This is my first Kentucky Oaks 2021 report of the new year and Travel Column is still my top ranked Oaks filly. She is trained by Brad Cox and he also has exciting runner Sun Path. The latter is a full sister to Bonny South and she ran her record to 2-for-3 with a thoroughly dominating victory in a fast track allowance route at Fair Grounds Dec. 19. The Kentucky Oaks 2021 point race series started up again on Jan. 3 with the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park, and Kalypso got the job done from the outside post for Bob Baffert.
Kentucky Oaks 2021 Points Race Recaps
Demoiselle (G2)
Aqueduct (12-5-20)
The final time was not fast but the top two ran well in the slop at a mile and an eighth. Malathaat ran her record to a perfect 3-for-3 but it was not easy. Millefeuille tracked the pace and got the jump on race favorite Malathaat, and the latter seemed to be struggling with the wet footing. Millefeuille was three lengths clear in the lane and looked home free, but Johnny V got Malathaat away from the inside and once she was angled out to the middle of the track, she started to gather momentum. She swallowed up the leader in late stretch and scored by a bit less than a length. Millefeuille was well clear of show finisher Malibu Curl.
Starlet (G1)
Los Alamitos Race Course (12-5-20)
This was a very strange, slow race. Strong favorite Princess Noor tracked the pace and was in front after six panels, but was pulled up in the stretch. Second choice Astute stalked the pace and retreated to finish a well-beaten 4th. Kalypso secured the early lead, lost her edge after Princess Noor passed her, and regained the advantage when that one pulled out of the race, but she could not hold off her late running stablemate Varda. The latter went last-to-first and was traveling well late. Kalypso was clearly second best and Nasreddine was well clear of Astute. Princess Noor suffered a soft tissue injury and has been retired.
Santa Ynez (G2)
Santa Anita Park (1-3-21)
The favorite had every advantage in this race. Kalypso was the Baffert chalk, and she was turning back to a preferred sprint, and her early-pressing speed from the outside just about guaranteed a clean journey. She battled with 30-1 longshot Brilliant Cut, and that one tried hard from the rail. Kalypso dueled outside and drove clear to win by a bit less than two lengths over her maiden stablemate Frosteria, with Brilliant Cut best of the rest in 3rd. Queengol was an even 4th, and Nasreddine had an uncomfortable start and ended up 5th. Exotic West had early trouble and never recovered.
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Kentucky Oaks Points Leaders (through Santa Ynez 1-3-21)
24 Points: Vequist
18 Points: Dayoutoftheoffice
14 Points: Girl Daddy, Kalypso, Varda
13 Points: Simply Ravishing
12 Points: Travel Column
10 Points: Malathaat
8 Points: Crazy Beautiful
4 Points: Clairiere, Frosteria, Millefeuille
2 Points: Alexandria, Brilliant Cut, Cilla, Coach, Malibu Curl, Miss Costa Rica, Nasreddine
1 Point: Astute, Cafe Society, Illumination, Joy’s Rocket, Queengol, Thoughtfully, Xtrema
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Upcoming Kentucky Oaks 2021 Points Races
Silverbulletday (10-4-2-1) – Jan. 16
Busanda (10-4-2-1) – Jan. 24
Forward Gal (10-4-2-1) – Jan. 30
Martha Washington (10-4-2-1) – Jan. 30
Suncoast (10-4-2-1) – Feb. 6
Las Virgenes (10-4-2-1) – Feb. 6
Rachel Alexandra (50-20-10-5) – Feb. 13
Cincinnati Trophy (10-4-2-1) – Feb. 13
UAE Oaks (50-20-10-5) – Feb. 18
Davona Dale (50-20-10-5) – Feb. 27
Sunland Oaks (50-20-10-5)
Busher (50-20-10-5) – March 6
Honeybee (50-20-10-5) – March 6
Santa Ysabel (50-20-10-5) – March 7
Bourbonette Oaks (20-8-4-2) – March 13
FG Oaks (100-40-20-10) – March 20
GP Oaks (100-40-20-10) – March 27
SA Oaks (100-40-20-10) – April 3
Gazelle (100-40-20-10) – April 3
Ashland (100-40-20-10) – April 3
Beaumont (10-4-2-1) – April 3
Fantasy (100-40-20-10) – April 3
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Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2021 Contenders (1-3-21)
#1 – TRAVEL COLUMN – Golden Rod (G2) winner breezed 4f at FG Jan. 3.
#2 – CLAIRIERE – Golden Rod runner-up worked half-mile at FG Jan. 3.
#3 – VEQUIST – BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner is the likely 2-year-old filly champ.
#4 – SUN PATH – Crushed in allowance route at FG Dec. 19. Worked 4f Jan. 2.
#5 – MISS BRAZIL – Strong maiden win at AQU Nov. 29. Worked 4f Jan. 1.
Article by Jarrod Horak
