She Feels Pretty tons the best in American Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. -- There was a brief strategic tussle between the legendary jockeys Frankie Dettori on Kathrynmarissa and John Velazquez on She Feels Pretty approaching the turn of Thursday’s Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita.

Dettori urged Kathrynmarissa toward the front with a wide move only for Velazquez to immediate counter on She Feels Pretty, the 3-5 favorite.

She Feels Pretty surged to the front, passing Kathrynmarissa and leaders Valence and Vibez. When She Feels Pretty reached the stretch, she had a comfortable lead, the race under control, and Dettori’s respect.

“She went by me like a rocket,” Dettori said.

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She Feels Pretty won her second consecutive Grade 1 race in the American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies. She won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 12.

“She’s such a special filly,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said in the winner’s circle. “Johnny has done a great job to get her where she is.”

Sent off favored, She Feels Pretty ($3.20) won by 2 1/2 lengths over 4-1 Kathrynmarissa, the winner of the $1.53 million Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs in September.

She Feels Pretty was timed in 1:58.69 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 99.

Though second, Kathrynmarissa was clear of the field at the wire on Thursday.

“She ran a good second,” Dettori said.

Velazquez has ridden She Feels Pretty in seven of her eight starts, and in four of her five wins, including the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine in 2023.

In the American Oaks, She Feels Pretty was sixth early and a handful for the Hall of Famer Velazquez.

“She broke a little slow,” Velazquez said. “She was very keen.”

She Feels Pretty advanced to third on the backstretch when Dettori made his bold move. Velazquez saw Dettori’s action and saw fit to react quickly.

“I went after him and that was it,” Velazquez said.

Medoro, the winner of three consecutive turf stakes at Santa Anita last winter and spring, finished third, beaten 3 3/4 lengths at 6-1.

Rashmi, the winner of a $40,000 claimer for maidens at Woodbine in September, finished fourth in her stakes debut, and was followed by Watchtower, Strutting, Valence, Chatalas, Mizzyaan, Vibez, and Baltic Fire.

The American Oaks win will lead to a wintertime break for She Feels Pretty, who races for Lael Stables. By Karakontie, She Feels Pretty has won 5 of 8 starts and earned $1,128,317. She was purchased for $275,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in 2022.

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