Undefeated Tasting the Stars tops Virginia Oaks,

Tasting the Stars has yet to taste defeat and figures to be favored to run her career mark to four wins from four starts in the $150,000 Virginia Oaks on Saturday night on the turf at Colonial Downs.

Tasting the Stars, who has only run in two-turn races, won a dirt maiden race in her career debut at Fair Grounds last winter and returned with a first-level dirt-allowance win there. A minor injury, according to trainer Mike Stidham, kept her out of action for several months, and in her comeback race July 28 at Monmouth Park she won the $75,000 Just Jenda Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths over one mile on turf.

“I was impressed with that race,” said Stidham, who trains Tasting the Stars, a Bodemeister filly, for Newtown Anner Stud. “Work wise, I didn’t have in her what I normally put into a horse and she overcame that with no problem. I feel like she’s better prepared for this race.”

Tasting the Stars, Horacio Karamanos named to ride, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Oaks, which drew eight other entrants. Sweeter than Wine is cross-entered in a Friday race at Penn National.

Stidham, with evidence to back him up, believes Tasting the Stars will have little trouble stretching out to nine furlongs Saturday, but it remains uncertain if she prefers turf, dirt, or neither. She did bobble a few times while moving to the lead over the Monmouth grass in fast-paced race that somewhat fell into her lap.

Stidham’s second entrant, Carnival Colors, didn’t disgrace herself finishing fourth last out in the one-turn-mile Ontario Colleen Stakes at Woodbine, but neither could she quicken with the top finishers there, either. The hope is the nine furlongs helps her chances, but Carnival Colors might not be quite good enough.

Neither might Mercilla, but the jury’s still out on that. The Graham Motion-trained filly won her career debut in France before being imported to America, and rallied nicely into a moderate tempo to beat older horses May 23 at Pimlico in her first Stateside start. Motion said he made a mistake letting Mercilla start on dirt an off-turf stakes race June 19 at Delaware Park, and he scratched her from the Aug. 10 Pucker Up after Mercilla drew very wide in a solid-looking field. Motion had this start in mind when he passed on the trip to Arlington and said his filly “is coming into this race the best way she could.”

“I’ve been looking for a mile and an eighth for her,” he said.

Ionic, who has improved through her three-start career, figures to set the pace but looks suspect over a nine-furlong trip and got the easiest of leads in her last-out win. Gardenista and Zonda are competent midpack stalkers who might not be quite good enough to win.

Kitten’s Joy an open race

Field Pass was the 3-2 morning-line favorite for the $100,000 Kitten’s Joy, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 2-year-olds, but instead raced Wednesday at Saratoga. With Field Pass a near-certain scratch, Doc Boy probably inherits the favorite’s role in the Kitten’s Joy, but he is far from invulnerable.

Doc Boy easily won a Colonial Downs maiden route in his second start, but got a favorable trip facing just three overmatched foes.

“He’s a big, developing 2-year-old who looks like he’s got a lot of upside to him,” trainer Mike Stidham said.

Stidham also starts Jack the Ripper, who only arrived last week from France.

“I like him physically and the way he moves over the track, and it seems like he prefers firm turf,” said Stidham.

Jack the Ripper finished seventh over soft ground at Saint-Cloud in his career debut but easily graduated second out on a firmer course at a provincial track.

Food and Wine can win at a fair price. He debuted in a Laurel Park turf sprint and ran like a horse who will appreciate a longer distance.

Rosie’s Stakes has standout

Torres Del Paine can be a handful to ride and train but should also be a handful in the $100,000 Rosie’s Stakes for 2-year-olds over 5 1/2 furlongs Saturday night.

Torres Del Paine has been gelded since his second and most recent start, a last-place finish in a field of five on a sloppy track in the Rick Violette Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds on a sloppy track at Saratoga. He did virtually everything wrong making his career debut in a Laurel turf sprint yet still won comfortably after turning back a midstretch challenge,

“He’s a little tough,” said trainer Graham Motion. “He’s keen.”

It appears that Torres Del Paine’s main opposition will come from So Street, Ununderstandable, and first-time starter Four Wheel Drive. Four Wheel Drive has been training powerfully at Saratoga for his career debut, trainer Wesley Ward said.

“He’s been leaving his opposition in the morning in the dust,” said Ward.