Coach joins full gate for Kentucky Oaks
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Following the recent defections of California fillies Soothsay and Beautiful Gift, a full field has firmed up for the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks, with the Brad Cox-trained Coach being the latest to secure a spot in the 14-horse lineup. Entries for the Friday race will be drawn Monday.
In order of points preference, and with jockeys, this is the prospective Oaks field: Search Results, Irad Ortiz Jr.; Travel Column, Florent Geroux; Crazy Beautiful, Jose Ortiz; Pauline’s Pearl, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Malathaat, John Velazquez; Clairiere, Tyler Gaffalione; Will’s Secret, Jon Court; Millefeuille, Joel Rosario; Moraz, Umberto Rispoli; Ava’s Grace, David Cohen; Pass the Champagne, Javier Castellano; Maracuja, Kendrick Carmouche; Competitive Speed, undecided; and Coach, Luis Saez.
Right back in the finale
If you thought the Wednesday finale at Keeneland was a replay of the same race 13 days beforehand, you wouldn’t be that far off.
Fine Prospecture ($6.80), making her career debut in the last race Wednesday, won the maiden-claiming sprint from post 1 with Martin Pedroza up as a substitute rider for trainer Wesley Ward. The 3-year-old filly got the lead shortly after the start and won by 3 1/4 lengths.
On April 8, Cornbread Hill ($13.80), making his debut in the last race of the day, won a maiden-claiming sprint from post 1 with Pedroza up as a sub for Ward. The 4-year-old gelding led from the start to win by 3 1/4 lengths.
“Deja vu, huh?” said an amused Ward.
Kentucky Downs book released
Kentucky Downs released the condition book for its 2021 meet this week with nearly $15 million in purses for a six-day meet spanning Sept. 5-12.
Aside from three $1 million stakes and $125,000 maiden races, this will be a meet of firsts for the turf-only track in south-central Kentucky. The Calumet Turf Cup is now an automatic qualifier to the Breeders’ Cup, joining the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint in that regard, while the NBC Sports Network will be on hand for live broadcasts of both of those Sept. 11 races.
Derby gate in rehearsal
The custom-made starting gate first used for the Derby last year will be put through test runs when used to start a couple of 1 1/4-mile maiden races early in this meet, with the first being run Saturday and the second Tuesday.
Designed and constructed in Australia, the 20-stall, 65-foot gate was ordered by Churchill for express use in the Derby to alleviate problems inherent in linking together a standard 14-stall gate with a six-stall auxiliary gate. There were no gate problems when 15 horses ran in the 2020 Derby.
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