HRN: 2014 Kentucky Oaks Field Analysis

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

2014 Kentucky Oaks Field Analysis

"A field of thirteen has assembled for the 140th edition of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). Often referred to as the sister race to America's most famous race, the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), the Oaks attracts a field of the nation's finest three-year-old fillies year after year. This year is no different – with the likes of the superstars Untapable and My Miss Sophia, as well as several other talented fillies – in the field. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Fiftyshadesofgold Carries the Hopes of Texas to Kentucky

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Fiftyshadesofgold Carries the Hopes of Texas to Kentucky

"Anyone living in the Lone Star State is familiar with the phrase “Everything is bigger in Texas.” Head down to the United States’ second largest state and you will realize that this statement is quite true. Time spent in Texas is exposure to big trucks, big ranches, and big temperatures. But the Texas horse racing industry does not quite fall into this category. Texas boasts the largest horse population of any state in the nation and the northern part of the state, particularly Denton County, is home to hundreds of the country’s top horse ranches, many of which are home to world champion horses in various disciplines. However, the Thoroughbred racing industry in Texas pales in comparison to states like California, Florida, Kentucky, and New York. Texas-breds receive little respect when they compete in such states and oftentimes, this lack of respect is unfortunately justified by poor performances by said Texas-breds. However, on one of racing’s biggest stages, the undercard of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs this Friday, Fiftyshadesofgold looks to make the Texas racing industry proud. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: 2014 Kentucky Oaks Contender: Onlyforyou

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

2014 Kentucky Oaks Contender: Onlyforyou

For the first time, my Derby Hopefuls will be reaching the pages of Horse Racing Nation rather than the original Past the Grandstand. Oaks Contenders feature the fillies I view as the best contenders leading up to the Kentucky Oaks. Each horse spotlighted in an Oaks Contender will join the 2014 PTG Oaks Contender roster, found on the right side of the blog. Horses will be listed in an order that corresponds to how highly I think of them, with the horse I think most highly of ranking at the top. A horse featured in an Oaks Contender may be taken off the roster if its performances after its article are published are not up to par or if that horse is taken off the Oaks trail, though those articles will remain on my blog.


"When I was fourteen, I discovered a love for Thoroughbred sales. The thrill of choosing a horse from a sale and later watching as it finds success is extraordinary, leaving me to become enthralled with the art of “discovering” a talented horse before its career begins. This led me to make selections from various sales and follow those picks as they blossomed into racehorses, whether they were withdrawn from their respective auctions or not.

Putting pedigree and conformation, as well as movement and potential displayed in breeze shows for juvenile sales, into consideration, I have assembled an army of promising young horses. Among those horses is Onlyforyou, who caught my attention with her athleticism while breezing prior to the 2013 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale. Since then, Onlyforyou has transformed into a talented racehorse who has made a mark on the Kentucky Oaks trail. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

Princess of Sylmar Shocks the 139th Kentucky Oaks

Some of the best female racehorses in this era of girl power have captured the Kentucky Oaks (GI) in recent years. In 2007, Rags to Riches overwhelmed her rivals in the Kentucky Derby's (GI) sister race, which served as a prelude to her historic Belmont Stakes (GI) victory. Rachel Alexandra annihilated the Oaks field in 2009, conquering the race by 20 1/4 lengths, as part of her Horse of the Year campaign. A year later, Blind Luck provided fans with a thrilling edition of the Oaks, rallying to win by a nose.

This year marked the 139^th installment of the Kentucky Oaks, which presented one of the most competitive fields in memory. But it wasn’t a favorite that was bestowed the garland of lilies; it was a 38-1 longshot: Princess of Sylmar.

Princess of Sylmar
Photo by Brittlan Wall

A Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Majestic Warrior, Princess of Sylmar hails from humble beginnings. A homebred for Ed Stanco of King of Prussia Stable, Princess of Sylmar was fourth in her debut at Penn National – a track that is not exactly heralded as a high-caliber track that produces classic winners.

But Princess of Sylmar soon let it be known that she is the type of horse that proves doubters wrong on a regular basis. In her second start, the chestnut filly demolished a maiden special weight at Penn National, crossing the wire an astounding 19 lengths ahead of her nearest rival. With her impressive triumph, it was on to Aqueduct in New York for the small chestnut filly.

Following a romp in an allowance optional claiming event, Princess of Sylmar entered stakes company. Her past two races – both of which she’d won in a breathtakingly easy manner – earned her respect in her black-type debut. She was sent off as the heavy favorite in her first two stakes races and lived up to her short odds, dominating the Busanda Stakes and the Busher Stakes at Aqueduct by a combined 14 ½ lengths.

The filly was riding a hot streak. She was proving herself to be a special filly, but as soon as she was beaten by Gulfstream Park shipper Close Hatches in the Gazelle Stakes (GII), a mass of people abandoned her bandwagon. A single loss had driven supporters away from her, allowing her to approach the Kentucky Oaks under the radar.

Her chances at taking home the “Lilies for the Fillies” seem to further diminish after her first work at Churchill Downs. The Todd Pletcher trainee appeared rather flat in her first breeze beneath the twin spires and less focus was put on her as race analysts paid more attention to the race’s favorites.

However, Princess of Sylmar rebounded in her second work over the track, breezing a half-mile in 49.20 seconds. She got over the track in a much flashier manner, suggesting that she was beginning to blossom. Still, few took notice.

When race day dawned, little attention remained on Princess of Sylmar, leading her to be sent off as the second-longest shot in the deep field of ten. Breaking from the sixth gate, Princess of Sylmar was involved in the wrestling match that occurred within the first few strides of the race, being squeezed by rivals and losing ground. She recovered quickly, but was left nearly eleven lengths behind the pacesetter, Midnight Lucky, by the end of the first quarter of a mile.

Finding a position just behind her favored stablemate, Dreaming of Julia, in ninth as the fillies entered the backstretch, Princess of Sylmar appeared very comfortable with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard as Midnight Lucky set brisk fractions in the vanguard. Gradually, Princess of Sylmar made up ground, advancing between horses down the backstretch as Smith piloted her closer to the lead.

Racing three paths off the rail as the field entered the far turn, Princess of Sylmar had upgraded to fourth by the time the horses reached the three-eighths marker. Smith guided her into an even wider position, beginning to ask the filly to begin her rally as the horses neared the quarter pole. As Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) victress Beholder stormed to the lead at the top of the stretch, Princess of Sylmar closed on the outside, steering around undefeated stablemate Unlimited Budget.

As the final furlong commenced, Princess of Sylmar found her best stride, drawing even with the frontrunners prior to surpassing Beholder within the final sixteenth, securing victory by a half-length as she switched leads at the finish. The filly had proved doubters wrong and achieved the impossible, taking on and defeating one of the toughest Oaks fields in history despite her long odds and peculiar path to Churchill Downs.

Princess of Sylmar’s Oaks win served as Mike Smith’s first triumph in the race and trainer Todd Pletcher’s third. Beholder, who had become worked up prior to the race and had even nearly fallen – dismounting jockey Garrett Gomez – in the post parade, performed valiantly to finish second in her attempt to become the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner to capture the Oaks since Silverbulletday in 1999. Like Princess of Sylmar, the third- and fourth-place finishers – Unlimited Budget and Dreaming of Julia, respectively – were conditioned by Pletcher. Dreaming of Julia, also a victim of the vicious break, had received a very poor trip but made a gallant rally nonetheless.

There was very little focus on Princess of Sylmar prior to the Oaks, but at the culmination of the prestigious race, all attention was on the “fun-sized” filly. After the race, as Mike Smith was interviewed by NBC’s Donna Barton Brothers aboard Princess of Sylmar, he summarized the Kentucky Oaks winner perfectly, “She’s not very big, but she’s got a big heart.”

Mike Smith celebrating aboard Princess of Sylmar
Photo by Brittlan Wall

2013 Kentucky Oaks Field Analysis

The Kentucky Derby (GI) garners far more attention than its sister race, the Kentucky Oaks (GI). Held on the Friday before the Derby, the "Lilies for the Fillies" features the best three-year-old Thoroughbreds fillies around. The 2013 field for the classic race is among the best group of fillies seen in years and should provide for a thrilling race that will beautifully commence the classic season for sophomore Thoroughbreds.

Last year's edition of the race saw jockey Rosie Napravnik avenge her narrow loss in the 2011 renewal with a victory aboard Believe You Can. With this triumph, the young rider became the first female jockey to win the historic race. In recent years, the race has produced many different types of finishes, from Rachel Alexandra's 20 1/4-length annihilation of her rivals in 2009 to Blind Luck's spine-tingling nose victory in 2010. With the brilliant field aligned for this year's running, the one hundred thirty-ninth Kentucky Oaks could be the Oaks of a lifetime.

Featured below are all of the fillies slated to run in the 2013 Kentucky Oaks, along with descriptions of their pedigrees, racing records, final preparations, and my opinions of them. The fillies are simply listed in post position order.

1. SILSITA: Sired by champion Macho Uno and out of a multiple black-type-placed Wild Again mare, Silsita should have no difficulty winning at a mile and one-eighth.

Silsita narrowly won her debut at Calder last November before making her first two starts of 2013 in allowance optional claiming company at Gulfstream Park, finishing fourth and third. She then contested over Turfway Park’s synthetic surface for the Bourbonette Oaks (GIII), gamely winning by a nose.

With more than two weeks of training at Churchill under her belt, Silsita has certainly become acclimated to the track, but in her final work, she was clearly outworked by one of her stablemates, Unlimited Budget.

Although Silsita has the potential to run a big race, she seems to be facing too tough of competition here.

2. MIDNIGHT LUCKY: Although her sire, Midnight Lute, was a champion sprinter, he has already produced a nine-furlong winner from his first crop – which Midnight Lucky is a member of. Her dam line hints at speed but will be sufficient in allowing her to be successful at a mile and one-eighth.

A dominant winner of her debut earlier this year at Santa Anita, Midnight Lucky was again an easy winner in her second start, the Sunland Park Oaks – in which she set a new track record for a mile and one-sixteenth over a very fast track.

Midnight Lucky turned in one of the most talked-about works of the week between Oaks and Derby horses, going 59.60 for five furlongs in her second Churchill Downs breeze. Working in company with the graded stakes-placed ridgling Code West, the gray filly made him look inferior, easily outrunning him to complete the final quarter of her work in just over 22 seconds. It was clearly one of the most impressive final preparations from an Oaks or Derby horse.

Though this filly is very lightly raced and the level of her brilliance is unknown, she could certainly serve as one of the most competitive fillies in this field of talented females. She has obviously taken to the track well and is ready for the race of a lifetime. Read about Midnight Lucky in greater detail in my article “Oaks Contender: Midnight Lucky.”

3. BEHOLDER: Although her sire, Henny Hughes, was a terrific sprinter, his immediate sire line has produced many talented distance horses. A half-sister to the grade one-winning sire Into Mischief, Beholder stems from the same tail female line as Kentucky Derby victor I'll Have Another.

Voted the 2012 Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Beholder formed a rivalry with Executiveprivelege, losing to that filly in her debut and in her third start, the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (GI). But after a dominant Santa Anita allowance win, Beholder got revenge when it counted most, defeating Executiveprivelege by a length in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI). Beginning her sophomore campaign with a runner-up effort in the Santa Ynez Stakes (GII), Beholder then captured a pair of consecutive grade ones, including the Santa Anita Oaks (GI).

Beholder’s final work for the Oaks did not take place at Churchill Downs, but rather her home track of Santa Anita, where she turned in a seven-furlong drill in 1:27.80. She has had time to gallop over the Louisville track and has appeared very comfortable in the mornings.

Beholder is among the classiest in this tough field and although she may appear to have distance limitations, her pedigree hints that she can carry her speed over nine furlongs. Read about Beholder in greater detail in my article “Oaks Contender: Beholder.”

Beholder
Photo by Terri Cage

4. UNLIMITED BUDGET: This filly has already won at nine furlongs and her pedigree also supports her in the distance department. A daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Unlimited Budget is out of a stakes-placed daughter of Valid Appeal – a stallion that produced many nine furlong winners.

Heading into the Oaks with a flawless race record, Unlimited Budget has handled every test thrown in her direction perfectly. A graded stakes winner in New York as a two-year-old, Unlimited Budget won both of her graded stakes preps at the Fair Grounds this year.

In her final work for the Oaks, the Todd Pletcher trainee put away fellow Oaks entrant Silsita, coasting to a 59.60-second five-furlong breeze in her third work over Churchill Downs’ oval. She handled the track very well, seeming to be very comfortable with the surface.

This filly has not done anything wrong to date and shows no signs of breaking that pattern. Read about Unlimited Budget in greater detail in my article “Oaks Contender: Unlimited Budget.”

5. SEANEEN GIRL: A daughter of Spring at Last - a grade one winner at nine furlongs - and an Afternoon Deelites mare, Seaneen Girl stems from the same tail female line as the grade one-winning Farma Way.

A dominant winner of a maiden claiming event at Woodbine in her debut, Seaneen Girl returned to the claiming ranks after a poor finish in the Ontario Debutante Stakes. Even in the two claiming races she contested in after that effort, Seaneen Girl couldn't garner a win. Nonetheless, she returned to stakes company, finishing second in the Mazarine Stakes (GIII) prior to traveling to Churchill Downs, where she captured the Golden Rod Stakes (GII) as the longest shot in the field. Her only start to date as a three-year-old was a third-place performance in the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) behind Unlimited Budget and Flashy Gray.

Seaneen Girl has had weeks of preparation over Churchill Downs’ dirt oval and in her final work for the Oaks, the small chestnut filly turned in a good half-mile breeze with Rosie Napravnik aboard.

The filly is very lightly raced this year due to a foot bruise, which could be worrisome, but she has trained somewhat well. However, she seems in over her head against this stellar group.

6. PRINCESS OF SYLMAR: By the grade one-winning Majestic Warrior – a son of A.P. Indy – and out of a stakes-placed Catienus mare, Princess of Sylmar should successfully stretch out to nine furlongs, a distance she has already ran second at.

Beginning her career at Penn National, Princess of Sylmar won at second asking prior to shipping to Aqueduct, where she won three consecutive races by a combined 19 3/4 lengths, including the Busanda Stakes and Busher Stakes. Her final race before the Oaks resulted in a runner-up finish behind Close Hatches in the Gazelle Stakes (GII), in which she was bested by 3 1/4 lengths.

Princess of Sylmar has recorded two workouts at Churchill Downs and has appeared rather flat in these half-mile breezes, although her most recent work showed improvement from her first drill below the twin spires.

Although talented, Princess of Sylmar may be outclassed in this field.

7. PURE FUN: A daughter of Storm Cat's son Pure Prize and a Key to the Mint mare, Pure Fun is bred for distance.

She began her career in maiden claiming company and didn't break her maiden until her fourth start, a one-mile maiden special weight at Kentucky Downs. Seventh in the Jessamine Stakes (GIII) at Keeneland in her subsequent start, Pure Fun turned in a pair of good allowance performances in Kentucky, including a 9 1/4-length victory in a one-mile event at Churchill Downs. Shipped west to Hollywood Park, Pure Fun won the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (GI) to close out her juvenile campaign. Third in the Bourbonette Stakes (GIII) at Turfway Park in her initial start as a three-year-old, Pure Fun then faced males in the Lexington Stakes (GIII), finishing seventh.

This Kenny McPeek hasn’t turned in an official work since before the Lexington, when she worked five furlongs at Keeneland. But she has galloped very well over the track, getting over Churchill’s dirt oval powerfully.

Pure Fun may be a grade one winner, but the others' talent certainly may outshine her, especially considering that the filly's confidence may be harmed by her poor performance last out. However, to her advantage is a previous win over Churchill Downs’ surface and an obvious affinity for it.

8. DREAMING OF JULIA: This filly is by Belmont Stakes (GI, 12F) and Breeders' Cup Classic (GI, 10F) winner A.P. Indy, one of the most influential sires in recent years. Her dam is the multiple grade one-winning sprinter Dream Rush, thus allowing her to descend from the same tail female line as Hasty Matelda.

Dreaming of Julia was one of the most impressive juvenile maiden winners at Saratoga last summer (landing herself on my watch list) and followed up that win with a dominant victory in the Meadow Star Stakes at Belmont Park. Following a game victory in the Frizette Stakes (GI), the Todd Pletcher trainee was shipped west to Santa Anita Park for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), in which she suffered the first loss of her career, finishing third. Beginning her three-year-old campaign with a runner-up effort in the Davona Dale Stakes (GII), Dreaming of Julia turned in a monster performance in the Gulfstream Oaks (GII), demolishing her opponents by 21 3/4 lengths. Although the field behind her was small, it was a tough group of fillies, including Emollient – who would go on to win the Ashland Stakes (GI) by an ample margin.

The filly has had several weeks to become acclimated to Churchill Downs’ surface and in her most recent work, an easy 51-second half-mile breeze, Dreaming of Julia appeared very comfortable. She is not the most attractive mover, but neither was her sire and he was clearly an extraordinary racehorse.

The cross of speed and stamina on which Dreaming of Julia is bred on suggests that the nine-furlong journey of the Oaks should not be an issue for her and her breathtaking victory in the nine-furlong Gulfstream Oaks has already confirmed that. She has trained well up to the Oaks and has several weeks over Churchill’s tricky surface to her advantage. Considering she has faced perhaps the toughest competition of any other Oaks entrant and has showed the greatest brilliance of any of these fillies, Dreaming of Julia is my top selection for this tremendous race, though she is not the only incredibly gifted filly in the contest. Read about Dreaming of Julia in greater detail in my article “Oaks Contender: Dreaming of Julia.”

Dreaming of Julia
Photo by Terri Cage

9. ROSE TO GOLD: A filly I have followed since the early stages of her career, Rose to Gold is a daughter of a grade one-winning son of A.P. Indy in Friends Lake and out of an unraced Tabasco Cat mare. Her bloodlines imply that Rose to Gold should flourish with added distance.

This filly has had a unique career, having never competed outside of stakes company. Winner of a pair of stakes at Calder by a combined 26 1/2 lengths in the first two starts of her career, Rose to Gold gave the worst performance of her lifetime in her third start, the Alcibiades Stakes (GI) at Keeneland, in which she finished twelfth of fourteen. However, it wasn't a matter of being outclassed; she simply did not have an affinity for the synthetic surface. Culminating her juvenile year with a win in the Delta Downs Princess Stakes (GIII), the $1,400 bargain began 2013 with a runner-up effort in the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Her two final starts before the Oaks resulted in two graded stakes victories at Oaklawn Park, which she captured by a total margin of 7 1/4 lengths.

With her jockey and Churchill Downs specialist Calvin Borel aboard, Rose to Gold’s final work was one of the most notable of the week. Going a half-mile in 47.80 seconds, Rose to Gold got over the track very well, exhibiting an obvious liking to Churchill’s surface.

She is among those that have displayed sheer brilliance and also turned in one of the most impressive works of the week. Rose to Gold may be considered an underdog by many, but I view her as one of the top contenders in this deep field.

10. FLASHY GRAY: Sired by young sire Flashy Bull, Flashy Gray was a $775,000 purchase at the 2012 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale as part of Dolphus Morrison’s dispersal. Flashy Bull was a grade one winner at nine furlongs and the sires that line this filly's dam line imply distance, including What a Pleasure, Hill Rise, Princequillo, and Johnstown.

After playing the role of runner-up in her debut at Keeneland, Flashy Gray dominated a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs by 10 ¼ lengths. Making her sophomore debut in an allowance optional claiming at Gulfstream, Flashy Gray easily defeated her rivals by 4 ¾ lengths.  Flashy Gray followed up these wins with a pair of runner-up finishes in the Honeybee Stakes (GIII) and Fair Grounds Oaks (GII).

Flashy Gray has put in one work at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Oaks, seeming to like the surface as she outworked her workmate to complete five furlongs in 1:01.

Flashy Gray's price will be inflated due to her losing her past two starts. However, the filly’s former owner, Dolphus Morrison, declared Flashy Gray to be “the best racehorse I’ve owned.” Morrison of course owned spectacular Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra. Difficult competition awaits Flashy Gray, but if she's as good as Morrison stated, she could surprise many. Furthermore, she has to her advantage a win over the track.

11. CLOSE HATCHES: Yet another filly I have followed since her maiden triumph, Close Hatches is a daughter of young sire First Defence, a grade one-winning sprinter by Unbridled’s Song. This filly is out of a Storm Cat mare that is a direct descendant of Reine de Course mare and 1982 Broodmare of the Year Best in Show, who produced Kentucky Oaks winner Blush with Pride. Close Hatches is thus from the same family as the Belmont Stakes (GI)-winning siblings Jazil and Rags to Riches, as well as the champion Peeping Fawn. Therefore, this is the same tail female family as the great broodmare Better Than Honour.

A lightly raced filly, Close Hatches won her debut by 7 furlongs in a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight. Her second start came in a mile and one-sixteenth allowance optional claiming at the same track, which the Bill Mott trainee won by 1 1/4 lengths under a hand-ride. Traveling to New York for the Gazelle Stakes (GII), Close Hatches captured her final prep race by 3 1/4 lengths.

Close Hatches, who trained at Churchill Downs as a two-year-old, has posted two works below the twin spires to prepare for the Oaks. Like her stablemate Flashy Gray, Close Hatches got over the track very well.

Close Hatches clearly doesn't know how to lose, but she will need to bring her A-game to win against a field of this caliber.

Oaks Contender: Beholder

A filly has not won both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) and Kentucky Oaks (GI) since Silverbulletday completed the feat in 1999. Last year, only one filly that contested in the Juvenile Fillies even ran in the Oaks. But this year, champion two-year-old filly Beholder – who captured the premier race for female juveniles – will compete for the garland of lilies.

Beholder
Photo by Terri Cage

Fourth in her debut behind future grade one winner and rival Executiveprivilege, Beholder broke her maiden in the midst of the Del Mar meet, capturing a five and one-half-furlong maiden special weight by an easy 3 ¼ lengths. Entering grade one company for her third start, Beholder again lost to Executiveprivilege – this time by just a nose in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (GI). The Richard Mandella trainee had given the undefeated filly the biggest test of her career to date.

After an 11-length demolition of a six-furlong allowance over the dirt at Santa Anita, Beholder’s connections pondered whether the filly should run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint against males, or the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) – in which she would face stiffer competition and go the longest distance she had raced at yet.

They chose the Juvenile Fillies. Turning the tables on Executiveprivilege, Beholder led from start to finish prior to digging deep in the homestretch to repel her rival’s rally, winning by one length in a thrilling display of determination.

Making her sophomore debut in the Santa Ynez Stakes (GII), Beholder sat off the pace and despite garnering a narrow advantage around the far turn, Beholder struggled to outduel a rival down the lane and was overtaken in the final stages of the race, finishing second.

But the champion did not stay away from the winner’s enclosure for long. In her subsequent start, the Las Virgenes Stakes (GI) – which has been won by a pair of Kentucky Oaks winners in the past six years –, Beholder returned to setting the pace, receiving an easy trip around the track to win by a commanding 3 ¾ lengths. Going a mile and one-sixteenth for the first time since the Breeders’ Cup, Beholder made her final prep for the Kentucky Oaks in the Santa Anita Oaks (GI), in which she again was given an easy lead, winning the grade one event by 2 ¾ lengths.

It is no secret that Beholder is a speedy filly, but can she hold that speed over nine furlongs? Her pedigree suggests she can.

Beholder's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

Beholder is a daughter of brilliant sprinter Henny Hughes, who never won beyond seven furlongs. As a sire, he has primarily produced sprinters, although he has sired Welcome Dance – a stakes winner at nine furlongs, the distance of the Oaks. Henny Hughes is a son of Hennessy – another horse who excelled at short distances. But Hennessy produced many distance horses, including Silver Tree – a graded stakes winner that was victorious up to ten furlongs; Inglorious – a classic winner at ten furlongs; Half Hennessy – a group one winner at 2,400 meters (about twelve furlongs); Wiseman’s Ferry – a graded stakes winner at nine furlongs; Orchard Park – a graded stakes winner that won up to ten furlongs; and Toasted – a graded stakes winner that won up to eleven furlongs. Hennessy is a son of the late, great sire Storm Cat, who produced many distance horses, including After Market, Bluegrass Cat, Cat Thief, Giant’s Causeway, Good Reward, Storm Flag Flying, and Tabasco Cat.

Stemming from a rich female family, Beholder is out of the black-type-winning Leslie’s Lady, who has also produced Into Mischief – a grade one winner that has sired 2013 Kentucky Derby (GI) contenders Goldencents and Vyjack. Leslie’s Lady is a daughter of Tricky Creek – a graded stakes winner at nine furlongs.

The granddam of Beholder is sired by Stop the Music, who won the Dwyer Stakes when it was contested at ten furlongs. A son of champion Hail to Reason, Stop the Music sired an abundance of distance horses, including Alla Breva, Missy’s Mirage, Sing Sing, and Temperence Hill. The filly’s fourth dam is a daughter of the great Sea-Bird II, who is considered one of the best Thoroughbred racehorses to ever live. Sea-Bird II – or simply Sea Bird – won many prestigious distance races, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (GI) and the Epsom Derby (GI).

Beholder’s fifth dam is the multiple stakes-winning Patelin, a charm to have in a horse’s tail female line. The black mare was a daughter of the Reine de Course mare Pontivy and thus a direct descendant of the additional Reine de Course mares Golden Apple, Lou Lanier, and Thorn Apple, as well as the influential British-bred mare Gallopade. Kentucky Derby victor I’ll Have Another, too, is a direct descendant of Pontivy through Patelin, as he and Beholder share the same dam line beginning with their fourth dam. Triple Crown winner Affirmed and Derby winner Mine That Bird also descend from the Gallopade line.

The Kentucky Oaks field has shaped up to be an incredibly competitive race, featuring numerous very talented fillies. Which one will take home the lilies is a gamble, but it is no secret that Beholder is among the classiest competitors in the race.

Beholder winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Photo by Terri Cage

Oaks Contender: Unlimited Budget

Oaks Contenders feature the fillies I view as the best contenders leading up to the Kentucky Oaks. Each horse spotlighted in an Oaks Contender will join the 2013 PTG Oaks Contender roster, found on the right side of the blog. Horses will be listed in an order that corresponds to how highly I think of them, with the horse I think most highly of ranking at the top. A horse featured in an Oaks Contender may be taken off the roster if its performances after its article are published are not up to par or if that horse is taken off the Oaks trail, though those articles will remain on my blog.

The most recent undefeated Kentucky Oaks (GI) victress was Rags to Riches, one of the most brilliant fillies in a decade teeming with great females. But approaching this year’s Lilies for the Fillies is another undefeated lady: Unlimited Budget. Coming off a win in the Fair Grounds Oaks (GII), which has produced seven Oaks winners and five of the last nine, Unlimited Budget stands as one of the top fillies in a deep division.

Debuting at Aqueduct last November, Unlimited Budget pressed the pace before drawing off to a breathtaking 9 ½-length victory. Making her graded stakes debut in her next start, the Demoiselle Stakes (GII), the Repole Stable-owned filly faced just three rivals. Breaking cleanly from the gate in the nine-furlong event, Unlimited Budget quickly earned an easy lead. Though future dominant grade one winner Emollient threatened her lead down the backstretch, Unlimited Budget began to kick clear as she led her adversaries into the final turn. When Emollient re-rallied in the homestretch, Unlimited Budget denied her any further advancement, digging in to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

The Todd Pletcher trainee made her sophomore debut in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (GIII) at the Fair Grounds in late February. Following a minor bobble at the start, Unlimited Budget found herself several lengths off the pace for the first time in her career after she left the seventh gate, but only to employ a new style of running. Settling behind the front-running contingent as the field rounded the clubhouse turn, Unlimited Budget appeared comfortable down the backstretch as the pacesetter raced about nine lengths ahead of her.

Guided to the outside as the fillies began their run into the last bend, Unlimited Budget began to rally remarkably, cutting into Dancinginthecircle’s lead. In an authoritative manner, Unlimited Budget took the lead just prior to the eighth pole, and despite greenly switching leads down the stretch like she’d done in the Demoiselle, the daughter of Street Sense coasted to a 3 ¾-length triumph.

Unlimited Budget made her final prep for the Kentucky Oaks in the Fair Grounds Oaks, facing a tough field. Each of her six rivals had found stakes success; the field included the grade one-winning So Many Ways, the graded stakes-winning Seaneen Girl, the stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed Promise Me More, the highly-touted, graded stakes-placed Flashy Gray, the graded stakes-placed Blue Violet, and the stakes-winning Ante Up Annie.

Breaking from the outside post, Unlimited Budget raced wide into the first turn as she found a position just off the leaders. Settling just three lengths behind the leaders down the backstretch, Unlimited Budget remained relaxed as a fairly brisk pace was set. Around the far turn, the bay filly quickly gained ground on the leaders, racing wide around the bend to contend for the lead. In the final three-sixteenths of the race, Unlimited Budget battled Flashy Gray prior to kicking clear in the final stages in spite of galloping greenly to score by 1 ¾ lengths.

Unlimited Budget's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

Unlimited Budget has already proven herself at the nine-furlong distance of the Kentucky Oaks when victorious in the Demoiselle and her pedigree certainly suggests that she will have no problem succeeding at it again. Her sire, Street Sense, won the 2007 Kentucky Derby (GI, 10F), the Travers Stakes (GI, 10F), and the Jim Dandy Stakes (GII, 9F), while his sire, Street Cry, captured the Dubai World Cup (GI, 10F) and the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI, 9F).

Unlimited Budget’s stakes-placed dam, Unlimited Pleasure, never raced beyond the distance of six and one-half furlongs and her two other graded stakes winners, Beacon Shine and Jardin, excelled at sprinting distances as well. But the sire of Unlimited Pleasure, Valid Appeal, won a nine-furlong edition of the Dwyer Handicap (GII) and is also the broodmare sire of Puerto Rican champion Soy Conquistador, who set records at nine and ten furlongs; Vacare and Splendid Blended, grade one winners at nine furlongs; and Best of the Rest and Eyes on Eddy, multiple stakes winners at nine furlongs.

The granddam of this talented filly, Cricket Box, was a very successful broodmare, producing the likes of a grade one winner at ten furlongs in Outofthebox and a stakes winner at a mile and one-sixteenth in Ruff and Ready. Unlimited Budget’s third dam – a daughter of Reine de Course mare Old Bess – yielded the multiple grade one-winning Mighty Appealing.

A unique characteristic found in Unlimited Budget’s genealogy is the fact that she is an outcross, lacking any inbreeding within the initial five generations of her ancestry. The most recent outcross that blossomed into a Kentucky Oaks victress was Hall of Famer Silverbulletday; others include Blush with Pride, Bold ‘n Determined, Buryyourbelief, Luv Me Luv Me Not, Pike Place Dancer, and Sardula.

Tough competition awaits Unlimited Budget upon the hallowed grounds below the shadows of the Twin Spires. But this filly has repelled any competition that has threatened her reign and will put up a fight when tested by a legion of talented fillies that comprises of champion Beholder and monster Dreaming of Julia. You will not want to miss this year's Kentucky Oaks.

Oaks Contender: Midnight Lucky

Oaks Contenders feature the fillies I view as the best contenders leading up to the Kentucky Oaks. Each horse spotlighted in an Oaks Contender will join the 2013 PTG Oaks Contender roster, found on the right side of the blog. Horses will be listed in an order that corresponds to how highly I think of them, with the horse I think most highly of ranking at the top. A horse featured in an Oaks Contender may be taken off the roster if its performances after its article are published are not up to par or if that horse is taken off the Oaks trail, though those articles will remain on my blog.

Midnight Lute's pair of breathtaking Breeders' Cup Sprint (GI) triumphs are among the most impressive Breeders' Cup wins in recent years. But as there is with any new stallion, much doubt surrounded the beginning of Midnight Lute's stud career. Lucky for him, Midnight Lute has gotten off to a brilliant start, producing several horses that have made noise along the Triple Crown and Kentucky Oaks (GI) trails. Among those offspring is Midnight Lucky, a lightly raced but incredibly talented filly.

Unveiled to the racing world in mid-February of 2013, the gray filly was sent off as the heavy favorite for trainer Bob Baffert and owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman – the same connections that had campaigned her sire, Midnight Lute. Breaking from the rail in the six and one-half-furlong maiden special weight over Santa Anita Park’s main track, Midnight Lucky was urged to press the pace by jockey Rafael Bejarano, racing just behind the leader.

The charcoal gray filly inched closer to the pacesetter down the backstretch, cutting into that adversary’s lead around the far turn. With ease, Midnight Lucky soared to the lead midway through the curve, maintaining an ample lead as she charged into the straightaway. Geared down in the final stages of the race, the three-year-old crossed the wire 7 ¼ lengths ahead.

Midnight Lucky traveled to New Mexico for the Sunland Park Oaks, a race her trainer had already captured four times. Each of Baffert trainees that had previously obtained a victory in the race had done so handily: Tough Tiz’s Sis had won it by 3 ¾ lengths in 2007, Gabby’s Golden Gal by 13 in 2009, Plum Pretty (who would go on to win the Kentucky Oaks) by 25 in 2011, and Princess Arabella by 8 last year. The story was no different for Midnight Lucky.

Just as she had been in her maiden, Midnight Lucky was guided to the front-running contingent by Bejarano, pressing the pace set by Majestic River. After allowing Majestic River a narrow lead around the clubhouse turn, Midnight Lucky allowed the pacesetter to gain a slightly wider advantage as a blistering pace was set. But as the field approached the final turn, Midnight Lucky seized the lead, only lengthening her advantage as she coasted to the wire to win by 8 lengths.

Though Midnight Lucky’s final time of 1:41.06 was a new track record, it was one of three set that day. This insinuates that the speedy times recorded at Sunland that day are unreliable, but one cannot doubt Midnight Lucky’s brilliance and visual impressiveness.

Midnight Lucky's pedigree
From pedigreequery.com

Despite the fact that her sire, Midnight Lute, was never victorious beyond seven furlongs, he did miss winning at a mile and one-sixteenth by just a nose and was less than two lengths away from winning at nine furlongs in his only try at that distance. Considering Midnight Lucky is a member of Midnight Lute’s first crop, not many statistics exist regarding the champion sprinter’s ability to sire routers. However, he has produced Govenor Charlie – winner of the nine-furlong Sunland Derby (GIII) – and Mylute – a close runner-up in the nine-furlong Louisiana Derby (GII).

Midnight Lute’s ability to sire distance horses is enhanced by his sire, Real Quiet. A horse who missed winning the 1998 Triple Crown by a scant margin, Real Quiet produced the likes of Wonder Lady Anne L – a grade one winner at ten furlongs that finished the fourth in the 2006 Kentucky Oaks (which is contested at nine furlongs); Norman Asbjornson – a stakes winner at nine furlongs; and Bull Ranch – a stakes winner at eleven furlongs.

The dam of Midnight Lucky, Citiview, never found the winner’s circle but in addition to producing Midnight Lucky, the mare has yielded Songofthecity, a multiple stakes-placed runner that never won beyond six furlongs. A daughter of the black-type-winning Prospective Joy, Citiview is a full sister to the grade one-winning Hookedonthefeelin.

Midnight Lucky’s broodmare sire, Citidancer, produced Urbane – a multiple grade one winner that won at ten furlongs twice and was second in the 1995 Kentucky Oaks. Citidancer, a son of Dixieland Band, is also the dam sire of the likes of Suave – a graded stakes winner at ten furlongs and Worldly – a stakes winner at ten furlongs. The Real Quiet/Citidancer cross on which Midnight Lucky is bred is the same one that produced the grade one-winning Pussycat Doll and the stakes-winning Norman Asbjornson.

Although Midnight Lucky’s pedigree does not scream stamina and she is rather unproven against top quality rivals, Midnight Lucky is clearly one of the most naturally talented sophomore fillies being prepared for this year’s Kentucky Oaks. She will have to contest against several brilliant fillies in the renowned race, but should her prowess be as great as it seems, Midnight Lucky could deliver a stellar performance on May 3.

Oaks Contender: Dreaming of Julia

Oaks Contenders feature the fillies I view as the best contenders leading up to the Kentucky Oaks. Each horse spotlighted in an Oaks Contender will join the 2013 PTG Oaks Contender roster, found on the right side of the blog. Horses will be listed in an order that corresponds to how highly I think of them, with the horse I think most highly of ranking at the top. A horse featured in an Oaks Contender may be taken off the roster if its performances after its article are published are not up to par or if that horse is taken off the Oaks trail, though those articles will remain on my blog.

With some paragraphs drawn from "Juvenile Spotlight: Dreaming of Julia and Stopshoppingdebbie," dated 8/12/12

The image of the great Rachel Alexandra soaring to a 20 ¼-length victory in the 2009 Kentucky Oaks (GI) is still fresh in the minds of racing fans. That race would be her last start in the white and green silks of Dolphus Morrison; for the rest of her racing career, the brilliant filly would carry the gold and maroon colors of Stonestreet Stable. But her doube-digit-length triumphs were not over. She would win the Mother Goose Stakes (GI) by 19 ¼ lengths and the Fleur de Lis Handicap (GII) by 10 ½ lengths.

After the birth of Rachel Alexandra’s second foal, a filly by Bernardini, the Thoroughbred world worried that Rachel would be lost forever after she suffered complications from foaling. But during her recovery, a filly like her in many ways has stunned the racing world, mesmerizing enthusiasts with her prowess.

That filly is Dreaming of Julia. Carrying the same Stonestreet silks that Rachel Alexandra did in her final nine starts, Dreaming of Julia flashed brilliance as a juvenile and has carried it over to her three-year-old campaign, approaching the spring classics with remarkable momentum.

Dreaming of Julia
Photo by Terri Cage

Amidst Stonestreet’s domination of two-year-old filly maiden special weights at Saratoga during the summer of 2012, Dreaming of Julia turned in perhaps the most impressive maiden victory of any Stonestreet filly, leading me to draw the conclusion that she could be Stonestreet’s best from the stable’s contingent of maiden-breaking fillies. Breaking from the seventh gate in a six and one-half-furlong maiden special weight event, Dreaming of Julia was pushed to the lead by John Velazquez and quickly overtook Bustle to take the lead as the two-year-old fillies raced down the backstretch. By the time she’d set a 22.03 first quarter, Dreaming of Julia had an approximate one-length lead on the others as she began to enter the far turn. Despite a rally from Form Fitting around the turn, Dreaming of Julia maintained her advantage on the field as she galloped into the stretch with a confident Velazquez aboard.

Dreaming of Julia quickly opened up on the field, drawing away with sufficient handling from Velazquez. Form Fitting remained as the clearly second best horse, but it was even more obvious who the best horse in the field was: Dreaming of Julia. With absolute ease, the bay filly crossed the wire an astounding 10 ½ lengths ahead of her rivals.

Crushing her rivals by 16 ¼ lengths in her stakes debut in the one-mile Meadow Star Stakes at Belmont Park, Dreaming of Julia extended her record to a perfect three-for-three with a win in the Frizette Stakes (GI). However, this was her hardest-fought victory to date, as the Todd Pletcher trainee had to battle My Happy Face down the long Belmont homestretch to gamely prevail by a head.

Shipped to Southern California for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), Dreaming of Julia raced several lengths off the pace in the early stages of the race but gained ground down the backstretch, allowing her to press the pace. Perhaps fatigued from her taxing performance in her previous start and the long trip across the nation, Dreaming of Julia ran well but did not fire like usual, finishing third.

Dreaming of Julia after her third-place finish in the
2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Photo by Terri Cage

Away from the races until late February of this year, Dreaming of Julia made her sophomore debut in the Davona Dale Stakes (GII), a mile and one-sixteenth event at Gulfstream Park. Pressing the pace set by dominant allowance winner Live Lively, Dreaming of Julia performed respectfully but was only second-best on the day.

Little did anyone know at the time, the Dreaming of Julia of old was lurking in the shadows, prepare to tackle her next target, the Gulfstream Oaks (GII). Facing Live Lively yet again, Dreaming of Julia broke sharply from the starting gate in the nine-furlong contest – her longest test yet. Sitting behind Live Lively, Dreaming of Julia galloped along comfortably in second throughout the race. As the field rounded the far turn, Velazquez gradually set to work aboard the filly, who responded with a noteworthy turn of foot. Passing Live Lively, who had captured her previous three starts by a combined 13 ½ lengths, as if she was standing still, Dreaming of Julia swept into the homestretch with authority, drawing off in a Rachel Alexandra-esque manner to capture the race by a jaw-dropping 21 ¾ lengths. Her final time of 1:48.97 was not only the fastest time for the Gulfstream Oaks since 2006, but was nearly a full two seconds quicker than the final time of the Florida Derby (GI) contested later on the card.

The new Derby points system will keep Dreaming of Julia out of the Kentucky Derby (GI), which comes as a disappointment to many, as she could have been a very tough competitor in the Run for the Roses. Instead, Dreaming of Julia will aim for the Lilies for the Fillies, or the Kentucky Oaks (GI), run a day before the Derby.

But intriguingly, Dreaming of Julia is Triple Crown nominated, meaning she could make an appearance in the Preakness or Belmont. Should she follow in the footsteps of Rachel Alexandra, she could face the males in the second jewel of the prestigious three-race series. Perhaps she could even emulate another Todd Pletcher-trained daughter of A.P. Indy – Rags to Riches – and go against the boys in The Test of Champions.

Regardless of what Dreaming of Julia’s future plans are, it would be no surprise to see the well-bred three-year-old continue her brilliance. This filly possesses a pedigree I could praise all day. Not only is she sired by the stallion I most admire in modern-day bloodlines, but her pedigree is like an array of Thoroughbred royalty. There’s one aspect in Dreaming of Julia’s pedigree that many will likely overlook: the filly possesses both Hasty Matelda and Somethingroyal – the same mares that were the subject of Penny Chenery’s famous coin toss – in her pedigree. A daughter of A.P. Indy, Dreaming of Julia of course traces back to Somethingroyal through the mare’s greatest offspring, Secretariat, who is the broodmare sire of A.P. Indy. Interestingly, Dreaming of Julia is a direct descendant of Hasty Matelda, who is her seventh dam.

As mentioned, Dreaming of Julia is sired by A.P. Indy, one of the greatest horses to ever stand at stud. He has sired twenty-six grade one winners so far, including Bernardini, Flashing, Mineshaft, Little Belle, Music Note, and Rags to Riches. He is also a highly successful sire of sires – having produced such stallions as Bernardini, Congrats, Malibu Moon, Mineshaft, Pulpit, and Stephen Got Even – and broodmare sire – having sired the dams of such horses as Bluegrass Cat, Mr. Sidney, Plum Pretty, Royal Delta, Super Saver, and Wait a While.

A.P. Indy
Photo by Terri Cage

The dam of Dreaming of Julia is the multiple grade one-winning Dream Rush. Though a successful sprinter, Dream Rush is a daughter of Wild Rush – who, though also successful at short distances, was capable of winning up to a mile and three-sixteenths. Wild Rush is of course a son of Wild Again, the winner of the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). Wild Again is the broodmare sire of such grade one winners as Cheiron, Emma’s Encore, Macho Again, Mea Domina, Pyro, and Wild Spirit.

With a dam line full of black-type, Dreaming of Julia’s sixth dam is Gay Matelda, a winner of many important stakes races and the dam of the group stakes-winning Reine Mathilde, as well as the stakes-winning horses Not a Mistake and Shelter Half. Gay Matelda is of course a daughter of Hasty Matelda, who won the Matron Stakes.

Dreaming of Julia and Todd Pletcher at the 2012 Breeders' Cup

Video by Mary Cage