Naughty Joker enters Kentucky Oaks picture with Bourbonette score

FLORENCE, Ky. - As the fillies loaded into the starting gate for the $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks on a rainy Saturday evening at Turfway Park, it appeared unlikely that the race would have much of an impact on the Kentucky Oaks, for which it offered qualifying points. After all, just three of the 11 fillies standing in the gate for the race – contested on Turfway's synthetic surface, and typically a better barometer of future turf success – were early nominees for the filly classic. But one of those nominees was Naughty Joker – and less than two minutes later, the filly had placed herself in Kentucky Oaks consideration with a workmanlike victory in the Bourbonette.

This was the second win in four career starts for Naughty Joker ($6), who has never been worse than second while running on dirt, turf, and now, synthetic. In two starts on the dirt at Churchill Downs last year, the filly was second against colts in the restricted Spendthrift Juvenile Stallion Stakes, then broke her maiden going 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track.

With just under eight weeks remaining until the Kentucky Oaks, on the first Friday in May, there is time for fillies who ran in the Bourbonette to start in another prep race. The 20 points she earned for her victory Saturday may be enough to put Naughty Joker into the starting gate even without additional scoring – last year, Heavenhasmynikki, with 11 points, and Kelly's Humor, with eight points, were the last two fillies into the field, which is limited to 14 starters.

"We might look at the Ashland at Keeneland, but the boss will make that decision," said Wesley Ward, who trains Naughty Joker for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who are desirous of running in the Oaks. Ward and jockey Rafael Bejarano teamed for three stakes victories on the day, while the Ramseys won two races.

Fun Finder set the early pace in the Bourbonette, ticking off a quarter in 24.25 seconds and a half in 47.76 seconds with Birdie on her hip and Into Trouble, the lone prior stakes winner in the field, in third. Naughty Joker, sent away as a slight favorite over Into Trouble, sat in fifth early, advancing to turn up the pressure around the far turn. Fun Finder still led by a measured length through six furlongs in 1:12.36; behind her, Into Trouble was a head in front of Naughty Joker, with Birdie fading to fourth.

“My horse came away really beautifully from the gate," Bejarano said. "I saw a couple of horses with speed, so I put her right behind them and got her comfortable."

Naughty Joker commenced a long drive into the stretch, poking a head in front of Fun Finder, who gave way grudgingly. Through the final stages, Naughty Joker inched clear to hit the wire 1 3/4 lengths in front, stopping the clock in 1:40.08 for the mile.

Fun Finder held second by half a length over the rallying New Roo, with Diva Day just another three-quarters of a length back in fourth. They were followed by Unapologetic Me, Into Trouble, Malibu Party, Channel Princess, Birdie, Gold Credit, and Red Rounder.

Fun Finder, who is also an early Kentucky Oaks nominee, earned eight points toward the race with her runner-up effort. The third and fourth-place finishes are worth four and two points, respectively, but New Roo and Diva Day are not early nominees. Fillies can still be made eligible to the Kentucky Oaks with a $1,500 late fee due April 13, or a $20,000 supplemental nomination at entry time.