Kentucky Oaks 135

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Seven brave sophomore fillies will hope to challenge the sterling RACHEL
ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro) in the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Friday, but
there is no way we could go against the Hal Wiggins trainee, who will surely be
a low price. In her last four starts, the brilliant filly has posted 102, 103,
102 and 104 BRIS Speed numbers, winning by a combined 23 1/4 lengths under
little to no urging. A huge half-mile drill over this strip earlier in the week
signaled that the classy Kentucky-bred is on her game and will not be denied
under Calvin Borel.

We think the only filly with an outside chance against the prohibitive
favorite is the unknown commodity, GABBY’S GOLDEN GAL (Medaglia d’Oro).
Conditioned by Bob Baffert, the well-meant filly was hammered at the windows in
her debut, often a sign that a filly can run, and broke through in her second
start with a concise win. A better than it looked second was her first result
versus winners, but it was her dirt debut that turned heads, a 13-length
drubbing in the Sunland Park Oaks. We’ve always thought that this filly could be
a really nice one, and if she improves even a little off of her last, we can
envision her having a shot. Victor Espinoza will be in the irons.

JUSTWHISTLEDIXIE (Dixie Union) has done little wrong for Kiaran McLaughlin,
winning five of her seven starts, with the last five coming in a row after a
pair of third-place showings to begin her career. The dark bay has been much the
best in Florida and has had ample time to prepare for this, so a big effort is
expected. But we’ve never thought of the filly as a route horse, so we’re going
to take a stand against her winning under Julien Leparoux.

FLYING SPUR (Giant’s Causeway) was the closest to Rachel Alexandra in recent
times, closing to within 1 3/4 lengths of her in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) for
Bill Mott. The slop-loving filly will move up considerably if the track is wet,
but her two tries on fast dirt have left much to be desired. The weather is
the key to the Kentucky-bred.

Conditioner D. Wayne Lukas has a trio in here, led by BE FAIR (Exchange
Rate), a useful fourth in the Ashland S. (G1) last out. The dark bay miss, who
might be better at one-turn, dominated two fields to begin her career and has
surely been placed on a collision course with this race since. Her best looks a
cut below, but we expect her to be fully cranked for this test.

The hard-trying NAN (High Yield) has moved her game up on synthetic surfaces
as of late and we like her tenacity, but her two dirt tries were abysmal and that
won’t get it done here.

Maiden vixens STONE LEGACY (Birdstone) and TWEETER (Unbridled’s Song), both
from the Lukas shedrow, look in deep at this stage of their respective careers.