There were no less than five Kentucky Oaks 2021 preps the last two weekends so I have lots to catch up on. None of those winning performances really stood out but one losing effort did. BC Juvenile Fillies winner Vequist made her much anticipated return in the Davona Dale at Gulfstream, and it was forgettable to say the least. She stalked the pace and came up empty in a real head scratcher. Recap time!
Kentucky Oaks 2021 Points Race Recaps
Cincinnati Trophy – Turfway Park (2-26-21)
In this all-weather sprint, race favorite Igloo set the pace and my top choice Phantom Vision chased from 2nd. Wait for Nairobi sat back in 7th early, moved into 3rd place after aa half-mile, and pulled clear by a couple of lengths to post a 15-1 upset. Phantom Vision was second best and Igloo easily held 3rd. Speeding ended up an even 4th and the other five entrants were not serious threats.
Davona Dale (G2) – Gulfstream Park (2-27-21)
This was probably the most disappointing of the Oaks preps this year. Vequist, the returning 2-Year-Old Filly Champion, was the strong favorite and she chased the pace and was done after six furlongs. Millefeuille was the solid second betting choice and my top pick, and she had little to offer after the opening half-mile. 52-1 longshot Wholebodemeister battled on the pace from the inside post, and she opened up and won easily by 6+ lengths for Zayas/Avila. Crazy Beautiful rallied for the place at 9-2 and Competitive Speed checked in 3rd at 53-1. Pens Street rounded out the superfecta at 84-1. Curlin’s Catch was the third betting choice and was a weakening 5th. Millefeuille ended up a well-beaten 7th and Vequist was eased in the lane and walked off. Not only did the favorites falter, but this was a slow race.
Busher Invitational – Aqueduct Racetrack (3-6-21)
Miss Brazil has been part of my Oaks list for quite some time and she got a chance to stretch out to a mile in this spot. She ran a quality race but was second best on this day. She set the pace and was clear by about a length for much of the running, but Search Results was tracking from second and wore down the front runner and scored by a 1/2 length. Miss Brazil was 5+ clear of show finisher The Grass Is Blue. Laobanonaprayer, Make Mischief, and Mo Desserts also ran. As for Miss Brazil, she might have distance limitations.
Honeybee (G3) – Oaklawn Park (3-6-21)
Will’s Secret is on a roll at Oaklawn for Dallas Stewart. She was patiently handled while racing wide in the Martha Washington Stakes Jan. 30, and she cruised by 5+ lengths in the mud that day. Fast forward to the Honeybee and she battled on the pace and gamely prevailed by a bit less than a length on a fast track. Pauline’s Pearl outfinished Sun Path for the place and those two were 5+ clear of 4th place finisher Oliviaofthedesert. Coach was another nose back in 5th and Tabor Hall and Willful Woman trailed.
Santa Ysabel (G3) – Santa Anita Park (3-7-21)
This was only a field of four but it turned out to be quite the race. Kalypso set the pace as expected but she had distance limitations and did not factor into the final outcome. My top pick Moraz got a perfect trip. She intently tracked Kalypso from the outside post, and crept up, inched away, and looked home free. Beautiful Gift stalked from 3rd place and started getting closer in the stretch. At this point, jockey Umberto Rispoli aboard Moraz could feel footsteps and started peeking back. He saw Beautiful Gift closing on his outside and tried to push his mount to the wire but it was too late. Beautiful Gift had the momentum and surged late to score by a head. Moraz let this one get away. She will never get a better trip in a graded race with a short field. John Velazquez never gave up on Beautiful Gift and was rewarded with a victory aboard the Baffert trainee. Actually, Baffert saddled all of the runners in this field with the exception of Moraz (Michael McCarthy). His other runner Heels Up trailed throughout, eased in the stretch, and walked off.
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Top 20 Kentucky Oaks Points Leaders (through Santa Ysabel 3-7-21)
60 Points: Will’s Secret
54 Points: Clairiere
52 Points: Wholebodemeister
50 Points: Beautiful Gift, Search Results
32 Points: Travel Column
28 Points: Crazy Beautiful, Kalypso
24 Points: Vequist
22 Points: Moraz
20 Points: Miss Brazil, Pauline’s Pearl, The Grass Is Blue
18 Points: Dayoutoftheoffice
14 Points: Girl Daddy
13 Points: Simply Ravishing
12 Points: Moon Swag
11 Points: Sun Path
10 Points: Curlin’s Catch, Malathaat, Zaajel
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Upcoming Kentucky Oaks 2021 Points Races
FG Oaks (100-40-20-10) – March 20
Bourbonette Oaks (20-8-4-2) – March 27
GP Oaks (100-40-20-10) – March 27
Beaumont (10-4-2-1) – April 2
SA Oaks (100-40-20-10) – April 3
Gazelle (100-40-20-10) – April 3
Ashland (100-40-20-10) – April 3
Fantasy (100-40-20-10) – April 3
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Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Kentucky Oaks 2021 Contenders (3-10-21)
#1 – TRAVEL COLUMN – Golden Rod winner could not hold off Clairiere in Rachel Alexandra.
#2 – CLAIRIERE – Turned tables on Travel Column Feb. 13. Those two might meet again in FG Oaks.
#3 – WILL’S SECRET – Made it three straight wins in Honeybee wire job. Fantasy Stakes might be next.
#4 – SIMPLY RAVISHING – Alcibiades winner tailed off after that. Back on worktab at Gulfstream.
#5 – MISS BRAZIL – Set pace and was second best in Busher. Distance limitations?
Article by Jarrod Horak
