Shane’s Girlfriend tracked the early pace in Thursday night’s $203,483 Iowa Oaks (G3) at Prairie Meadows before rallying under jockey Kyle Frey to score a 2 1/4-length victory in her first start since late February.
The Doug O’Neill trainee was forced to check entering the first turn but kept in contact with the front-running Swing and Sway, who was chased by Chanel’s Legacy through early splits of :24.12, :48.01 and 1:12.07.
Frey gave Shane’s Girlfriend her cue, urging her on rounding the final bend, and she responded to take command. Pulling off to finish 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.94 on the fast main track, the bay daughter of Adios Charlie paid $5.60 for the win as the 9-5 second choice.
Babybluesbdancing followed in second, 1 1/2 lengths up on Jordan’s Henny. It was just a nose back to Chanel’s Legacy in fourth, who kept her nose in front of fifth-placer Mo’s M V P. Ever So Clever, the 7-5 favorite, came next while Natalie’s Mischief and Swing and Sway completed the order under the wire.
Campaigned by ERJ Racing LLC, W.C. Racing Inc. and Dennis O’Neill, Shane’s Girlfriend made just her fifth career start in this spot. The sophomore miss broke her maiden by 5 3/4 lengths last October at Santa Anita Park and closed out 2016 with a 13-length romp in the Delta Downs Princess (G3) on November 19.
Shane’s Girlfriend returned January 8 to be third in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) sprinting seven furlongs at Santa Anita and was last seen finishing a well-beaten fifth in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) going 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds on February 25. This win improved her lifetime resume to 5-3-0-1, $418,600.
Bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, Shane’s Girlfriend is out of the unraced Proud Citizen mare Western Tornado. Her third dam, Critical Crew, produced multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Critical Eye and is also the granddam of dual Grade 2 scorer Takeover Target.
