serengeti Empress.

Cookie Dough, who would have been the first alternate, was not entered and will be diverted instead to the May 17 Black-Eyed Susan, said trainer Stanley Gold.

Post time for the Oaks, the 11th of 13 races Friday, is 6:12 p.m. Eastern. First post on a card that will include five other stakes is 10:30 a.m. NBCSN will have live Oaks coverage.

The weather forecast for Friday calls for a chance of rain and a high of 71.

The Oaks is part of several two-day wagers, including the traditional Oaks-Derby double and a new pick six.

KENTUCKY OAKS

(PP/prog., Horse, Jockey, CD M/L)

1. Out for a Spin, I. Ortiz Jr., 15-1

2. Chocolate Kisses, J. Leparoux, 20-1

3. Lady Apple, R. Santana Jr., 20-1

4. Bellafina, F. Prat, 2-1

5. Flor de la Mar, J. Rosario, 20-1

6. Positive Spirit, M. Franco, 30-1

7. Jaywalk, J. Castellano, 8-1

8. Motion Emotion, M. Smith, 15-1

9. Liora, C. Hill, 20-1

10. Champagne Anyone, C. Landeros, 6-1

11. Jeltrin, L. Saez, 15-1

12. Street Band, S. Doyle, 15-1

13. Serengeti Empress, J. Ortiz, 8-1

14. Restless Rider, B. Hernandez Jr., 6-1

15 (ae) Dunbar Road, J. Ortiz, 5-1

16 (ae) Point of Honor, J.V elazquez, 30-1