Bold Cait looms large in Queen City Oaks
Bold Cait, a dominant winner in restricted stakes in each of her first two starts around two turns, towers over her opponents in Sunday’s $75,000 Queen City Oaks for Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies at Belterra Park.
In contrast to Bold Cait’s 6-for-9 record, highlighted by victories in the Tomboy Stakes and J. William Petro Memorial Handicap by a combined 13 lengths, her seven opponents in the Queen City Oaks are a combined 6 for 51. Three are maidens, and two others have just a single lifetime victory.
The only question is whether Bold Cait can handle the additional yardage while moving from 1 1/16 to 1 1/8 miles.
The three most intriguing challengers are recent maiden winners Beth’s Bling and U Rock Robin along with the lightly raced Redstart, who makes her first start against Ohio-breds and stretches out from an encouraging third in her season debut at Churchill Downs.
KEY CONTENDERS
Bold Cait (Last 3 Beyers: 76-67-74)
◗ She looks much faster than anyone else in this field.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: The only negative is trainer Eric Reed’s 3-for-58 record over the last five years with horses going 1 1/8 miles.
U Rock Robin (Last 2 Beyers: 38-40)
◗ She beat half the field going long in her career debut in the Tomboy, then trounced maidens when cutting back to a sprint.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Steve Margolis is 3 for 13 with last-out maiden winners moving from sprints to routes, including Grade 3 wins in the Delta Princess and Derby Trial.
Beth’s Bling (Last 3 Beyers: 48-69-69)
◗ This former California-based filly easily won her first start in Ohio, a maiden race that produced two next-out winners, including Shestwiceasnice in the Cincinnatian.
◗ The 69 Beyer Speed Figure she earned in a maiden route at Santa Anita in May puts her in range of Bold Cait.
Redstart (Beyers: 61-50)
◗ Making her first start since September, she flashed high early speed and faded to third against open maiden special weight company at Churchill. The winner of that race returned to finish third in an optional claimer at Del Mar, and the fifth-place finisher captured a maiden special weight event at Delaware Park.