Fashion Plate, Ria Antonia heading to Kentucky Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. – Fashion Plate and Ria Antonia, the first two finishers in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 5, are bound for the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 2, their trainers confirmed Thursday.

Fashion Plate won the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks by 1 1/4 lengths over Ria Antonia, leading throughout the race over 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Simon Callaghan, Fashion Plate won the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes in February in her stakes debut.

“She came out of the race as good as you can hope,” Callaghan said. “She’s sending the right signals.”

Fashion Plate, who races for Michael Tabor and Arnold Zetcher, resumed training Wednesday.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Ria Antonia is bound for the Kentucky Oaks after making her first start for his stable in the Santa Anita Oaks.

Callaghan said Bajan, who finished third in the Santa Anita Oaks, will run in the $175,000 Eight Belles Stakes over seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 2.

The Eight Belles also is expected to draw She’s a Tiger, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2013. Trained by Jeff Bonde, She’s a Tiger worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 on Thursday at Santa Anita.

Last fall, She’s a Tiger finished first in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference in the stretch. Ria Antonia was promoted from second to first.