Farrell's next start will be in Fair Grounds Oaks

Farrell, one of the top 3-year-old fillies in North America, will make her next start in the Fair Grounds Oaks on April 1, trainer Wayne Catalano said Sunday.

Farrell easily won the Golden Rod at Churchill to cap her 2-year-old season and has won the Silverbulletday and Rachel Alexandra stakes this winter at Fair Grounds. Catalano said the day after the Feb. 25 Rachel Alexandra that he would consider training Farrell up to the Kentucky Oaks, but the decision has been made to race her again at Fair Grounds.

“I just wanted to watch her for a week before I made any decisions,” Catalano said. “She’s done everything I wanted. She’s eating good, looks good, really happy. I don’t know if we can keep her on the ground all the way to the Kentucky Oaks.”

It’s hard to see how Farrell won’t be favored in the Fair Grounds Oaks. There is only one filly in the country, Unique Bella, who is demonstrably better than Farrell at the moment, and she is racing next in the Santa Anita Oaks.

One Fair Grounds-based horse who might be at least close to Farrell’s equal is Jenda’s Agenda, the Larry Jones-trained filly who has started her career with a sprint maiden win and a route allowance win, both at this meet. Jenda’s Agenda worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds last Friday, her first breeze since her most recent race Feb. 19. Jones has yet to commit the filly to the Fair Grounds Oaks, but the race is an obvious fit for her.