Kentucky Oaks: Bobby Flay buys Her Smile, sends her to Churchill Downs

Her Smile – second in the Grade 3 Comely Stakes earlier this month – has been purchased for an undisclosed sum by celebrity chef Bobby Flay and is being sent to trainer Todd Pletcher at Churchill Downs to run next in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on May 6.

Churchill Downs officials said Pletcher informed them Wednesday afternoon of the transaction. Pletcher already has the likely favorite for the 137th Oaks, R Heat Lightning, in his stable.

Her Smile had been owned by her breeders, William Backer, and based at the Fair Hill training center in Maryland with Leigh Delacour. In her last start on April 9, Her Smile, a Virginia-bred by Include, finished second by 2 1/4 lengths to Hot Summer in the Comely at Aqueduct. In all, she has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $126,360.

As many as 14 3-year-old fillies could run in the 1 1/8-mile Oaks, for which entries will be taken Tuesday. R Heat Lightning, Joyful Victory, and Kathmanblu are the top contenders.