Lucky Betty looks to make step toward Kentucky Oaks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It was only logical that new contenders would emerge with the postponements of the Kentucky Oaks and Derby. A second-level allowance for 3-year-old fillies Friday at Churchill Downs seems to showcase that emerging reality.

A field of eight will go postward in the seventh of nine Friday races, and it’s highly probable the winner will run fast enough that her name starts being tossed into the Oaks discussion. The $83,000 race is positioned as a prep for stakes such as the Ashland or Indiana Oaks next month.

“It’s a great stepping-stone for the kind of fillies that are right there at the doorstep,” said Will VanMeter, who will saddle Lucky Betty for the 1 1/16-mile race. “Hopefully, our filly can make the kind of progression we think she can.”

Lucky Betty, with Declan Cannon riding from post 1, comes off a pair of Oaklawn Park victories, ending with an April 23 romp in which she earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure, tied for highest in this field. The daughter of Munnings is the first horse wholly owned by Dennis Park, a Joplin, Mo., businessman who had been the occasional partner in the now-defunct Dogwood Stable syndicates in the 1990s, VanMeter said.

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Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Kentucky Oaks and Derby have been postponed four months, to Sept. 4 and 5, respectively. Horses that were ready for the original May dates might not be viable threats on the new dates, and vice versa. As an example, Lucky Betty was still a maiden when March turned into April.

“If she were to keep developing like she has, it’d work out just great for us,” VanMeter said.

VanMeter, 36, is the son of well-known breeder and consignor Tom VanMeter. He worked for D. Wayne Lukas for several years (2009-12) after graduating from the University of Louisville equine program, going out on his own in 2014. Based primarily at Keeneland, his 60 career wins include six stakes, with the Grade 3 Hanshin at Arlington Park with Trace Creek in 2016 being his lone graded triumph.

The main roadblocks for Lucky Betty in the Friday race include the uncoupled Steve Asmussen duo of Alta’s Award (post 2, Ricardo Santana Jr.) and Fire Coral (post 3, Tyler Gaffalione), the respective fourth- and fifth-place finishers in the Fantasy at Oaklawn; Shedaresthedevil (post 4, Florent Geroux), a two-back winner of the Grade 3 Honeybee at Oaklawn for Brad Cox; and Lazy Daisy (post 8, David Cohen), whose form has gone a bit sour since she won the Grade 2 Pocahontas at Churchill last September.

The only other allowance of the card directly follows as race 8. It’s an $81,000, first-level turf route that drew an oversubscribed field of fillies and mares. Woodfin, a sharp maiden winner at Churchill last June, will have Rafael Bejarano riding for Vicki Oliver as one of a handful of logical contenders in what shapes up as a wide-open race.

Purses for all allowances and maiden specials at Churchill include substantial bonuses restricted to registered Kentucky-breds.

Both allowances are part of the 20-cent Single 6, which had a $162,029 jackpot when a four-day race week started Thursday. The Single 6 spans races 4-9.

First post every day at Churchill is 1 p.m. Eastern. Possible thundershowers and a high near 90 are in the local forecast for Friday.