Kentucky Oaks outsiders hoping starting berths open up

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With entries for the 145th Kentucky Oaks due in just a matter of days, the connections of would-be contenders on the bubble for the Grade 1 filly classic are getting quite anxious about their chances to make the 14-horse cutoff.

Bellafina leads the list of 14 3-year-old fillies intended for the $1 million Oaks, for which entries will be taken next Monday at Churchill Downs. As many as four more horses can be used on an also-eligibles list.

As of Monday, these are the 14 safely in the 1 1/8-mile race if their connections choose – Bellafina, Champagne Anyone, Street Band, Lady Apple, Out for a Spin, Liora, Restless Rider, Serengeti Empress, Motion Emotion, Jaywalk, Chocolate Kisses, Jeltrin, Positive Spirt, and Flor de la Mar.

The alternates, in order, are Cookie Dough, Dunbar Road, Eres Tu, and Point of Honor.

Dunbar Road, second in the March 30 Gulfstream Park Oaks in just her second career start, was one of a dozen Chad Brown trainees scheduled to be flown here from South Florida on separate equine charter flights Monday and Tuesday. The Quality Road filly breezed a half-mile Sunday at Palm Meadows in 49.20 seconds and could well be among the first few wagering favorites if she makes the cut.

“I love this filly and how she’s been training,” Brown said. “I really hope we can make the race somehow. I’m not sure whether we’d opt to be included on the AE list. Let’s see what happens the next few days.”

Likewise, Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbreds said his group is “very much wanting” for Point of Honor to make the field after the filly finished a close fourth in the Gulfstream Oaks in just her third start.

“We think she’d stand a very good chance,” Wellman said.

Meanwhile, the Gulfstream Oaks winner, Champagne Anyone, and Fair Grounds Oaks winner, Street Band, both were out for serious work Monday morning at Churchill when posting five-furlong breezes. Champagne Anyone, trained by Ian Wilkes, went in 59.80 seconds, and Street Band went in 1:00.40. Cookie Dough, trained by Stan Gold, also breezed Monday when going five furlongs at Gulfstream in a swift 57.40.