Meaning securely in Kentucky Oaks; Brooklyn Blonde will need some defections

ARCADIA, Calif. – A one-two finish by Meaning and Brooklyn Blonde was an ideal result to Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Meaning will have her next start in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 1 at Churchill Downs. She leads all qualifiers with 126 points. Brooklyn Blonde, however, has only 50 points and ranked 21st on the qualification list.

Brooklyn Blonde’s status for the Kentucky Oaks will not be known until later this month. The field will be limited to 14 starters.

“There are a lot of fillies with 50 points,” McCarthy said Sunday.

Owned by Bridlewood Farm and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Meaning won for the third time in her fourth start in the $201,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles, closing from fourth in a field of seven to win by two lengths as the 9-10 favorite.

Juan Hernandez rode Meaning, the filly’s fourth different rider in as many starts. The filly’s only loss was a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar last October.

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