LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Start from the bottom when you’re handicapping the Eight Belles. That’s where you’ll find a filly named Munnys Gold, whose eye-popping runs in each of her first three starts make her unquestionably the horse to beat in a field of nine. Trained by Todd Pletcher for Robert and Lawana Low, Munnys Gold will have Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard when she breaks from the outside post in the Grade 2, $500,000 Eight Belles, the seventh race on a sensational Kentucky Oaks card Friday at Churchill Downs. Ever since earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure at first asking last summer in a five-furlong maiden race at Monmouth Park, Munnys Gold has strongly hinted she could develop into a top-level horse. Pletcher, true to form, has given her the time needed to do so, as this will mark her first start in a graded race. Following her flashy debut, the Florida-bred daughter of Munnings finally resurfaced over the winter in Florida, putting forth two more spectacular efforts in winning a January allowance at Gulfstream Park, then a restricted stakes in late March at Tampa Bay Downs with a 106 Beyer. Get this: Her combined win margin for the three races is 38 lengths. “She looks unbeatable on paper,” said Rusty Arnold, who will saddle Red Carpet Ready as a distant second choice in the seven-furlong Eight Belles. “But that said, I think we’ll be leading over a pretty nice horse, too. We’ll be there to give it a try.” Munnys Gold owns exceptional speed, although she did relax nicely for Ortiz in her latest when conceding the early lead before moving right along. The outer post should allow Ortiz to do something similar if needed Friday. “I thought it was a favorable draw,” said Pletcher. “We’re hoping she comes back with another big performance. She’s been training very well since the Tampa race and this seemed like the logical next step.” Red Carpet Ready (post 6, Luis Saez) also won her first three starts, including the Forward Gal Stakes, before finishing third to Dorth Vader in her latest, the March 4 Davona Dale going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream. Arnold said the subpar effort ultimately dashed hopes for the Ashland and Kentucky Oaks. “I sent her home early from Florida to see if we might make the Ashland, and she basically told us that wasn’t going to work,” he said. “Sometimes horses don’t look at things the same way we do. The thing about her, though, is she’s won twice sprinting at Churchill and she’s trained very well the last few weeks, so this looked like the obvious race to run her in.” The Eight Belles also drew Accede (post 8, Flavien Prat), a flashy winner of her lone start. She is owned and was bred by Juddmonte Farms and trained by Chad Brown. Also in the field are Positano Sunset (post 7, Julien Leparoux), a rallying winner of a Keeneland allowance last month for trainer Ian Wilkes, and the respective 3-4-5 finishers from the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy at Oaklawn Park: Olivia Twist (post 3, Florent Geroux), Condensation (post 1, Luan Machado), and Grand Love (post 5, Joel Rosario). Rounding out the lineup are Sabra Tuff (post 2, Tyler Gaffalione) and Effortlesslyelgant (post 4, Ricardo Santana Jr.). :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures This is the 68th running of the Eight Belles, which originally was known as the Oaks Prep, then the La Troienne, before being renamed again in 2009 in honor of the fallen filly who was second to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby the previous year. It kicks off a pick five wager (races 7-11) that ends with the Oaks. Pletcher’s lone win in this race came with Game Face in 2008, the last year it was still known as the La Troienne. The 2022 winner was Matareya, ridden by Prat for Brad Cox. Post time for the Eight Belles is 2:09 p.m. Eastern. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.