Kentucky Oaks 136 J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Friday’s $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) will feature a full field of 14
three-year-old fillies, and it’s difficult to go against BLIND LUCK (Pollard’s
Vision). A multiple Grade 1 winner on synthetic tracks, the Jerry
Hollendorfer-trained miss tuned up for Churchill Downs’ dirt track with a sharp
performance in the Fantasy S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park, winning as she pleased by 2
1/2
lengths, and her 103 BRIS Speed rating that afternoon towers over her Oaks
rivals.

The late runner figures to receive a perfect set-up with all the speed in the
field, and Blind Luck is too classy for us to pick against in this spot.

TIDAL POOL (Yankee Gentleman) will enter on the upswing for D. Wayne Lukas,
registering triple-digit BRIS Speed ratings in her last two starts, an
eight-length allowance score at Oaklawn and a runner-up effort in the Fantasy. Her
two-year-old form left a lot to be desired, but the bay lass is clearly
much-improved at three and has room for further progression. She’s been training well in
preparation for this start, received a favorable draw in post 8 and the presence of Calvin Borel is a definite plus.
The stalker be in a
threatening position turning for home and has a good chance to wear the lilies
should the favorite falter.

EVENING JEWEL (Northern Afleet) looks like a live threat for the exotics. A
close second in the Las Virgenes (G1) and Santa Ysabel S. (G3), she broke through
with her first graded victory in the Ashland S. (G1) last time and we won’t be
surprised to see her prove even more effective on dirt given her pedigree. The
Jim Cassidy charge brings improving BRIS Speed numbers into this event and should
settle into a good stalking trip just off the pace with Kent Desormeaux.

We’ll move QUIET TEMPER (Quiet American) up if the track is wet, but it looks
like the rain will hold off until Friday night. The Dale Romans trainee still
has much to offer for the exotics regardless of the track condition, finishing a
nose second in the Silverbulletday S. (G3) prior to a half-length decision in the
Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), and she’s trained well at Churchill in preparation for
this one,
recording a recent five-furlong bullet work in :59 3/5. With her tactical speed,
the bay filly will be sitting right behind the leaders before offering her best.

IT’S TEA TIME (Dynaformer) is an intriguing entrant from Rusty Arnold, but
her lack of experience and dirt form makes it difficult for us to pick her
higher. A sharp maiden scorer on turf two back at Gulfstream, she had to alter
course in the stretch and came flying late to only miss by a neck against
Evening Jewel in the Ashland last out. We wouldn’t be surprised to see her take to dirt with her
pedigree and will use the bay lass in some exotics.

CRISP (El Corredor) figures to sit a good trip with her natural speed and
must be respected off an upset over Blind Luck in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1).
We’re not thrilled with the 55-day layoff since that start, and the John Sadler
runner has been running against short fields over synthetic tracks in
California. She also hasn’t cornered well a couple of times and with more than
100,000 people and a full field of horses, we have some doubts about how the
lightly-raced dark bay will handle the circumstances. However, we won’t be
surprised to see Crisp outperform our expectations.

AMEN HALLELUJAH (Montbrook) will bring commendable BRIS Speed and Class
ratings into this event, but we have doubts about her ability at the distance.
She’ll break from post 13, but jockey Julien Leparoux can use her speed to
secure a decent trip from the outside. The Richard Dutrow pupil isn’t facing the
most formidable opposition and we wouldn’t be surprised to see her stick around
for a minor honor, but she might be the second choice in the wagering and we’ll
have to try to beat her at nine furlongs.

CHAMPAGNE D’ORO (Medaglia d’Oro) will be winging it early under Martin Garcia
and nearly stole the Fair Grounds Oaks on the front end last time. We’re not too
excited about her chances of staying nine furlongs under pressure but if she
shakes loose early, the Eric Guillot charge could possibly hold for part. JODY
SLEW (Slew City Slew) displayed a strong late kick when getting up late in the
Silverbulletday and Tiffany Lass S., but she never fired in the Fair Grounds
Oaks
last time and faces an unfavorable stretch-out in distance. Her recent BRIS
Speed numbers are low as well.

AILALEA (Pulpit) has strong connections (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez) but
hasn’t run well in two attempts this year, finishing sixth in both the Fair
Grounds Oaks and Forward Gal S. (G2). We’ll have to let her beat us from post 12.
BEAUTICIAN (Dehere) appeared to have a bright future when finishing a close
second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), but she faltered badly when
wrapping up her juvenile campaign in the Hollywood Starlet (G1) and hasn’t shown
enough in two starts this year for us to think she can make an impact here.

AGE OF HUMOR (Distorted Humor), BELLA DIAMANTE (Lost Soldier) and JOANIE’S
CATCH (First Tour) are all facing serious class concerns, and none look fast
enough to offer a serious challenge.