King's preview: Stakes-filled Oaks Day

Friday, May 2 preview

Happy Oaks Day from Churchill Downs! It is a beautiful, mild day, and the main track is fast and the turf is firm.

The first stakes race gets underway in the fifth with the La Troienne, and in what has become all too common in Grade 1 races for older fillies and mares, the field is short.

Unlimited Budget is the choice, having rounded into form and having back class after being one of the top early-season 3-year-old fillies of last year. On Fire Baby and Devil’s Cave are her main adversaries, with the former preferred of the two, coming off a second in the Apple Blossom and being a mare that runs well at Churchill Downs.

The versatility Marchman has shown makes him the choice of the next stakes, the Twin Spires Turf Sprint, as he looks like he ought to be able to tuck right behind the speed. He’ll have to catch Sum of the Parts.

The day’s best bet, Fiftyshadesofgold, goes in the eighth race, the Eight Belles. She looks perfectly suited to the race’s seven-furlong distance with her stalking style. She was recently a distant second to Untapable in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

Following the scratch of Resistivity, Candy Kitty becomes the top selection in the Edgewood. She is returned to her favorite surface on turf after struggling over the Polytrack in the Ashland at Keeneland.

The classy Will Take Charge looks best of the Alysheba, following the scratch of Normandy Invasion.

In the Oaks I’ll try to beat heavily favored Untapable, though she is the most likely winner if she can transfer her brilliant form from Fair Grounds to Churchill.

Thank You Marylou is the value play, returning to dirt after a third in the Ashland on Polytrack. Also take note of Rosalind, the winner of the Ashland, who should also run well in a race that isn’t short of pace.

Early Oaks Day Changes

Race: 2
#7 Corinthian Wind

Race: 4
#1 Trace Creek
#10 Upkeep
#14 Foolhardy

Jockey Change: Julien R. Leparoux changed to Jose Lezcano on #13 Transcend

Race: 7
#9 Abou
#14 My Christini

Race: 8
#2 Lady Paradime

Race: 9
#10 Resistivity

Race: 10
#5 Normandy Invasion

Race: 12
#5 Heavenly Princess