This is my second Kentucky Oaks 2021 report of the new year and the points race series is slowly beginning to pick up steam. Each of the next three Saturdays will feature a pair of Oaks preps and my current top rated contender Travel Column might make her seasonal debut in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds Feb. 13.
Kentucky Oaks 2021 Points Race Recaps
Silverbulletday Stakes (1-16-21)
This was a slow race and Sun Path was very disappointing as the strong favorite. Littlestitious carved out slow splits and Sun Path was glued to her flank from the outside post. The latter poked her head in front but failed to go on and Charlie’s Penny stalked outside, took over, and won by a comfortable 3-1/4 lengths. Souper Sensational rallied from last to pick up the place and Moon Swag edged Sun Path for 3rd. Littlestitious and Barista trailed.
Busanda Stakes – Aqueduct (1-24-21)
Not a particularly exciting 5-horse contest on paper but I thought the winner ran a quality race. Traffic Lane set the pace but she is really a turf horse and did not figure to last. Her stablemate Coffee Bar took up the running and The Grass Is Blue came after that one and edged clear late to prevail by a length. Coffee Bar was clearly second best and Diamond Ore rallied to finish a clear 3rd. Traffic Lane weakened to 4th and Wonderwall was the distant trailer. The Grass Is Blue added blinkers for Chad Brown and she was a bit unsettled early. She was stuck inside turning for home and Manny Franco patiently waited for outside room, and she responded nicely when she found clear sailing in the stretch.
————–
Kentucky Oaks Points Leaders (through Busanda Stakes 1-24-21)
24 Points: Vequist
18 Points: Dayoutoftheoffice
14 Points: Girl Daddy, Kalypso, Varda
13 Points: Simply Ravishing
12 Points: Travel Column
10 Points: Charlie’s Penny, Malathaat, The Grass Is Blue
8 Points: Crazy Beautiful
4 Points: Clairiere, Coffee Bar, Frosteria, Millefeuille, Souper Sensational
2 Points: Alexandria, Brilliant Cut, Cilla, Coach, Diamond Ore, Malibu Curl, Miss Costa Rica, Moon Swag, Nasreddine
1 Point: Astute, Cafe Society, Illumination, Joy’s Rocket, Queengol, Sun Path, Thoughtfully, Traffic Lane, Xtrema
———–
Upcoming Kentucky Oaks 2021 Points Races
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
————–
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2021 Contenders (1-24-21)
#1 – TRAVEL COLUMN – Golden Rod (G2) winner in steady training at FG.
#2 – CLAIRIERE – Golden Rod runner-up breezing every 7-days at FG.
#3 – VEQUIST – BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner returned to worktab in Florida Jan. 6.
#4 – MOONLIGHT D’ORO – Strong 8f maiden win at LRC Dec. 13 and two SA works since.
#5 – MISS BRAZIL – Fine maiden win at AQU Nov. 29. Breezing steadily at Aqueduct.
Article by Jarrod Horak
