Kentucky Oaks Preview

by Patricia Woo | Mar 23 2009

This year’s Kentucky Oaks will be run on Friday, May 1, a day before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. And despite the fact that it may not garner the same publicity as its male-dominated counterpart, the Kentucky Oaks still offers excellent betting value and, of course, thrilling horse racing. Since it's never too early to start studying up, Bodog Racebook gives you a look at some of the early contenders for the 2009 Kentucky Oaks.

Even before her 2009 campaign began, Stardom Bound was at the top of many horse bettors’ lists of top Kentucky Derby contenders. She showed tremendous potential in 2008, winning three consecutive races, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies event. As well, she capped off 2008 with an Eclipse Award for outstanding 2-year-old filly. All her successes fueled speculation that she would follow the footsteps of Eight Belles, a 2-year-old phenom who would go on to race against colts in the Kentucky Derby. However, 2009 has been a different story for this daughter of Tapit. Despite winning her last two outings, including the Santa Anita Oaks on March 7, Stardom Bound will now most likely be pointed towards the Kentucky Oaks. According to Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, Stardom Bound “didn’t take a significant lurch forward [in the Santa Anita Oaks]. We didn’t see enough for her to take on the boys… right now the Kentucky Oaks is the goal.”

Rachel Alexandra is likely to be Stardom Bound’s greatest competition and is a major threat in her own right. This daughter of Medaglia d’Or is on a three-race win streak, with victories in the Gr. 2 Golden Rod Stakes in November, the Martha Washington Stakes in February and most recently in the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 14. All were commanding victories in winning times that rival those of many top Kentucky Derby contenders. With this recent success, trainer Hal Wiggins has had to field speculation that Rachel Alexandra would be heading to the Kentucky Derby. But Wiggins' current plans are to see how his charge fares next in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 5 before making any decisions about her future races.

Gaining attention as a possible upsetter in the Kentucky Oaks is Kentucky-bred Justwhistledixie, who has also won three consecutive races, including her first graded stakes race, the Gr. 2 Davona Dale on March 1. With her easy win in the Davona Dale, Justwhistledixie has piqued the interest of horse bettors who chose her over both Rachel Alexandra and Stardom Bound in Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Oaks Future Wager of 2009. They will get another chance to see Justwhistledixie in action before the Kentucky Oaks when she takes on rivals in the Bonnie Miss Stakes, a Gr. 2 race that will be run at Gulfstream Park on March 27.

The Kentucky Oaks is a 1 ½-mile test for 3-year-old Thoroughbred fillies held annually in Louisville, Ky. In 2008, Proud Spell bounced back from a show finish in the Ashland Stakes to win the Kentucky Oaks for trainer Larry Jones. Who will win the Kentucky Oaks in 2009?

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