Kentucky Oaks draw: Tarifa favored from post 8

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Fair Grounds Oaks winner Tarifa drew a trainer-pleasing post 8 in a full field and has been installed as the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks Friday at Churchill Downs.

Post positions were drawn for the Oaks during Churchill's opening-night card on Saturday, between races in the new paddock. When the entry box closed earlier in the day, 16 3-year-old fillies had been put forward for the 1 1/8-mile spring classic, which is limited to 14 starters. Based on the system of points accrued in designated prep races, with unrestricted stakes earnings coming into play as a tiebreaker, Our Pretty Woman and Candied were the two fillies relegated to also-eligible status, in that order of preference. They have until scratch time, at 9 a.m. on race day, to draw into the field.

That field, as it stands, is headed by Tarifa, at 7-2 on Mike Battaglia's morning line. Grade 1 winner Leslie's Rose and Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I are just behind that, at 4-1 and 9-2, respectively.

Trainer Brad Cox was pleased with the post for Tarifa, who will have Flavien Prat in the irons. The filly has won all three of her starts this year, with back-to-back Grade 2 triumphs in New Orleans in the Rachel Alexandra and Fair Grounds Oaks.

"I love the spot with Tarifa," said Cox, who will also saddle 30-1 shot Gin Gin in pursuit of his third Oaks. "I think that's a really good spot for her."

Just F Y I, second in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland in her first start of the season, landed toward the outside in post 13 - with only Ashland winner Leslie's Rose outside of her. Trainer Bill Mott noted that Just F Y I and Junior Alvarado broke from the outside in a field of 12 for the championship-clinching win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last November.

"At least you get a clear trip," Mott said. "It's a matter of whether the field spreads out enough and allows you to drop in."

The Oaks, with a post time of 5:51 p.m. on Friday, goes as Race 11 on a 13-race card that begins at 10:30 a.m., and includes six other graded stakes. The most compelling is the Grade 1, $1 million La Troienne, with Eclipse Award champions Idiomatic and Pretty Mischevious squaring off in in this field of seven fillies and mares in the season debut for both. Idiomatic, trained by Cox, won five graded stakes last year, capped by the Breeders' Cup Distaff, to secure the title as older dirt female. Pretty Mischievous, winner of the Kentucky Oaks, was honored as outstanding 3-year-old filly for Brendan Walsh.

The Grade 2, $750,000 Alysheba for older horses features a number of familiar faces. Grade 1 winner Tapit Trice, third in the 2023 Belmont Stakes, makes his first start since August, facing multiple graded stakes winner First Mission, coming off a score in the Grade 3 Essex, and the consistent Tumbarumba.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Hard to Justify makes her 3-year-old debut in a full field of 14 for the Grade 2, $600,000 Edgewood, while brilliant one-turn sophomore Denim and Pearls meets lightly raced filly Impel in a group of 12 for the Grade 2, $600,000 Eight Belles. The Grade 3, $400,000 Modesty and Grade 3, $400,000 Unbridled Sidney, both on the turf, round out the card.

KENTUCKY OAKS FIELD
Post, Horse (Rider), Morning line

1. Tapit Jenallie (Manny Esquivel), 30-1

2. Gin Gin (Florent Geroux), 30-1

3. Where’s My Ring (Jose Lezcano), 15-1

4. Regulatory Risk (Jose Ortiz), 20-1

5. Thorpedo Anna (Brian Hernandez Jr.), 5-1

6. Lemon Muffin (Keith Asmussen), 30-1

7. Fiona’s Magic (Luis Saez, 2), 30-1

8. Tarifa (Flavien Prat), 7-2

9. Everland (Abel Cedillo), 30-1

10. Into Champagne (Julien Leparoux), 30-1

11. Ways and Means (Tyler Gaffalione), 5-1

12. Power Squeeze (Daniel Centeno), 12-1

13. Just F Y I (Junior Alvarado), 9-2

14. Leslie’s Rose (Irad Ortiz Jr.), 4-1

AE - Our Pretty Woman (Joel Rosario), 15-1

AE - Candied (Luis Saez, 1), 20-1