Invaders will be keys in Ashland Stakes

Two invaders from California and one from Florida comprise half the field of 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 1, $400,000 Ashland Stakes, a major prep on the road to the Kentucky Oaks.

Venetian Harbor and Speech are in from California, while Tonalist’s Shape is in from Florida for the Ashland, which will be run Saturday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., for the 83rd time. The 1 1/16-mile race is worth 100-40-20-10 points toward the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks.

The Ashland lost its would-be favorite, Swiss Skydiver, when trainer Kenny McPeek opted to enter the filly against males in the Grade 2 Blue Grass later on the Saturday card. The two California fillies finished second to Swiss Skydiver in their respective last starts – Venetian Harbor in the Fantasy on May 1 at Oaklawn and Speech in the Santa Anita Oaks on June 6.

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Venetian Harbor, trained by Richard Baltas, clearly figures as the one to catch under Joel Rosario. The speedy Munnings filly was an easy two-back winner of the Las Virgenes in February.

Speech, trained by Michael McCarthy, was expected to scratch Friday from the Grade 3 Beaumont Stakes to go instead in the Ashland. Javier Castellano has the call in both spots.

Tonalist’s Shape, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., enjoyed a terrific winter at Gulfstream Park, capturing 4 of 5 starts, all of them stakes. She’ll be adding blinkers and getting Tyler Gaffalione back aboard.

The balance of the Ashland lineup is Bonny South, Envoutante, and Alta’s Award. Bonny South figures among the favorites after winning the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 21 in her most recent start.

The Ashland and Blue Grass are among six stakes set for Saturday, easily the richest card of the five-day July meet. In order, the races are the Appalachian (race 4), Madison (race 5), Shakertown (race 6), Ashland (race 7), Jenny Wiley (race 8), and Blue Grass (race 9). First post daily is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

The Saturday forecast calls for possible thundershowers and a high of 85.